Paris Day 6

Local street shops

Vintage fashion shop

Notre Dame's low-budget "no flash" sign

Crucifix in Notre Dame

Outdated poster on shop door

Me with the Code of Hammurabi c. 1772 BC

B and I at Louvre
--one of the most impressive buildings (not to mention art museums) in the world

Snow!

What I look like trying to do "the bridge" pose in yoga
(Statue in the Tuileries Garden outside of the Musee d'Orangerie)

"The Ghosts" by Kader Attia at the Centre George Pompidou
This art piece, evocative of Muslim women in prayer, is made out of foil. 

The figures are hollow inside.

Close-up of my favorite piece at this museum

Shadow play art piece at the Centre Georges Pompidou

 

Shadows are created from rotating kitsch.

Highlights:

• Beauty of Notre Dame
• Scale of the Louvre
• Snow in the Tuileries Garden
• Paintings in the Musee d'Orangerie
• Originality of art pieces at the Centre George Pompidou
• Free coat checks
• Warmth of the Metro

Paris Day 5

Evidently Parisian yoga involves goats.

Free WIFI at Versailles--how magnanimous!

When it rains, he pours.

Which way?

Fattest extension cord in Europe

Hall of Mirrors in the palace at Versailles
(These chandeliers are on pulleys.)

Innocent, hatted smoothies

Salmon on fried rice/goat cheese lasagna with salad

Highlights:

• Eating pain au chocolate and a croissant
• Being reminded that even the most indulgent monarches (i.e. the residents of Versailles) did not have the luxery of mini-heaters
• Watching snow flurries from the top of the Eiffel Tower
• Munching and chatting for two hours at the corner cafe, ending with espresso and lait au vanille

Paris Day 4

Thankfully, "Twinkie" is the name of a shop

Window shopping

What is this store selling? Don't all "Russh" at once!

Pont du Art
Bridge to which lovers attach initialed locks and throw the key in the river

Me with Louvre in the background

Sister B against Seine bookseller

Shop across the street from our apartment (nighttime)

Highlights:

• Beth's lost suitcase being delivered to the apartment building by the airline
• Visiting the Musee d'Orsay--perhaps my favorite art museum
• Seeing a Monet painting of Rue Montorgueil, the street on which I have been shopping (literally around the corner from the apartment)
• Catching a robust bossa nova type band at a music club 

Paris Day 3

Seafood for sale at street market

Wednesday street market on av. du President Wilson

Boy pausing from pigeon feeding at Palais de Chaillot 

Couple ignoring the view of the Eiffel Tower at the Jardins du Trocadero

Graffiti on the steps of the Palais de Chaillot

"Red sock in yellow box" art exhibit at the Musee d'Art Moderne

Eiffel Tower from the pont de l'Alma (bridge)

Shoe store on Bouvard rue Saint Dominique

Tiffany blue Vespa

Cathedral St. Honore

"The Thinker" by Rodin at the Musee Rodin
(slightly larger than life-size)

"The Kiss" by Rodin
(life size)

"The Cathedral" by Rodin
(about a yard tall)

Close up of Rodin's tribute to Victor Hugo
(Hugo slightly larger than life-size)

Highlights:

• Viewing varied street market fare
• Watching tourists take self-portraits with the Eiffel Tower in the background whilst eating a peach pastry
• Wandering into the two-storied opening rotunda of the Musee d'Art Moderne painted with blithe illustrations of hundreds of historical figures in every hue
• Unexpectely noticing the Van Gogh painting "The Harvesters" at the Musee Rodin sculpture museum
• Meeting Beth at the airport

Paris Day 2

Dinner purchased from several local shops: goat cheese, brie, a baguette, and cauliflower soup

Shop on Champs de Elysee

Accidental rediscovery of this statue of Winston Churchill near the Petit Palais (noted on my first trip to Paris)

McDonalds on Champs de Elysee (before the security guard intimated that pictures are prohibited)

Today did not turn out quite as planned; I inadvertently slept for several hours and the modern art museum I chose to visit closed early on a fluke. However, it was a lovely vacation day, and I am well fed, watered, and rested. Ended the day reading until midnight in a local cafe. Paris time matches my internal clock.