Day 19

Walked and walked and walked.

 Just love the patisseries of Paris.  Just another gem in passing in the Marais district.  Notice the hand made marshmallows on the top shelf.

 Musee de Carnavalet.  This room was full advertising from the past. Some charming, some a little weird.

 Passed this little allee several times.  Love the grafite and the bold, graphic quality of the fashion.

Day 18

Was up early hoping to be at the bank when it opened to retrieve my bank card but alas, it's  closed until Monday.  Took a couple of photos.

I visited a couple of quilt stores I had pulled up locations for on Mapquest, both only 6 minutes away.  The first Sajue was actually a thread/embroidery store carring a brand that I was not familiar with, something de chine.  All kinds and weights of thread, really interesting packaging.  The second appeared to be within a courtyard down a passageway with the rather mysterious words "Porquoi pas nous" translated to "Why not us" on the concrete over the passageway entry.  When I finally located it, a group of rather unsavory looking middle aged men were lodged in the entrance and I declined to search any farther.  

Ross agreed to visit Monmartre again so I could check out the Bergere yarn shop.  Had a nice lunch in the open French doors at a boulangerie.  Neither of us likes sitting in the sun or being 12" from the street while every passerby examines our food. 

Walked past Sacre-Coure and its gardens on the way.  Since the weather was gorgeous and its the beginning of a three day weekend the area was cheek by jowl people. I could barely walk down the steps in front of Sacre Coure and just about anywhere there is grass people are siting or laying there.

Day 17

After a late start, walked to the Centre Pompideau.  Picked up lunch on the way and sat for a long time eating and people watching on the very large brick courtyard.

So many people, single , couples, groups sitting, eating, chatting.  A couple of men were sound asleep in the sun, very probably homeless as they were ther when I arrived and again when I left several hours later.

This is just the far end of the courtyard.  After watching and completing a sketch, I got in a fairly long line to gain entry into the museum and then another line to purchase my ticket.

Le Centre Pompideau is dedicated to modern art and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  The current show was Paul Klee's work.  An amazingly prolific artist.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and have gained a new appreciation.  And such variety from a long career.

Finally found the exterior viewing outside.  For me a bit unsettling.  I could feel the bottom of my feet tingling in rythym with my tummy, my normal fear of heights response.  So I  very slowly, cautiously edged over to the railing, even now getting a little tummy twinge.  I also get quite uneasy when other people hold their phones and cameras over the abyss, so feeling that as well.  I totally ignore the kids, just cannot go there.

And the icing on the cake......the ATM ate my card.  Of course, this was after the bank closed and they are evidently celebrating Ascention Day or Victory Day and won't  open until Monday.  Surrendering to the Universe, holding in my heart the affirmation that my card will be released to me on Monday and will be functioning properly.  Seeing it in my hands and in my purse.  Thanking God for another adventure and opportunity to grow.

Day 16

After the exhausting day yesterday, seeing as much of Versailles as we could or more to the point as my feet could stand, we both slept in late this morning. And then went our separate ways.  As well as we get on, it can be a struggle coordinating our differing tastes and ways of coping in a foreign environment.
I picked up lunch from Ekk, a vegetarian restaurant.  You pick up a tray and choose your meal from a wide variety of choices.  I had  quinua salad with peas, snow peas and a spicy not hot orange dressing, spring rolls with a dip and a long skinny scone with raisins.  I walked down to the river to eat.
Parisians love to get outdoors in all kinds of weather.  People sit wherever there is space, on the banks, in the grass in the park, on benches, in front of restaurants, everywhere.  The streets are full of people walking, cars motorcycles, fewer bicycles, strollers, adults and children on scooters, roller blades, skateboards, hoverboards. I sat and ate, people watched, sketched and wandered on.

 Decided to visit Notre Dame de Paris.  Saw the line outside and decided to go around to the garden.

As I got ready to leave and walked up front I decided I couldn't leave eithout seeing the rose windows again.

As I was walking home wandered into the park at Tour St Jacques.

When I got home Ross had invested in Foie Gras, all I can say is OMG, is that good!!! and a variety of stinky cheeses, yum and baguettes from our favorite boulangerie and two more extraordinary desserts from Strohrers.

