We woke up early to go to The Notre Dame to participate in a Prayer Service and the Greggorian Mass. It was so COLD during our walk and even colder in the cathedral. The services were so boring and long and cold (it was all in French and they didn't give us hymnals so we could follow the music). If I ever wanted to be catholic before I absolutely never want to be catholic again (no offense meant to any of my catholic friends and family). I can’t believe how COLD I was. And I was so tired and they kept making me stand up when all I wanted to do was sleep. I think I should try the services again in spring when I am well rested, not so cold, and well fed (rather than constantly hungry due to the forced diet here in France...portion control is everywhere since they don't have supermarkets and bulk goods in their tiny shops...shopping is an all day adventure as you go from one store to the other to get everything on your list and in small quantities so you have to do it all over again in two days.)
Morning view as we exit the apartment.
Cold morning view of Notre Dame.
Afterwards we looked at the line for the roof and changed our minds. There was no way we’d be able to stand in line for a few hours because we were so cold. So, we headed over to the Latin Quarter to try and find food and a warm place to sit. Bruce, my cousin’s husband, recommended we try out a Le Grec pita. This was a great idea and perfect for two cold girls. We ordered and sat in a warm little shop and ate the delicious sandwich. I love shaved meat sandwiches.
Next are just some street views.
Then we strolled down to the Museum d’Orsay. There we stood in line, but luckily we were still warm from our food and walk. The line moved pretty fast, good thing because the museum would prove to require a lot of our time. There were 5 floors needing to be perused. We perused them in leisure despite our barking dogs and screaming backs. Such great art. The meanest part of the museum was the Art Nouveau section that had lots of chairs on display but we couldn’t sit in them…those poor chairs are not fulfilling the measure of their creation. And they didn’t let us take pictures so you are all spared the plethora of pictures of art pieces I found particularly pleasing or obscene. There sure were a lot of nekkid women and men in this museum. My eyes are hurting.
I found a few of my favorite pieces:
Levy Dhurmer
Fernand Cormon : Cain
This installation was also a big hit with Cindy and I. It was on floor 5 and although it was crowded with lots of people and the fabric looked well rested on we couldn't resist the chance to lie down and close our eyes for a few seconds.
I have decided I really want to put sculptures in the round-abouts in Utah. I'd put an armoured Rhino in one for sure.
When we left it was getting dark. We figured we’d go home and see if Jaron wanted to go out to eat. But then we spied the ferrs wheel in the far distance and decided to wander over and see about taking it for a spin. It was a lazy two turns around with a great view of the evening skyline of the city.
Cindy found a way to do a good turn today. She helped a lady with a stroller go up stairs. This is the lady (very fuzzy) scurrying away from the crazy Utah tourists who had nothing better to do than help her with her kid.
I thought the next two kind of cool:
While we were up on high we heard a cacophony of sirens and looked down to see a parade of emergency vehicles going somewhere (probably transporting a dignitary somewhere social). Blue lights on the left. Red lights on the right is traffic.
The nice attempt of the man and his kids on the ride with us to take our picture...my camera requires a steady hand when it is dark.
The walk home took us past the Arc de Triumph Carousel again and the Louvre.
Time to head home. We’ve gotten better at finding our way back to home so there wasn’t any getting lost this time. Jaron had made beef stew that wsa delicious and perfect for a cold night home. Then we watched Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and One Crazy Summer. It was a nice lazy night at home. Perfect way to end the day. I went in and out of sleep and now I am wide awake.
Jaron also made Banana Nut Bread with a special secret ingredient that I hope to try when I get home, I’m not telling because I want to surprise you all. And I want to make chocolate ginger nougat/ganache sticks that I want to try and replicate when I get home. AND I want to make a scarf with a fringe of flimsy material. And I want to wear more skirts and tights and be like a womanly and typical French lady…which means I need boots and scarves and skirts and sexy legs.
Below are notes to myself:
These are the artists I need to revisit – some are spelled wrong because I can’t read my chicken scratch now that I am home and relaxed (I need to remember to take a bigger piece of paper with me to the Louvre so I don’t have the same problem later):
Levy Dhurmerhttp
Jean-Leon Germone (Jerusalem – Golgotha)
Camille Passeirro
Honore Daumier
Joseph Urban (Chaise)
Léon Frédéric (Les âges de l'ouvrier)
Bernhard Hoetger
Rodin
Georges Seurat
Francois Pompon (Grand-duc)
Pierre Bonnard (Le Chat Blanc)
Fernand Cormon (Cain)
2 comments:
I love the carousel pictures!
I like boots but not the super high heel ones. What do they wear in paris?
That lunch looks so yummy. So jealous, food like that just isn't the same in the states.
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