Boat cruise on the Seine - our last day

Sunday in Paris

The weekend days seem to be so enjoyed by Parisians - they fill the streets with lovers, companionable couples, families, roller bladers, lots of strollers pushed by proud parents. The pace is of course much slower than the week day - the French seem to really take a break - hummm ...do we?

We got ourselves organized in the am and actually figured out - ever so slightly - the washer/dryer - alas it takes forever and the cycle had finished but after 15 minutes figuring out how to start the cycle at the end (1 hour later) I infact added a little more water vs opening up the washer/dryer - there by of course defeating the dryer part...oh well. We then put a new load in and left hoping for the best.

After a lovely lunch - here lunch is cheap but as quick as you want - you can linger over your coffee and people watch - we did however have a mssion - Up Blvd Sebastopol we went - toward the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) where there is an outdoor rink and ferris wheel and kids sliding down the slides - lots of fun to watch - the weather is perfect for wandering - crisp and bright - a hat, gloves and nice coat makes for a perfect temperature.

We continued down to Notre Dame and toured around inside - quite crowded of course - but lit some candles and enjoyed the music.

Along the Seine for a block we found an artist who did beautiful water color and enjoyed talking to him - we crossed over into St. Germaine and onward to the latin quarter - shops, people, cafe's, ice cream, impromptu bands - it was a lot of fun. We took a coffee break and laugh at the tiny tables all crammed together - it is an international experience as you attempt to exit or leave your table - conversations flow with your partner but also table to table as required since we are "smell your perfume" close to each other.

We found a few gifts we wanted to bring home but mostly took lots of pictures, trying to capture the street scenes before we head home on Tuesday.

We crossed back across Pont Neuf in the twilight and got great views of the city profile - then we noticed people turning around and did the same - the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance and the twinkle lights were illuminating the sky.

We continued our way home and noticed many police and vans of police on Blvd Sebastopol - we made it back to Rambuteau and purchased our dinner meal to take upstairs when there was a huge commotion - some kind of parade! Hence the police for crowd control perhaps - not sure why the parade - we enjoyed the dancing and drumming for a while but very crowded so we headed up.

A full day of wandering, in fact six and a half hours of wandering - it was great to put our feet up!

We looked at our pictures then off to bed!

PS: that second load of laundry was quite wet - obviously we had not figured out the dryer part - so we stretched things over surfaces and figured we would dry them the old fashioned way!

Les Puces - the Paris Markets

Wow - can you say overwhelming????? We travelled to the north of Paris to Clingancourt - to the Paris Markets today - Saturday - Markets for everything - shoes, purses, clothing, cloth, and enjoyed the most the antiques and jewelry markets - followed closely by the furniture markets - but man it is crazy - when you get of the metro you are transformed in this insane situation of people all sorts of voices and colors and wow -it was interesting - we did lots of window shopping - unfortunately I lost my reading glasses upon exiting the metro so I had for some reason put my magnifying glass in my backpack -otherwise I was sunk looking at the small stuff - lunch there then we were ready to get back to our neighborhood!

We somehow got off at Chatelet the wrong direction which is a bit unusual for us and it then took us quite a while to re-situate ourselves and find our way home - I did however get a new pair of reading glasses in the NikeTown equivalent of new snazy eyewear - what a scene - with a personal assistant I toured the glasses selections and was surprised I did not have to spend much to get the most beautiful new french chic reading glasses - really I have never felt so good about spending 20euros - across the street was the Gap - this was as Martha would say - a good thing - it is just getting tricky to try to figure out washing and drying our stuff here - with a couple of days to go - we heard the angels singing when we saw The Gap- we both bought two new t-shirts - 10 euros each and we don't have to figure out washing some shirts - and they were on sale...that took care of the problem!

Everyone is out on a Saturday - visiting, doing errands - little kids walking with their parents- lots of baby strollers - so fun to people watch.

We headed to our favorite restaurant for an early dinner and met a lovely gal Carrie from Georgia University of Design - she is a senior doing an 8 week stint here - actually in Provence but they have a week in Paris where they are required to visit a number of museums - sounds pretty great to me! It was fun to hear her stories.

This picture is from the area around Centre Georges Pompidou - people are walking - having coffee - talking - artists - cycling -dancing - miming - it is all going on!

Friday Sacre Coeur, Montmartre

Friday we got up early (remember after our big nap yesterday we were in good form) and headed off to Sacre Coeur = it was a very rainy day but we loaded up our gear and went out - when you arrive in Montmarte you have to take a finicular up to the top near Sacre Coeur - everything is interesting - we looked at the stained glass and the statues and in the gift store - then a mass started - what perfect timing - I have never been to mass here in the times I had been - a nun in full garb that you don't see much - or at least I don't - sang so beautifully - it was wonderful - also I thought interesting though I haven't gone to mass in years - after my grade 6 in french I remembered all the responses in french. We lit candles for friends and family.

