Paris Day Six- Arrival

The family arrived this morning at 8am. My sister and niece had practically no wait at passport control and made their way to the RER with no issues. I didn't make it to CDG until just at 9am thinking I had plenty of time. It took me about two hours from landing to train. It took no time to get back to town as we got the "fast" train- direct from CDG to Gare du Nord then just two more stops to Saint-Michel Notre Dame. When you emerge it's just a half block and on your left is Notre Dame de Paris. Then it's about a 10-15 minute walk to the apartment. It's a nice welcome to the city.

The apartment I stayed in for the last five days was not being let today so we had use of it until the apartment across the hall, a much bigger one, was ready. Alexandre arrived at noon and helped shift our suitcases. It's a great space that faces the main street. The window is open now and I can hear scooters and traffic as I write this. The Japanese restaurant downstairs is very lively in the evening. 

I took Elizabeth on a quick walk around the neighborhood. I took her over Pont des Arts through the Cour Carre and into Cour Napoleon when the Louvre entrance and I.M. Pei's pyramid reside. A worker was remotely controlling this window cleaner on the pyramid. So now we know.

Your first time in Paris can be a bit of a shock- in a good way. 

Elizabeth taking it all in on Pont du Carrousel

PA_678 30 pts

The international flight is brutal. You're tired and dehydrated the entire first day but they pushed through and we headed to the Louvre. Talking about jumping right in. 

Claude Leveque's sculpture will be installed until next spring. 

Elizabeth got a feel how is was for me visiting the Louvre for the first time. She wrote a paper on this David painting and didn't know she'd be seeing it in person today. It can be a bit emotional. 

My sister admires the Nike of Samothrace back where she belongs and looking beautiful after the restoration.

Buy a postcard. 

Caravaggio's Death of the Virgin. Tears. 

The 2nd Century BCE Greek sculpture up close. 

Lucky Boston.

Neon and the Sphinx. That's my new band. 

A different side of Venus de Milo

Reflections

Arc du Carrousel & Roue de Paris


Tomorrow will mostly likely we a late start and we'll keep local most of the day. But tomorrow night, rather Friday morning, we will be seeing Star Wars The Force Awakens at The Rex. Oh yeah.