After lunch at Les Antiquaires, we took a short walk to one of our favorites, Musee D’Orsay. Their collection of Impressionist art is a great one. They also had a Gaudi show, but — having seen many real Gaudi buildings in Barcelona — it left us a little short of thrilled! The D’Orsay is a converted railroad station; we love its look.
First stop: Gaudi:
And then the Impressionists:
It was just another short walk to the L’Orangerie on the Right Bank.
L’Orangerie is also another of my favorites and we have not been there since there was a three year renovation of the museum.
The most impressive rooms contain the Water Lilies painted by Claude Monet. Each room is a large oval and the paintings cover each of the walls. The photos do not do it justice, but it does give the idea.
On the floor below, there are many more famous paintings.
Can you tell we like Impressionism???? Okay, now we have been to three museums in one day — that is impressive!
We now had a lovely walk back to our apartment. We walked though the Tuileries — a beautiful and big garden on the Right Bank.
The next morning we were off to see what we could of Notre Dame. Unfortunately, entrance to the Memorial to the Deportation was closed due to the renovation of Notre Dame.
We walked to the close-by St. Chapelle, the most beautiful collection of stained glass windows that I’ve ever seen. First two pictures were in the lower floor; it was for the peasants. Then we were upstairs in the astonishing main church.
To get to the upper floor I was taken through the Palace of Justice where no pictures are allowed! Just call me a “law-breaker”!
John wanted crepes for lunch and there are a bunch of creperies on the left bank….so it was back over there. The problem was that there wasn’t room for ten at many of them; finally we found one, L’Auberge.
John and I opted to take a break while the rest went to see the Eiffel Tower. That evening we all went to my “must-do” restaurant when in Paris or NYC, Le Relais de Venise, L’Entrcote. Some of us went early and lined up outside- a necessary step. All you get to do inside is declare how you want you steak cooked and which wine you want. Then you are served a salad followed by slices of steak smothered in the best sauce you have ever tasted and a mountain of frites. This is followed by a second course of the same. It is truly a wonderful heart attack on a plate!
Kathryn sent me a video that evening, saying that it reminded her of me on this trip — on my “bike”.
We all walked up the street to the Arc de Triumph, posing for a picture.
Then John and I took an Uber back to the apartment while they walked back to the Eiffel Tower for the night view and to go up into it.
The next day, our last day, John and I basically did nothing. The kids all went to see a market and to do some chocolate and souvenir shopping. We all had lots of packing to do as we were being picked up at 7:30 am the next morning. Melissa took pictures similar to those I had taken in Paris years before.
They stopped for lunch, choosing favorites one last time!
That afternoon Campbell, Autari and Calder came by our apartment. It was great to see them again, even if only for a short visit. Campbell and Calder fell asleep in the Uber.
We had one last dinner, chosen for location rather than on the basis of food quality — big mistake, but it was the only food mistake of the trip and since my bike needed some maintenance we did not want to venture far. The family was afraid the back support was cracked and it might break with me on it.
It was a great trip and, hopefully, Melissa’s desire for “Enforced Culture” for her and Karl’s kids was fulfilled! We loved celebrating our mutual 75th birthdays (now 6 months and one year ago) with our family and sharing with them some of our favorite places we have visited !!!!
Love to All,
Beth
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