We then went back down to Montmarte to wander around and look at all the interesting people and signts - so many artistic people - the women older and younger tended to have more extravagant jewelery and hair and glasses. Our lunch at a cafe was lovely with leather chairs and a fireplace and heavy curtains on the windows - we seem to have at most one meal out at restaurants - but even then - a very lovely lunch with wine and coffee and a shared desert is 20-25 euros each - then otherwise during the day we just pick something up at a market. Wine is also very inexpensive here.

We found a boutique jewelery store that was very interesting and wandered forever to find a needle, thread and sissors as we had both lost buttons and needed to sew them on.

We did not wander as far as the Moulin Rouge but headed back to 29 Rambuteau to relax!

Hug - Tomorrow the Marche au Puces - flea market Paris style!

Todays photos I snagged from the internet - there was definitely no sunshine for us yesterday!

Thursday - Centre Georges Pompidou

We went to Centre George Pompidou today - our last day of our museum pass - then a yummy lunch and more wandering around. Was quite cold - so that was a bit of a change for us - we also checked out the French version of Home Depot - the coolest things - lamps, fabric, fixtures - but alas cannot fit in our luggage to get home!

Wednesday - Versailles

On our first rainy day in Paris we headed to Versailles - a 30 minute train ride from our apartment. We had purchased a 4 day museum pass earlier in the week so we just breeze into the short line and don't have to mess with the queu which is great! Versailles is just unbelievable - the excess - I mean no wonder there was a revolution - the rooms one after another - above is Dixie and I in the Hall of Mirrors - no I did not set the alarm off this time Marc - ha. We had no political discussions with anyone today but spotted Professor Quirrell in Versailles on vacation from Hogwarts...Back home to some shopping then dinner shopping and back to blogging, eating and relaxing! Hugs from Paris.

Tuesday - Musee D'Orsay

Lunch at Dorsay

Tuesday we went to the Musee Dorsay - which is my favorite museum because it is "bite size" you can see the whole thing in a couple of hours - and there is lots of art nouveau - beautiful furniture from the 1900-1920 period which weI love - also there happened to be a Charpontier exhibit - turned wood fashion from the early 1900's. We also had a celeb sighting and sat beside Camryn Manheim and her son for lunch at the Musee. There were many kids thru adults attending art classes in the museum - in hushed tones sketching. Some had one on one critic's going on with an individual teacher.I love the Dorsay clock - me in front of it here - picture taken on Dixie's new camera that Ron gave her...it is however not pink... We exited the museum in twilight and headed across the street to a cafe for some sparkling water and coffee - we were parched! We sat beside Rosie and Anita from Yorkshire England who were there visiting the museum as well and also at this point had sore feet, and we had a lively political and social discussion with them. Europeans/U.K have a great deal of info on US politics and are very interested in discussions in that regard. We were then weary and headed home to do our market for our dinner in the apartment - 29 rue Rambuteau - Happy to hear from Marco and the kids and to check the blog and our emails and get our connections with home. Dixie's favorite Degas Bronze

Village of Antony

Antony is southwest of Paris, a commuting suburb, 20-25 minutes by train.


On Sunday when we took the train to Antony we ended up in this really neat little town - it reminded me of my old town in Sonoma County - Sebastopol - everything there - We wanted to take a taxi to Galizio's but there are not many taxis on Sunday and it turned out it was walking distance. When we called over, Delfina said she would walk to come get us - and we waited outside this park for her. Walking back to their flat we passed the main stores - bustling with afternoon shoppers - the lines for the bakery out the door - as people buy their bread daily.

Marc's Aunt and Uncle live in a beautiful apartment overlooking the main street with hardwood floor and lots of light - the meal was a combination of French and Italian as Marc's cousin Dominique pointed out later. Antipasto of special meats and olives, then a pasta course of long noodles in a sausage tomato sauce, light, the then veal and salad, then cheese, then fruit, then dessert with wicked strong as they say in Boston - expresso which - I who don't drink too much coffee loved - it was a little strong for Dixie. Delfina kept giving her chocolate as well. What a great meal. Giovanna and one of her daughters and Dominque and his two daughters visited us after the meal. It was lively as I translated topics on Politics, History, Geography, American Elections, American President, French President and many things in between. At one point I kept translating back in French to Dixie - confusing her - I did mostly loose my voice after that. Giovanna and Laure d'anna then walked us back to the train station. It was a lovely afternoon.

Monday

Karen and Dixie in front of the Louvre
What a day - we (me) was very tired so I slept until noon and Dixie was kind enough not to wake me up - she woke at 11 and read.

We headed out for cafe au lait, cashing some travellers checks and breakfast/lunch! We used the Metro with our passes that turn out to be only for Parisians - so why did they sell them to us - whatever the lady did - so now we have all the zones for 7 days for 26 euros - a deal for sure...

Our plan was the Louvre - which we did and enjoyed greatly - we saw the Mona Lisa of course and much more - then were ready for some fresh air!

We walked thru the gardens of the Tuileries toward l'Etoile and the Champs de Elysees - we walked 'till it got dark then went for dinner on the Champs de Elysees - the restaurant was lovely and so was the wine - there was a couple from Austraia beside us celebrating his birthday and so we took pictures for them and sang him happy birthday - Happy Birthday Adrian!

