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| Champs d' Elysees grandeur |
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| Strolling along the Seine |
As far as museums go - well, we definitely have our favorites. I favor the impressionists and the artists' ability to capture sunlight and the color of the fields and small villages of Provence. Ernie favors sculpture, history and the unlimited collections of military paraphernalia dating back to the beginning of civilization. These are all in abundance in the museums here in Paris. Here is just a small sampling of what we have enjoyed seeing and doing over this past week:
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| With friends from Dutch Flat, we visited a contemporary realist artist, Angie Brooksby, at her studio. She is quite talented! This scene is from the US. |
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| From the lunch terrace, we viewed the iconic pyramids of the Louvre |
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| Indoor sculpture garden - Louvre |
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| Messing around with trouble - Louvre |
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| Ancient Greek pottery - 1200 BCE. Note the artist's signature above - Louvre |
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| Inside the pyramid looking out - Louvre |
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| We're definitely safe; the military is prevalent in the Marais. This was taken from our window. Note the big guns! |
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| Musee de l' Armee - we couldn't believe the sheer quantity of ancient armor here & the artistry involved! |
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| Entrance to Napoleon's tomb |
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| Napoleon's tomb - forever revered |
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| Chapel - Napoleon's tomb |
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| Intricate artistry on ancient pistols |
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| Giverny gardens - but in the St. Germain area |
Throughout Paris, wherever construction work is being done on famous buildings, artwork is used to camoflauge the effort and at times, it is so well done, one can hardly notice the construction. We saw this at Versailles, at the Musee de l' Armee, and all over the city.
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| The Pantheon was being remodeled, but original artwork camouflaged the construction effort. Note the happy faces. |
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| Galeries Lafayette - shopping in elegant surroundings. |
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| The Galeries Lafayette stained-glass dome. |
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| Another wonderful cafe - where we observed the locals and tourists. |
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| Dinner - Saumon et haricorts verts (with quinoa) - yum |
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| Arc de Triomphe - lots of traffic and chaos! |
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| Champs d' Elysee Abercrombie and Fitch store entry path |
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| Massive door to A and F store - teen clothes in elegant surroundings |
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| Tuileries gardens |
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| Exterior view of the Denon Louvre wing - it is enormous and grand. |
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| Another grand boulevard |
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| Half of this is a painting covering the construction - Musee d' Armee (the bleachers were for the WWII celebration) |
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| An ancient Roman bath site - viewed at the Cluny museum complemented with Gregorian chants |
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| One of the famous "unicorn tapestries" at the Cluny |
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| Luxembourg gardens - a great place to relax and breathe |
Throughout the parks in Paris are fantastical children's playgrounds with trampolines, tiny sailboat rentals (complete with long sticks), and all types of play equipment. (Where are the lawyers?)
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| Children rent sailboats here - a child's paradise |
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| Marie d' Medici's famous Palais du Luxembourg |
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| Street art |
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| Relaxing for lunch at Carettes - in the Place des Vosges square |
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| Fairy tale homes |
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| Chicken window art - for Lisa and Ava |
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| Another view of Notre Dame and the thousands of locks |
People in France still read - apparently, and Libraries (bookstores) are readily available.
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| Shakespeare and Co. made famous from the 1920 - 30's. Fun for its books in English |
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| Tiny car; tiny doorway. She actually made it - backing in. |
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| Copper pots - anyone? |
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| Window art - sweet treats |
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| Monet's Water Lilies - the Musee de Orangerie |
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| More water lilies |
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| I could have stood there all day...nearly blind, he completed these masterpieces near the end of his life |
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| Gauguin - Musee de Orangerie - Paul Guillaume collection |
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| Haussman-styled buildings near Galleries Lafayette |
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| A favorite lunch spot near our apartment |
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| Opera Garnier and city viewed from the rooftop terrace of the Galleries Lafayette |
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| Stairs to deportation - WWII, Ile de Cite |
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| Quiet, charming 1920's era Tea Caddy lunch spot - Rive Gauche (Left Bank) - one block from chaos. |
Yesterday we spent the entire day taking it easy - touring with the theme: rivers, gardens and bridges. We followed the Seine and crossed back and forth over each of the bridges, then explored the Luxembourg gardens...and the little left bank neighborhoods hidden behind the main streets. This is the way to travel!
Today, we're off to the BHV - a huge department store in search of a few small necessities. We will probably find everything we don't need and more.
....you kids are right on track.....don't forget to explore ile de City, St.Louis En L'le (the two islands), lots to see there......what a treat this is for us.....and knowing you are getting to take all this in on your lst visit......wow.....where are you finding all the energy....oops..Your In The Center of The Universe.....that's enough inspiration.....it's hard to close your eyes there is just to much to feast them on.......yes...
ReplyDeleteNow please get some REST
D&A
Yes; we've enjoyed the two islands very much - and since they are very close to our apartment we have gone there often. We have had such a wonderful time and this could easily become a way of life - with everything easily reached (within 5 minutes) by walking - the boulangerie, the cheese shop, the vege stand and the little market with all the other goodies. Even our favorite restaurants and treat shops are all typically just around the corner. We have really enjoyed the Marais neighborhood for that reason and we realized that Paris is simply that - a grouping of neighborhoods with everything you need. What a great concept! We're going to miss it when we come home. We're getting ready to leave Paris now for Burgundy and we have thoroughly enjoyed it!
DeleteHave fun and give the Rock a big hug for us;
N and E