Hi Everyone,
It is not only spring time in Paris, but this week marks, Betty time as well. My lovely wife of almost 27 years, (June 29) arrived last Thursday and we have taken to the road. There will be lots of wonderful memories, great stories, and some pictures that will make you wish you were there to experience the beauty of France. However, a quick disclaimer, we will not be posting pictures until after she departs France. Time with her is too valuable.
The days have lengthened, granting my wishes to extend the light, in order to make the days seam longer. It is nearing 9 PM, and it is still light enough for the birds to be trying to gather the last few morsels of food before having to roost for the night. Betty and I are in a little B&B outside of Tours, in the Loire Valley, taking it easy and watching fish break the surface of the little pond of dark water that reflects the willows. The wine is from a little town called Vouvrey, and is sweet and cool, but not as cool as the breeze, or as sweet as the lilacs blooming nearby, but still puts us in a mellow mood of delight. Betty spent time sitting on an upturned row boat, whistling to the birds and trying to coax the frogs to sing their song of love, while I gaze at her and the pond and think of how great life is. I love wine.
Time for dinner, Talk to you all soon.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Well, another first of the month. Here in Paris that means free museum day. This month, I decided to make up for lost time and mapped out 5 different museums that I could check out for free. Up early and out the door before 0900. The streets were empty and the metro was all but abandoned. I took the correct connector rail and in the right direction and got off within a few blocks of The Musee de Moyan Age. The museum wasn’t that great, but the grounds and the basement house the roman baths and that alone was worth the walk.
Then a short stroll across the seine and onto one of the islands, to visit the Conciergerie, that once housed the jail that kept prisoners prior to their execution, including Marie Antoinette. I must say I was a bit disappointed, and would probably skip it next time. Third on the list was Musee Picasso. Yes, I had a list and it was numbered. Pretty impressive, housed in an old hotel, it matches the artist work perfectly with confusing levels, nooks, crannies and several doorways that bring you back to where you started. The art work was displayed nicely and the selection was diverse.
I was getting a little tired by then and headed towards the metro station thinking that I would stop at the next café and have lunch. Well I ran across the Center Pompidou, the home of the Musee National D’Art Modern, and I couldn’t resist adding a sixth one to the list. So I went in and up the multiple layers to the entrance of the Museum and lost myself for the next hour and a half in all sorts of displays and artwork.
Not being able to ignore my hunger any longer, I left the museum and found a nice little sidewalk café to sit, rest my legs, and enjoy lunch and the view of people passing. I imagined that everyone of them envied me, sitting in the warm sun sipping my wine, enjoying the luxury of time. Little did they know that I was on a race with the closing time of two more museums.
Off I went in search of Musee Gustave Moreau. Tucked away on a twist of streets and halfway up a cobble stoned street was an unassuming façade that didn’t hold much promise, but for that it was all the more intriguing. The lobby was small and quickly led to a staircase, too narrow for a museum. Circling around to the second floor then to the third, I was first caught by the size of the room, then the size of some of the paintings, then captured by the circular staircase that dominated one end of the room and led up to the fourth and final floor. The paintings were oils. Some had religious themes and some were of mythology. An interesting mix of faith from two very different ages. This is one that anyone coming to France should see.
It was getting late and time for museum visits was winding down. One last stop on the outskirts of Paris on the edge of the Park between the Arch de Truimphe and the Arch La Defense. “The Musee des Arts et Traditions Popular has definitely closed since September” The sign on the door read. I interpreted it to mean indefinitely closed since September, after walking through the open door and wandering around what was once the grand entrance. I turned and walked home, exhausted, but meeting my goal. A great day in Paris.
Then a short stroll across the seine and onto one of the islands, to visit the Conciergerie, that once housed the jail that kept prisoners prior to their execution, including Marie Antoinette. I must say I was a bit disappointed, and would probably skip it next time. Third on the list was Musee Picasso. Yes, I had a list and it was numbered. Pretty impressive, housed in an old hotel, it matches the artist work perfectly with confusing levels, nooks, crannies and several doorways that bring you back to where you started. The art work was displayed nicely and the selection was diverse.
I was getting a little tired by then and headed towards the metro station thinking that I would stop at the next café and have lunch. Well I ran across the Center Pompidou, the home of the Musee National D’Art Modern, and I couldn’t resist adding a sixth one to the list. So I went in and up the multiple layers to the entrance of the Museum and lost myself for the next hour and a half in all sorts of displays and artwork.
Not being able to ignore my hunger any longer, I left the museum and found a nice little sidewalk café to sit, rest my legs, and enjoy lunch and the view of people passing. I imagined that everyone of them envied me, sitting in the warm sun sipping my wine, enjoying the luxury of time. Little did they know that I was on a race with the closing time of two more museums.
Off I went in search of Musee Gustave Moreau. Tucked away on a twist of streets and halfway up a cobble stoned street was an unassuming façade that didn’t hold much promise, but for that it was all the more intriguing. The lobby was small and quickly led to a staircase, too narrow for a museum. Circling around to the second floor then to the third, I was first caught by the size of the room, then the size of some of the paintings, then captured by the circular staircase that dominated one end of the room and led up to the fourth and final floor. The paintings were oils. Some had religious themes and some were of mythology. An interesting mix of faith from two very different ages. This is one that anyone coming to France should see.
