Spring has sprung, it was the school holidays and my son and I were at a loose end. Booking a court in the middle of the day, mid week was no problem. We booked the court nearest to our new apartment and an hour later we were out there enjoying our game. The sun was shining, the air was warm - I was so happy to be back playing outside again. Porte de Bagnolet would certainly not figure among my favourite courts, but it had the great advantage of being nearby - practically walking distance in fact (and we did walk home).
There are four courts - although only three had nets - but the surface is thoroughly worn and the lines faded. They reminded me of the tennis courts at my old school - the surface chipped away by lunchtime football matches in outdoor school shoes.
The setting is very much Paris fringes - intramuros, but only just - surrounded by huge housing projects which would be more at home on the other side of the Péripherique. It didn't matter - the smell of the tennis balls, the shadows on the court, the warm sun overhead in a cloudless sky and the fact that I was finally able to enjoy a game of singles with my son, whose game has improved so much since last year, made for a perfect afternoon.
My only regret was that I had not thought to wear my skirt. It was certainly warm enough!
Tennis Porte de Bagnolet
72 rue Louis Lumière
75020
Paris
Metro: Porte de Bagnolet
