jour 2, lundi, le 29 novembre

Very cold again today. It snowed over night, with a fine dusting on the cars, grass and bushes. Overcast and foggy this morning. Due to the cold, the plan is to do one major thing each day. Today is the Louvre.

Arrived just after opening and there was no one there at security or at the ticket machines!!! I explained to Katarina that the crowds in summer are overwhelming and ruin your visit. This time was the smalles crowds I had ever seen. In many rooms it was just us and the paintings.

Of course, first headed to the Mona Lisa. Only a few people there, a few seconds waiting and you were standing directly in front. Across from the Mona Lisa is the very large Les Noces de Cana. Mary loves this painting and on each visit I oblige her with a photo.



For the next several hours we visited the large format French paintings, the Napoleon apartments, the Northern Europe area (Dutch/German, etc.) and saw the Rembrandts, Durer... And then my favourite, the two courtyards filled with sculptures. This is one area where the natural light fills the hall and makes it very special. I could spend all day here, sitting and soaking it all in. On visits by myself this is where I go first and spend a long time.



After a quick sandwich at the Louvre, it was a walk to the Palais Royal. Unfortunately it was under major renovation.



A quick trip to Galeries Vivienne and then back to Rue de Rivoli to walk under the Arcades. From there cross the street to the Tuileries gardens and ended up to Place de la Concorde. I was still wanting to go on but Katarina was suffering from the cold and her feet were hurting (blister) so took the metro back to the apartment (with a quick stop at Monoprix to buy ingredients for dinner).

The agreement was to go back out after we'd warmed up (to catch the blue light at sunset). However, Katarina once thawed out had no intention of walking for hours again. She stayed and cooked dinner while I headed for the Tour Montparnasse. Unfortunately, when I arrived it was snowing!!! They said it was to be clear. Headed back by way of the Arc de Triomphe and the skies had cleared.



Took a couple of photos in the cold and then back to the apartment for a wonderful dinner.

Early to bed (which seems to be the norm).

jour 1, dimanche, le 28 novembre

After a well needed sleep we had breakfast and out into the cold. And it was cold, fingers and face felt it the most.

Bought the pass Navigo Decouverte for Katarina at metro Bastille.

And then to the Marché Richard Lenoir near Bastille. It's just a couple of streets away. Wonderful as always. So much on display: cheese, bread, meat, seafood, etc. (simply incredible) And the crowds!!! It is so much fun to be a part of it all and do some shopping for the apartment. Did the touristy stuff and bought some soap and magnets (yes more magnets). But the difference is that the sellers of these items only spoke French, even though the majority of buyers would speak English. And bought some oranges after being "shouted" to try some. Also bought boeuf bourguignon for dinner and merguez sausage for a future meal.


There was an entertaining street performer at the market.


Back to the apartment for lunch. Then went to the other side of the Bastille to look for the Lazy Dog bookstore that was to have a display in the window for "Space Invader". Unfortunately the display must have been changed the day before. But there was an interesting BD shop across the street and a lot of Space Invader mosaics and other street art to see.

After, we went for a very long walk through the Marais and joined the throng of crowds walking on a Sunday afternoon. The Marais is the perfect place on a Sunday afternoon, even during cold winter weather. And the lineups to get into restaurants in the Jewish section were incredible.


After the Marais we walked as far east as the Pompidou Centre to see the Stravinsky fountain and then back along rue Saint Antoine.


Saw the restored Tour Saint Jacques.
Katarina's feet were hurting so back to the apartment. A quick stop at the Miss Manon bakery for a baguette.

Dinner at home. Boeuf bourguignon, baguette and orangina. For dessert, pastries we picked up from the wonderful bakery on Boulevard Beaumarchais, Au Levain de Marais.

Planned on going out afer dinner but Katarina curled up into a ball to try to get warm and fell asleep. Even though the radiators are going full blast in the apartment, the single pane windows that don't quite seal, have a hard time keeping the cold out. Very charming but not effective in zero degree temperatures.

So off to bed with the plan to get up early tomorrow for a visit to the Louvre. An important check off the list item.

Travelling to Paris

Long flight to Paris. Security certainly more stringent in Paris than Vancouver. Unfortunately our 1:20 flight from Frankfurt to Paris was delayed by 1 hour, problems with the plane arriving on time from Budapest.

Katarina commented on the incessant "do da da daaa" intro sound at the CDG RER station.Train ride was uneventful.Love the "don't get your hands in the door" signs.


After our arrival went to the Monoprix for groceries.

On the way back went through Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine and by Hotel Jeanne d'Arc.

Off to Paris

Well the day has finally arrived. Katarina and I are off to Paris. For Katarina it is her first trip to Paris, for me, well let's just say it has become an annual trip. Waiting at the Vancouver airport I came across perfume displays that reminded me of Paris.