I have completed the must-do items of my Paris experience. I have three more days here. So tomorrow I will go to Les Halles and la Marais. They are within walking distance and there are several museums in the area. Saturday, I plan to buy 2 bus tickets to go to and from Montmartre. Sunday I will return to les Iles. And one evening I have to stay out past dark to see the Eiffel Tower lit up. That’s the plan. We’ll see.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Finally, the Louvre
9/8/11 Another nice day with some pleasant surprises and only one faux pas. After petit dejeuner dans l’hotel, I went to the Louvre. The admission was only 10e which was my first pleasant surprise today. Bien sur, la musee et tres grande. I started on the ground level & made it to the Venus de Milo which is an anonymous creation, and really amazing. Even without her arms, this sculpture is so serene and elegant. Tres belle. Then I went up to the 2nd level where I saw many paintings – can’t name them, but enjoyed the experience. I also managed to view the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory, Rubens, Michaelangelo, Leonardi di Vinci, and so many others that I had not heard of. I had a lovely lunch in Café Robespierre Angelique of quiche, salad, and chocolate tarte. I left the museum about 4:30 or 5:00 after buying some cards as gifts and a book for myself. Before I went to my room for a little rest, I went to the little boutique a rue Moliere and bought Anne un bijou. Then I went out to la Rive Gauche to see what was going on. Things happen a la Rive Gauche. I found the little jewelry store I had visited last night. This time I chose a better ring, one whose symbol means meditation and it only cost 20e (instead of the star ring that cost 30e). I bought it and am very happy with my purchase. I was ready to head back towards “home.” Along the way I stopped at a sidewalk book display. I bought Heidi in French for 20c! So I can practice reading French without the shock of stumbling on reading scenes of beheadings and kinky sex. I got to Place Saint Michel with its monument to the freeing of Paris from the Nazis. I stopped to take a picture and heard music. There in the Plaza was a young man playing his original compositions on the piano. Beautiful free concert in the Plaza. I bought his CD and am so excited to take this treasure home. I listened to him play until he closed his performance, then continued my way home. I stopped at a restaurant for a little bite. I only wanted to try the foie gras which I ordered. It was different than I expected – sort of gelatinous, cold, firm. And when I didn’t order a full meal, the waiter got disinterested in serving me, which wouldn’t have been a problem if I had had cash on me. But I had used all my daily ration of cash and needed to pay with a credit card. Finally, after a long wait, a cashier came & took my charge and I could leave. I didn’t leave a tip because the service was not good. So the experience was negative on both sides. But the day had so many gifts and delights, that I can’t hang onto the one negative incident.
Labels:
Mona Lisa,
Venus de Milo
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Have you tried to rea Heidi yet?
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