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Reporter's Notebook: Paris Under Lockdown

Lisa Bryant

   PARIS - Like many Parisians who could, I fled the capitalon DayOne of
   the coronavirus lockdown. Green space, even a garden, sounded a whole
   lot better than being stuck in a small apartment for weeks and maybe
   more.

   As people packed train stations, desperate to join family in the
   countryside, I headed out by bike to the Paris suburb of Neuilly
   Plaisance. My boyfriend and cats awaited. So did a garden sprouting
   springflowers.

   I crossed a deserted capital. Gone were the tourists, the aggressive
   motorbikes, the insouciant teens on skateboards, the families toting
   tots andbaguettes -- the cocktail of daily life here.

   Homeless people wandered empty sidewalks. A few joggers coasted down
   carless streets -- although tougher government guidelines issued since
   are further limiting our movements to just a few blocks.

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