chamberss's posterous http://chamberss.posterous.com Most recent posts at chamberss's posterous posterous.com Thu, 19 May 2011 05:22:00 -0700 May in Paris http://chamberss.posterous.com/may-in-paris http://chamberss.posterous.com/may-in-paris

From Sarabeth's Point of View:

My Sweetheart enabled me and my sister to spend most of May 2011 in Paris, France.  This is our adventure highlights.

First we got a fabulous apartment in an amazing area just 2 blocks north of the Tulleries.  The Tulleries are the gardens that sit right in front of the Louvre Museum.  This area had anything and everything you might want, so we couldn't have done better on area.

Second we started walking in all directions to see what we could find - the Opera, the Louvre, the Royal Palace, the Tulleries, the Vendome, the Concorde, the General Assembly, the Musee d'Orsay, ... you get the drift.

Third we visited Museums only to find out that they really do throw you out when they want to go home.  Yes, MelindaRuth and I have now been thrown out of Museums in Paris.  But we got some great pictures at the Louvre, where they will let you take picture without the flash if you would like.  My favorites were the frescos, I just can't get over those.  The Mona Lisa was smaller than I thought she would be, but still lovely, and you could stare at the Vermeers forever.  Another favorite was a painting that stood in the middle of one of the great halls that had the back side of the scene in the picture painted on another canvas right behind it.  I will try to get those pictures up, they were amazing.  We will be going back for Louvre part II soon.  The Musee d'Orsay was incredible too, no pictures from inside so you will just have to take our word for it.  I loved the Van Goghs, Monets, Degas's, ... hard to name them all.

Fourth we tried our hand at shopping - this is a never-ending event in Paris.  We walked down to the Galeries Lafayette a couple of times now to buy things and just check out all the really cool designer shops in side and the ornate domed ceiling in the middle - will need to get pictures of that too.  Everywhere you go are amazing designer shops, it is very impressive.  I guess places to shop are the only thing that outnumbers Hotels in the area.

Fifth we road the hop-on-hop-off tour buses to see all the big tourist sites, actually we are going back today to see some more - will include pictures from here too.  Yesterday was Notre Dame, Invalides, Royal Palace, Opera, Charles de Gaulle Etoile, Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Petit-Palais, Trocondaro, Pont Neuf, Champs-Elysees, Concorde and Madeline.  Today we find the Thermes de Cluny (Middle Ages Museum), La Sorbonne, St. Germaine des Pres and Latin Quarter.

Sixth we find Rolland Garros and see some French Open tennis.

Seventh we find Karl Lagerfeld (wish us luck).

Favorite thing to watch for: Businessmen in Black suits on Motorcycles, Three-wheeled Scooters, Regular Scooters, the tiniest motorized Scooters ever and bikes whipping through traffic like they own the place.

Hardest thing to find: kitties and unscathed Smart Cars (they seem to be the bumper car of Paris)

- Sarabeth


From MelindaRuth's Point of View:

Paris, the actual Paris.  I truly never thought I'd be here and certainly not for most of a month - but my little sister is very generous and very persistent.  So....

We've been able to walk a lot around the city, which I think is my favorite part.  I've really enjoyed getting a feel for this part of Paris - and despite being near the Louvre, this area isn't full of tourists and we see many of the same people in the street every day when we're out.  The air really is different, the quality of light is different - maybe it's because I don't live in a city, but I'm fascinated with this one.  

And I can't believe I get to see paintings that I've only seen in books!  My favorite things so far have been the Giottos (I've always been a fan and they are astonishing in person) and the early Renaissance painters at the Louvre - and the Renoirs & the Van Goghs at the d'Orsay.  Who know Renoir was using that much color??  I'm really looking forward to the Louvre part 2....  

Finally got to see Notre Dame in person as well.  I'm just amazed that it's parked in the middle of a city - roads right up against the building on two sides and yet inside it's so dark and mysterious.  It's a good analogy for trying to describe Paris:  it's just Paris.  And I adore it.

Melinda


Video: First Tango in Paris was Sunday evening in the big glass building that is at the Marche de Saint Honore

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