1. Yesterday Pat & Cyndy went to the Musee d'Orsay (my favorite). Not to be outdone, the rest of us went there today. Although it has one of the best collections of Impressionist art anywhere, you'll have to look those up to see them. Instead this is one of their "decorative arts" rooms. A cut above our hotel room I must say.
2. The museum is actually a beautiful old train station that has been converted into an art gallery - so wise the French. We said we'd meet up under the clock and actually managed to do just that.
3. This photo is amazing since we've all managed to stand and start moving once again after another wonderful lunch. Our restaurant (which I realized you can't see unless your screen is bigger than mine) is on the corner on the left. Where we're headed is Montmartre and the church on the hill which is visible at the end of the street (also probably not visible in this photo - oh well, I tried.)
4. The subway station, Solfenino (also the name of our restaurant) and Montmartre where we're headed. (I knew I'd never remember those names unless I took a photo. Besides, when was the last time you say the inside of the Paris Solfenino subway stop?)
5. Sacre-Cour, the beautiful church on the hill completed in 1914. It's up, waaaaay up, on the hill. After getting off the subway train the sign at the bottom of the exit stairs said (in 3 languages, almost unheard of in Paris) "Caution, 92 steps". We opted for the elevator even though we could have probably used to the exercise to walk off lunch.
6. The Montmartre area is full of artists and is a fun place to visit. This is one of the street performers who sang classic French songs to a crank music box. She was terrific and we contributed to her basket. Do you suppose John could do something like this on the streets of Earlville?
7. All over Paris are the "commuter" bikes. You put in some coins and take a bike for a few hours, then return it to any of the charging stations. Of course, you have to be absolutely nuts to ride a bike in Paris traffic but it's still a neat idea.
8. A little wine before dinner under the hotel mirror. Cyndy flies back to Philadelphia tomorrow. The rest of us brave all, pick up our rental car, and hope that most of Paris sleeps late on Sunday morning!
9, Looking down from our hotel room... Who are those rowdy folks? Could it be John, Pat & Cyndy?
Tomorrow we head to the country where the noise level will be considerably less. Am not sure what kind of internet access we'll find so it may be a couple of days before you hear from us again.
Back in the states, it's a little known fact that you can actually fly fish in downtown Boise (in the river that is). One fisherman reported seeing a whir of red on the street above. Could it have been?
