This is going to be a short post. Well short on words – more heavy on pictures, but I felt that I needed to write about my time in Châtenay-Malabry and in particular the lovely trees which were not only in the nearby Arboretum, but were in evidence in gardens and public spaces all around the area.
I first found out about the area when I stayed in Sceaux, about 3 kms from the Arboretum and decided to go out there one afternoon. It took me far longer than it should have. I was using public transport and google maps and as usual it was great on the buses and trains but somewhat suspect when it came to the walking between and at the end. I got there eventually, but my feet were aching so much from all the detours that I took – that when I arrived I just had a quick walk around and a very long sit.
But I knew I wanted to come back, so when I saw an airbnb in the town I made a beeline for it.
I really loved it. Not just for the trees, but for all the associated wildlife, the sound of the birds, the various insects, the water features. Hell, even the noise of the wind as it blows through the branches. Of course, it is the perfect place to sit and think … and what I thought was this. Being in nature is the antithesis of being in an amusement arcade. The cool sound of the wind is the opposite of the distracting noise of buzzers and bells and the occasional (too occasion) fall of coins. Being out in daylight instead of the false brightness of the fruit machine cavern where you can’t even tell what time of day it is (there are never any clocks in those places.) And of course, usually, there is no cost for being in an arboretum – trees do not take all your money. I have a certain amount of sadness for all the days spent in those soulless places instead of out in nature. I have even more sadness for those who are still in those places and for those who never found the means of escape.
One of the conundrums of my chosen lifestyle is that because I don’t have a car anymore, it is difficult to get out into nature. I am tied to Airbnb’s which have good transport links which usually means they are in cities or perhaps (if I am lucky) on the edge of cities. I have to take into account how close they are to amenities, especially for food shopping as I don’t want to be carrying many bags by foot and ordering online is not easy when you don’t speak or read the native language.
Finding places like arboretums which are close to population centres might be the answer for me to get my dose of nature yet be able to live relatively easily, so I have made the decision to look for them as part of my planning of where to be in the future. I am excited about Edinburgh and I know Sheffield’s botanical garden but am glad to have the chance to get to know it better, when I am there next month. After that I will be in the Netherlands via Belgium and will file reports of my findings in those countries as well.
I would be really happy to share other people’s experiences of trees and maybe see some of your photos as well. Enjoy!
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Comments
Thank you for this. I love trees more and more as I age. Such noble beings, which give us so much.
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