No Flight to Japan Needed
I always wanted to see Cherry Blossoms, or in Asia what we call Sakura, a Japanese term to describe the blossoms. For the residents in Asia, enjoying the flowers means taking a trip to Japan in Spring. So I was thrilled to discover I didn’t have to fly to Japan to see them. A Japanese association organises Hanami — the Japanese term for viewing the blossoms with friends and families — in Parc de Sceaux every April.
A Sea of White and Red
It was a fine day out for enjoying the Cherry Blossoms. There were both white and red blossoms — but the red ones stole the show. Rows and rows of red flowers filled one whole section, every tree in full bloom. By the time we got there, in the late morning, the shady spots under the trees were already taken.
Other than the appreciation of the Cherry Blossoms, there was also a traditional Japanese drum performance. Aligning with the Japanese theme, we saw some people dressed up in kimonos, while others as manga characters.
After last week’s trip to a local farm, this was another good excuse to get outdoors. We’d been to Parc de Sceaux twice before, running through it as part of the Coulée Verte route to Paris from Orsay (about 20km). It’s a pedestrian and cycling route that links Massy Palaiseau, a southern city, to Paris. We’d never had the chance to explore it — this time, we finally did, at leisure.