Paris

June 22 Wednesday We saw and did so much today! We got a light breakfast at one of the little cafes close to our place. We were able to get change to use on the bus to the train station as well as directions to the nearest bus stop. While at the train systion, we bought an unlimited week pass for buses and trains in the Paris area. Sure made our lives easier today. After getting into Paris, our first stop was the Musee D'Orsey. Just coming out of the subway, we were in a different world. The architecture screams Paris.

The museum's grand entrance hall has a high glass roof and is filled with statuary.

There is a special exhibit of Gaudy which we start with. If we hadn't already seen the Familia Sagrada, we probably would have spent more time here.

But, we're here to see the impressionist masters. They are on the top floor. It seems this is the area everyone wants to see as it is the most crowded. So wonderful to see the originals of the paintings that I'm familiar with through books. We could have spent a lot more time here but decide to go out for lunch before we're totally zapped. aAt first I was taking pictures of the paintings and then i thought i could look them up on the internet and have better images than I was taking. What I care about is that I saw them in person so I started taking selfies of me with the painting. Won't find those on the internet.

Down a side street we find a little hole in the wall place for lunch. We have pizza and wine. Now we feel rejuvinated and ready for more site seeing.We take the subway and pop out at Notre Dame. Recognizable but not herself. She is blocked off and shrouded in scoffolding. I feel tearful as I read the signs describing the work that is being done to repair her.

We walk along the water's edge to the point of the island where to catch a boatride on the Seine. We just miss one so wait the 30 minutes sitting on a park bench watching the pidgeons pecking at the rice cakes someone dropped. Tiny sparrow type birds swoop in and carry the pieces off to their own little place to pick them apart into edible chunks. We're on the lower level of the boat but at the very front. The boat goes as far as the Eiffel Tower and turns to go back up river.

We're near the starting point of the Rick Steves Paris walking tour which is Notre Dame. We're well rested so start what he suggest will take about 4 hours to fully appreciate. The tour was written before the Notre Dame fire so it includes inside things which we obviously can't do.

Behind the cathedral is the monument to deportees. This is to the Jews who were deported during WWII. It is modern and quite simple but very strong and moving. It is all below ground lwvwl.

The tour takes us to the Left bank and through the winding little streets that were the haunts of famous writers and intellectuals. Lots of small, interesting places to eat but we're not hungry. Maybe tomorrow. Several streets are blocked off to traffic and it seems that we can't follow the tour to the next stop which is Sainte chapelle. Nick is persistant and we walk around on the other side of the street and circle back. Nick shows our museum pass and we get in. I'm amazed as others were being turned away. The first floor is beautiful and the light is shining in nicely. I think that is all there is.

but Nick spots a stone spiral staircase going up. of course we have to see where it leads. For all I know, we may be heading up lots and lots of steps to a bell tower. I hear the people ahead of me gasp. i get there and gasp too. the whole room is stained glass! This part was all about and for royalty. It was built to house the crown of thorns that one of the Louises bought as the "original" one worn by Christ. One of the panels of stained glass depicts the crowning of biblical kings. There is a portico under it in which the French kings sat to symbolically show how they are in line after the biblical kings. This room really impressed me and was probably my favorite thing of the day. Maybe partly because I didn't have any expectations and was blown away.

NIck is looking at the gift shop and I spot a beautiful filigree ring. It is definitly costume jewlery but I really like it and it's only €30! It is small and going home with me.

After getting back to Fountainbleau, we stop at a cafe for onion soup and a beer. Wow! What a full and wonderful day!