Above, Carnavalet Museum
Below, Andy and I in the mirrors at the Montparnasse Tower
Last night, trying to fall asleep, I realized that the true definition of vacation is sleeping in strange beds. It's the one thing that all trips have in common, isn't it?
Yesterday we went to the 56-story Montparnasse Tower. As I've heard said of the Harkness Tower in New Haven, it's said that the best thing about being in the Montparnasse tower is that you can't see. But the best thing, is of course, the view. Studying books, photos, maps, doesn't come close to seeing a city from high above. Not only is the Eiffel Tower very tall and graceful, but the Champs de Mars (the park at it base) is very expansive. Les Invalides (built as a veterans hospital, has Napoleon's Tomb), is a lesser known landmark, but is the next most striking from that height. The streets are in anything but a grid -- it's all diagonals and angles coming in to circles. Strangely, it was cold and windy on the street, but not on the 59th floor open terrace on top of the building. I have no explanation.
Today we went to the Marais, a neighboorhood on the right bank (with no bus mishaps!). City museums are free, so we checked out the Carnavalet Museum. Quite nice. Had trouble finding the exit though. I was beginning to feel like I was in Ikea, at that point when you've had enough but you can't seem to find the checkouts.
Strolled Luxembourg Gardens in the afternoon. The forsythia is in bloom. Pretty cool. There were many young families and young couples in their matching black, tailored, three-quarter-length coats, walking arm-in-arm.
Remembered that tomorrow is Sunday and stocked up on breakfast pastry for two days, as the bakeries are closed on Sundays. Heaven forbid that we should be forced to eat something healthy for breakfast. -E.
Finally got a chance to catch up with you. Sounds like you're having fun. Pastries are nice and baguettes with a little hunk of cheese are traditional but let us know when you've truly discovered the culinary decadence of Raclette.
ReplyDeleteOK, so it's Swiss. But the French have managed to take it to a new level. Check out Wiki and let the mouths begin to water. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette]. Shouldn't be too hard to find in Paris.
We were still thinking about heading over but the my GC plans are getting in the way. Enjoy and we'll catch you next time around.
KAW.
Is Andy wearing a beret yet while smoking cigarettes and drinking red wine while reading the Times or the latest John Le Carre A Most Wanted Man book? (Which by the way I actually made my way through.)
ReplyDeleteGeri. We both read it. It was better than his other recent novels. Interesting which country's spies scammed the rest in the end -- but don't give it away for anyone reading this.
ReplyDeleteKAW, we had Gratin dauphinois with dinner last night, now we can't go swimming for a week. Do stop by if you're in the hood -- that goes for for everyone. -E.
ReplyDelete