Day 15...Versailles

After a fairly confusing start at St Michals RER station....where to buy the tickets. Once we figured it out everyone was very helpful.  An hour or so train ride to Versailles and everyone rushes out and down the street.
The entrance is so impressive,  massive.  The scale of Versailles is almost indescribable, including the crowds.  Rather than waiting in a snake line covering half the courtyard of anywhere from 200 to 300+ people waiting to enter the chateau, after waiting 15 to 20 minutes to purchase tickets.  You purchase a ticket for each section you want to visit, chateau, gardens, Le Grande Trianon and Le Petit Trianon.
Go visit the gardens first!  So beautiful. We ended our visit with the Chateau.

 LePetit Trianon

 The French Gardens between  Le Grand Trianon and La Petite.

One disappointment, the information regarding the fountains operating was rather deceptive, only a couple were operating.  Yes, at one it was coordinated with the music but most were not running.  Supposedly the fountains operate on Tuesdays, in addition to the weekends but alas all I have are memories from my trip several years ago.

Fell in love with Marie Antoinette's estate and Le Petit Hameau. I'll have to borrow the movie with Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antointe again.

,

The chateau is beyond extravagant.

Train ride home was a different train with many more stops.  Sat across from a family of a Papa that was old enough to be a grandpa and younger but middle aged Mama and two daughters 8 to 10 years in age, all speaking French, American English and possibly Hebrew, my guess or Italian, Ross' guess.

Day 14

Since I almost had no photographs to show today, I'm  going to show one from the other day.  This is the best view from one of the three lovely pairs of windows that convinced us to rent this apartment.  The windows are large,  new construction but our view is a light shaft, only a tiny peek of the sky but no direct sunlight.  Our view looks into two offices in the building across the shaft.

My heel spur was really kicking up, to the point I was feeling nauseous.  Spent most of the morning reading "The Host" by Stephanie Meyer, quite good.

Ross went out to walk and I went to restaurant called "Eat Me" at the closest corner to our apartment.  Fresh food, almost vegetarian.  Sat and drew for the first time since arriving.
Then walked down to Les Halles and sat behind the giant egg shaped head statue in front of St. Eustace cathedral.   Spent an hour or so hand sewing buttonholes I couldn't complete at home on my sewing machine despite multiple tries.  Was lovely sitting in a shaded area looking out into the bright sun.
Went for a late dinner at a restaurant in this beautiful passageway called Gallery Vivienne.  Ended our meal with Ameretto Bertillon ice cream and caramel chocolat mousse.

Day 13

It's May day and a Sunday, a holiday for most Parisian citizens.  We decided to go to Buttes au Chaumont late morning after sleeping in, breakfast and putting some clothes in the tiny, very slow washing machine.  It uses very little water but pounds the dickens out of the clothes.  Quite effective.
After two transfers on the metro, including going over the Seine we reached our stop.  Walked uphill to the park passing several vendors selling Muguet, lily of the valley.  It's considered lucky to receive a sprig from a loved one.  Didn't explain the tradition clearly enough to Ross...
The Buttes were constructed from an old quarry.  Its another beautiful park.  Many areas for children to play.  It was packed, people on benches, on the grass, walking, running.  In one area many adults were boxing, kickboxing, doing tai chi, jump rope, situps on the railings, ballet bar.  Everywhere there were people in the sun, some just sunning, some eating, talking, many, many were reading, mostly real books rather than devices.

We plan on returning.  From there we went back to Luxembourg gardens.  Even busier and again people of all ages, lots of kids, lots of kids!  I watched a portion of a puppet show.  So cute!  There is a section right up front in the theatre exclusively for small children. A delightful young man, about 3 years old was sitting directly in front of me with his mother and grandmother.  Everytime a pair of the puppets would collide, he would roar with laughter.  I love a childs belly laugh.

I know I'm  repeating myself but I so appreciate how much space and effort is devoted to children.  There was even a huge section surrounded by very manicured hedges, looking like a very formal enclosed garden from the exterior until you listened closely, it was another enormous sand box area. There were areas with swing sets, an area with jungle gym type equipment for school age children, small childen in riding helmet on ponies being led down one of the paths. Model boats could be rented to sail on the huge reflecting pool.  And the flowers, blooming trees and shrubbery was spectacular.
Walked back across the river up to Les Halles and down Rue Montorgueil, which leads to our street.  It's listed in some sites with the Markets.  Lots of restaurants, patisseries, wine shops, food markets. Looked like every chair at every bistro that was open and on this street that was quite a few, had a body in it. And mostly younger people, in their 20's and 30's.
There is very little evidence in the city of an predominantly aging population.  I see a sprinkling of people my age and very few elderly in comparison to the hordes of young people.  So unlike at home, where you go to the store and are overwhelmingly surrounded by folks with white hair.