What to do in Paris when it's over. I think that this is a great city to walk around in, there is always something new to explore. We bought some books at an english bookstore, Librarie Galgani, and spent the day in the Jardin des Tuileries by the Louvre. After a picnic lunch we transferred to the Jardin de le Palais Royale a few blocks away (it is truly an exhausting existence that we lead!). In this park is where we saw fellow American, Conan O'Brien. Can anyone tell me if Late Night is on repeats this week? After dinner, we [View Full Entry]

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Cara here- I'm taking over the keyboard since it is too painful to watch Eric type! Today, we conquered the Louvre-- we decided to go late since that is when the crowds are supposedly less crazy. In order to prepare, we had a quiet day-- Eric found another outdoor market, and I snuck out shopping! I went to Etam, the French version of "H&M"-- although there is one of those on every street corner as well. I also rewarded myself with a handbag-- I was very excited and didn't need Eric to translate for me: "I want THAT, please" works just [View Full Entry]

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Time to get out the city for a day. Chartres is about an hour out of the city and surprise! it has a cathedral (reportedly, the finest example of pure Gothic architecture in Europe). It was a peaceful break from Paris. With all the fresh vegetables, great cheese and bread, I've usually cooked dinner but tonight we ate out. We looked for somewhere crowded and French, and found it right down the street at "Bistrot Beaubourg". While there, everyone spoke to us in French. Cara was a little overwhelmed but very happy with her steak and pommes frites! [View Full Entry]

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In the morning, Cara and I visited the Opera Garnier. We took an excellent and extremely informative tour. Our guide explained that some of the apects of "The Phantom Of The Opera" such as the lake under the Opera House, the falling chandelier, and even the Phantom himself, were gleaned from actual aspects of the Opera Garnier. In the afternoon, we visited St. Chappelle, a "Chapel" near the Notre Dame whose exterior hides an interior with so many large magnificient stained glass windows that one wonders why the chapel doesn't collapse. The early evening was spent relaxing in the Jardin [View Full Entry]

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I am finding that weather reports aren't as frequent or detailed as in the States. Perhaps, I am just not looking in the right place. As a result, we are occasionally caught off guard. It's 30 degrees C today which is pretty hot. Paris is at her quietest on Sunday, when everyone sleeps in from the night before and at her craziest on Saturday. Most of the shops are closed on Sunday so buy an extra baguette. We visited the Musee Malliol for a Gustav Klimt exhibition. Our last "biggie" is the Louvre which we have been postponing on account of [View Full Entry]

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Today is errand day: Groceries, shopping and laundry. This part of the culture is just as important to me as everything else. Cara wanted to explore a Parisian shopping mall called "Gallerie Lafayette." A French mall (at least this one) is not like what we are used to. By far, it's the most ornate mall, I've ever been seen. Cara touched a Ferragamo. That may not be significant to everyone but it's the handbag version of sitting in Lamborgini. [View Full Entry]

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Cara and I went back to the Notre Dame to visit the archaelogical crypt underneath. The crypt fleshes out the history and growth of Paris since it was settled by the Parisii tribe 300 years before the birth of Christ. We spent the afternoon visting the Musée Rodin. I find smaller museums to be more interesting, less over-whelming and more manageable. In the evening, I've seen this French show called "Sans Aucun Doute." If someone is familiar with this show and would like to explain it to me, please add a comment below. Until nest time, check out the photos. [View Full Entry]

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Eiffel Tower Day! Some people don't think that the 900 ft. view over Paris from Eiffel Tower is worth the crowds, hassle, and time and I understand their reasoning. We arrived early and fought our way to the top and then spent the afternoon relaxing and exploring French markets on the nearby Rue Cler. [View Full Entry]

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Versaille is huge, ornate, and exhausting. Ultimately, it was meant to be a physical manisfestation of the wealth and power of Louis XVI, the sun king...but then came the French Revolution. Relaxing in the garden afterwards on bench, bike, or boat is a good offset to the experience. I set off the metal detectors entering security but much like at the airport, this really doesn't mean anything. [View Full Entry]

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Why did we visit the Museé D'Orsay on a Tuesday? The Louvre is closed so everyone is here. Inside the museum, it's all about Impressionism buffered by the Realism, Classism and Naturalism that preceeded it and the Pointilism, Primitivism, and Post-Impressionism that well, proceeded it. It's interesting and pleasing but betwen Seurat print umbrellas and Van Gogh calenders I'm at the point where I think Impressionism is hurting art as now as much as it helped it 90 years ago. We were saved fromthe crowds by some excellent sculpture by Rodin and his muse/pupil/lover Camille Claudet. Looking fo [View Full Entry]

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