Au Revior Paris

Today was our last day in Paris. We took the Metro into the centre of Paris - working out how to buy the tickets was interesting but we were saved by an English man who obviously lives here and knew his way around a Metro station or two - Phew!

 First stop was back to the Musee D'Orsay to see the rest of the collection. Some great views from the top of the building.

 Including this gorgeous one looking back to Montmatre butte (hill) and Sacre Couer.

 Then we walked a few blocks around to Musee Rodin - the home of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. I visited here many years ago and it hasn't changed much. They are currently doing major renovations. Although The Thinker, Burghers of Calais, Gates of Hell and many other important Rodin works were there The Kiss wasn't. It's my favourite Rodin sculpture so I was a bit disappointed. What I thought was a reproduction of it in Le Louvre must have been the original, but it was much better seeing it in Rodin's house.

 In the gardens listening to music coming out of the trees - really truly!

 Burghers of Calais.

 Then this afternoon was the grand parade of the Montmatre Festival. Don't these kids look cute?!

 Oh and look at that cute kid taking photos from the safety of the apartment whilst his mother sweats it out with the crowds in the street.......

 Other groups in the parade represented the different harvests and foods - cheese makers, wine makers, etc. I'm not sure why Wild Bill Hicock made an appearance though?!!! He was certainly enjoying the limelight!

 And our last meal out in Paris and we ate.......snails! Yes we did - and they don't taste like chicken at all. But they do taste yummy!

 Did I actually just eat six snails? Yes James, you did!

So tomorrow we are off to Ireland. I guess tomorrow night we'll be having a Guinness or two!

Au Revior Paris. We've loved living in this beautiful city for a week and especially in Montmatre village. It's been fun!

Til next time - from The Emerald Isle. xx

Montmatre

We had a change of plan yesterday morning over breakfast and decided to stay in Montmatre for the day - getting a little overloaded with galleries and museums!

So we took a leisurely walk around parts of the streets nearby that we hadn't yet seen. There is a photo opportunity around almost every corner. We walked a different way up to Scare Coeur hoping it wouldn't be so busy today - these parklands around the base of the hill and leading up to the basilica are so pretty.  

 A restaurant on the way up the hill.

 The view from the base of Sacre Coeur is one of the best views in Paris. You can see for miles across the rooftops of Paris.

 The crowd was much smaller today so we went inside for a look. Gorgeous architecture which was built to raise the spirits of the French people after they lost the Franco Prussian war and is dedicated to the 58,000 people who lost their lives in this war. The basilica was completed in 1914 but wasn't opened and consecrated until 1919 after the end of World War 1.

This week is the annual festival of  Montmatre and there is lots happening around the area. These men and women were dressed to impress! All around the base of Sacre Coeur there were food and wine stalls - the grilled duck and foie gras baguettes were very yummy!! 

 We did manage to fit in one gallery and it was this one which had an amazing collection of work by Salvadore Dali - mainly sculptures and prints. You could even buy some original Dali prints which at around $6000 each I thought was pretty good value. But there's not one coming home in my luggage unfortunately! There are, however, three lovely small original artworks coming home with us which we bought from a lovely gallery just a few doors from our apartment. Not the usual tourist artworks but lovely contemporary pieces from French artists.

 Heading back down the hill.

So today is our last day in Paris. We are going back into the city for another look at Musee D'Orsay and hopefully the Rodin museum as well.

Hope everyone is well at home and the heat isn't getting too bad yet. The weather here has cooled down quite a bit since we first arrived - it was quite chilly out and about yesterday and had James looking for every excuse to go indoors!

Until next time xx

Ooh La La!

Another day in the heart of Paris yesterday. Walking through the streets of Montmatre to go to the bus stop we noticed that this is how you fix your car in France - my Mum - otherwise known as "Mona duct tape fixes everything Bowles" - would be proud of this car owner!!

 We visited Musee De L'Orangerie which had a great Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera temporary exhibition (I love Rivera's work and the story of Frida and Diego's life), and several of Monet's LARGE waterlily paintings - just beautiful.

And then after a snack of crepes and a caffe latte we headed to the Musee D'Orsay. Wow, Wow, Wow! More famous artists than you can poke a stick at - and we didn't see it all so are heading back there today. Picasso, Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Seurat, Gauguin.......Wow! James was a little awestruck!

There was also a great temporary exhibition called 'Masculine' which focussed on the male nude from historical to contemporary times - fantastic show. Imagine being an art student and living in Paris!

 And to end the day we went to a see La Nouvelle Eve - a fantastic cabaret show. Lynda if you're reading this, thanks for the great tip - we loved it!

 No photos were allowed of the show so here's a couple of Australians trying to pretend they're cultured!!

 Great food and wine with lovely table service.

 And on the way home another little night shot - this is where we live!! the building in the middle is our apartment building - we are up three flights of stairs. I'm getting fit!!! 

Love to all til next time xx

we found Mona!

After an early morning shopping expedition for baguettes and croissants we headed back in to the heart of Paris today to visit Le Louvre.

 and look who we found....! whilst jostling with hundreds of others for prime position!

Oh Mona you are so famous and so small!

 The pyramid structure over the entrance - which wasn't here last I visited - is pretty amazing. But where was Robert Langdon...?!

 Nope that's not him! 

 Back on the Hop On Hop Off bus for a long ride around town - this artiste was having his lunch....until he spotted me taking his photo!

 We drove up the Champs de Elysees and around the Arc de Triomphe....with a lot of other mad Parisian drivers!

 Viva La France!

 and we whizzed past this again....!

 Back to Montmatre, a little shopping for a new pair of shoes for James and to finish off today some night shots of our streets in Montmatre

We've decided that a week isn't enough in Paris - there is just so much to see and do. 

Hope you're enjoying our blog - don't forget to leave us a comment....come on don't be a lurker!!!

Until next time, Au Revior xx