More wandering in and out of stores on the Champs - Luis Vitton and others - window shopping! - we then went under the road and headed to the Arc de Triomphe - all lit up we wandered around looking at it - the Eiffel Tower in the distance was lit up and its search beam rotated thru the night. What a day - time to head back to the apartment. ahhhh back in our PJ's - Marco called so we got a little news from home and now we are relaxing thinking about what we will do tomorrow! Hugs from Paris - Karen and Dixie

Ron - Dixie is taking pictures like a mad woman and loves the camera you bought her - she really is! And we loved your post - sorry we decided not to stop in Chicago but went on!

Cousins

Walking to Centre Georges Pompideau

Visiting Marco's relatives

Pics

More on Saturday

Well glad we have now figured out internet in the apartment - the sink plug remains locked down in one of the bathrooms but we have the other bathroom and kitchen so we are doing OK - tomorrow we are going to visit Marco's Uncle and his family and they are cooking us an Italian meal - now we are no longer jet lagged and have the metro beside us- we are happy to hit the streets and negotiate the system -tomorrow traveling 4 zones... tonight was a bit of a challenge getting the hide a bed down today definately a Lucille Ball moment - wrestling one end while Dixie held down the other end and the middle would then pop up more for another day but enough said that we laughed for 15 minutes in our attempts to get it flat - it is now - so off to bed! Alice cannot wait to read the permission slip letter - ha. Hugs to J, CPuff and Marco too from Karen

Saturday in Paris

We got the trains down - and now have a week long pass - we are also not dragging luggage - though it took us 20 minutes to buy our pass for the week and had the assistant have to come out of the booth and help us - she was sweet - the guy from the U.K. behind us was yelling at us a little though - in English no less - all those Parisians were just smiling at us!

Dixie says...the Eiffel Tower was something that was incredible - no picture can express how mammoth the structure is when you are standing under it - I loved it!

As we headed home we went into several markets, one for the bread, one for the pastry, one for a quiche that we had while listening to music in our little apartment.

Last but not least from Dixie - Dinah Lynn -The people watching here is literally out of the world. You can I could stare for days! love from Paris - Dixie

Lynne thanks for your post - we loved it!

Melissa, Chase and Cameron - I miss you and love you - just to Cameron: Cameron wish you were here with me so we could ride together up to the top of the Eiffel Tower!

One Paris Story

From the airport - we took the RER Train to get to our apartment and keep in mind, we are pulling our bags and... keep in mind just carry on - a bag and a backpack - we are dragging our bags thru the exit at the train station - and cannot make them go thru - alarms are going off - finally I Karate chop my bag thru and Dixie does the same...we see the next couple calmly put their bags the the bag slide beside where we walk thru - ooops - how did me miss that one - they were not supposed to go thru the people part - so now heading down to Train to head to Chatelet des Halles - I warned Dixie this is the totally crazy stop - transfer of many metro cars and the RER Train- total crowds, fast moving and one has to interpret the many halls leading to and from Rue Rambuteau where our apartment is. But first you need your ticket to exit the metro - I told her to keep her ticket them promptly could not find mine...OK finally found...after much harassment from Dixie ...so
Karen goes thru and gets her bags stuck because the doors close so quickly on her bag - in the meantime, not knowing Karen's bags are stuck -Dixie sticks her ticket in but my bags are blocking hers - so then (we figure out in retrospect that that probably invalidated Dixie' ticket) when Dixie tries to get out she cannot...we are stuck on the other side of the wicket from each other and so I have to leave her and take off down the hall looking for help..and try to get an attendant ...meanwhile...Dixie is trying to get out and cannot, and keeps trying other wickets and all these people are rushing by her - getting out just fine - finally the attendant gives me an extra ticket to get her out - so I run back with the rescue ticket - and bring Dixie over to street side... - we have survived our first challenge - next time I am just bringing the clothes on my back - even carry on is too much for us to handle! We walk forever it seems down Rue Rambuteau - really two or three blocks...bump, bump, bump goes the luggage on the cobble stones, and meet our greeter at the apartment - her name is Carine - pronounced like me Karen - coincidence.Two complex locks and we are in the foyer - she turns to use and says three floors up - no elevator! Oooops didn't think to ask that question- bump bump bump up we go this narrow steep steep circular staircase - you really want to plan your trips because there is always the vertigo challenging stairs up or down!

We actually don't have internet in our apartment

So we might be posting less frequently but there is this great cafe in Les Halles - which is where we are near that has WiFi - yippee - coffee - eating outside and internet..life is good - and Dixie too! We had our adaptation day yesterday and kept is low key - I did get to walk around a bit - and have some cafe au lait of course! Remember Les Halles Jacquie - where I used the internet and you guys dropped me off - what a crazy place - so fun.

We made it

Stories and more to come - right now - just letting you know we made it - it was a long flight with a baby who would not settle behind us - but having a coffee waiting for the key to our apartment! Hugs from Paris!

Two days to Go

Dixie and I are heading out on Thursday - and are sooooo excited! We will post our stories and pictures here because we hear our apartment has internet - yippee!