It was getting late and time for museum visits was winding down. One last stop on the outskirts of Paris on the edge of the Park between the Arch de Truimphe and the Arch La Defense. “The Musee des Arts et Traditions Popular has definitely closed since September” The sign on the door read. I interpreted it to mean indefinitely closed since September, after walking through the open door and wandering around what was once the grand entrance. I turned and walked home, exhausted, but meeting my goal. A great day in Paris.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Last weekend was all about sights, sounds and even smells. I traveled to Versailles and on my way walked through a street market. If you have never seen one, it is really a community event. They typical stretch for a couple of blocks and the vendors have everything from clothing to fresh cut flowers to fresh fish. I have uploaded some pictures so that you can see the sights of the market.
Unfortunately I can't share the sounds, but it is an orchestra of voices from people calling out their specials, and customers asking questions, talking to each other, and placing their orders. There are some vendors with music playing, others have motorized grinders to produce fresh ground beef. A few of the fish tables have tanks with fish being kept alive with air being pumped through the water, creating an irregular blobbing sound mixed with the constant hum of the pump. All of this is underscored with the intermittent sound of traffic in the background.
The smells of the market are from a wide range, fresh flowers, some cut and ready for the vase, others still in the pot and beginning to bud. Sweet perfumes lifting into the air, and earthy warm aromas from the potted plants. Walk a couple of yards and there are roasted chickens filling the air with a spicy mouth watering aroma, even if you have just eaten, you can't help choke back the urge to taste them. A little further down the row is the bakery table. I am not sure how, but they make is smell as if they are baking bread right there on the spot. The most amazing aroma in the whole market is the chocolate. There are always several tables selling chocolates, fudge and candies, but the chocolate crescants are what get you. They take great joy in making everyone who passes by, stop dead in their tracks and inhale deeply through their nose. I would suggest taking in as much of the pleasant aromas befoer passing one of the fish tables. Here the distinct smell of the sea is painted over with the stronger odor of fish, squid, and other Fruits de mer, as it is called here.
After the market I took the train to see the Chateau DE Versailles, the summer palace of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. I walked through the gardens and lost myself in anther time. There is an English garden there with a farm like feel, including a lot of animals that you would expect to find on a working farm. Plenty of sights, sounds and smells there as well. I spent all afternoon just walking the gardens, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sights of spring taking over where winter had been. Green grass, budding trees, and flowers just now pushing their way out of the dirt and as soon as they are free, they create a flower, as if they just couldn't risk getting taller. The Chateau and gardens match each other in size and grandure. It is really something that has to be seen to be appreciated. No matter what you read, or what pictures you see, there is no way to be prepared. It is truly overwhelming. An amazing show of wealth and privilege.
I have posted some pictures of this as well, but, it is on the scale of the Grand Canyon, until you walk up to the edge and look in, nothing prepares you. Enjoy.
Unfortunately I can't share the sounds, but it is an orchestra of voices from people calling out their specials, and customers asking questions, talking to each other, and placing their orders. There are some vendors with music playing, others have motorized grinders to produce fresh ground beef. A few of the fish tables have tanks with fish being kept alive with air being pumped through the water, creating an irregular blobbing sound mixed with the constant hum of the pump. All of this is underscored with the intermittent sound of traffic in the background.
The smells of the market are from a wide range, fresh flowers, some cut and ready for the vase, others still in the pot and beginning to bud. Sweet perfumes lifting into the air, and earthy warm aromas from the potted plants. Walk a couple of yards and there are roasted chickens filling the air with a spicy mouth watering aroma, even if you have just eaten, you can't help choke back the urge to taste them. A little further down the row is the bakery table. I am not sure how, but they make is smell as if they are baking bread right there on the spot. The most amazing aroma in the whole market is the chocolate. There are always several tables selling chocolates, fudge and candies, but the chocolate crescants are what get you. They take great joy in making everyone who passes by, stop dead in their tracks and inhale deeply through their nose. I would suggest taking in as much of the pleasant aromas befoer passing one of the fish tables. Here the distinct smell of the sea is painted over with the stronger odor of fish, squid, and other Fruits de mer, as it is called here.
After the market I took the train to see the Chateau DE Versailles, the summer palace of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette. I walked through the gardens and lost myself in anther time. There is an English garden there with a farm like feel, including a lot of animals that you would expect to find on a working farm. Plenty of sights, sounds and smells there as well. I spent all afternoon just walking the gardens, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the sights of spring taking over where winter had been. Green grass, budding trees, and flowers just now pushing their way out of the dirt and as soon as they are free, they create a flower, as if they just couldn't risk getting taller. The Chateau and gardens match each other in size and grandure. It is really something that has to be seen to be appreciated. No matter what you read, or what pictures you see, there is no way to be prepared. It is truly overwhelming. An amazing show of wealth and privilege.
I have posted some pictures of this as well, but, it is on the scale of the Grand Canyon, until you walk up to the edge and look in, nothing prepares you. Enjoy.
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