Day One- Traveling
Group of French guys traveling together- older, 40s and 50s. Excellent spirits. They sang happy birthday and one of their friends found his seat. Older French lady sitting next to be was cordial and nice. Her English wasn't great but probably better than my French. Flight from Atlanta was about 7 and a half hours. Got through customs easily, not much of a line. Suitcase appeared quickly. RER left about 3 minutes after I got on. Took it to St Michele- Notre Dame. Some escalators exiting the RER. The stairs the rest of the way weren’t too bad- luckily I packed light. No issue finding the apartment. Had to take the bags up one at a time- the stairs are small and a tight spiral. Exhausting. Sophie got there while I was on the 2nd Floor landing and let me in. She stayed about 10 minutes and left. She lives in the suburbs. She’s going to fix the shower fixture sometime next week- it’s VERY sensitive and get scalding hot if you aren’t careful. Carrefour is just around the block- got some food- bread, poulet, cafe, almond milk, chips, apples and carrots, oh and toilet paper- this scented kind again- ugh. Left my root boost at home- doh. Got to Ofr bookshop at 6pm. Bought a book about cats in Montmartre cemetery called Porquoi by Kazuo Yoioi and it’s signed, dated this month. Rained most of the day.
Day Two
Slept in and left the apartment around 9:30am. Took the Metro to Petit Palais. Champs-Elysées station was closed today so got of at Invalides and walked over the bridge. Bought a ticket and guide for Oscar Wilde L’impertinent absolu or Oscar Wilde Insolence Incarnate. I just started and was i the first room when the alarm went off and we had to leave the building. I took a video of us walking about. Decently cold out today- 45. Holland’s motorcade sped past- it’s Armistice Day. We waiting for about a half hour and was let back in. The exhibit has handwritten documents, one of which was The Importance of Being Earnest (!). I walked down to Pont Concorde and found an Invader. Now off to the d’Orsay for Van Gogh goodness and my favorite Rosa Bonheur. Gift shop. Found a few more Invaders then back over the Seine to the Louvre. I already bought a ticket when I was found out the museum closed in a half hour. I high tailed it all around Sully before finding what I was looking for- Vermeer’s The Astronomer. It was on loan in Boston last December. It’s just stunning. Probably my favorite Vermeer. Along side was the every faithful The Lacemaker. Time to leave. Gift shop and Carousel du Louvre. Metro. Back to the 5th. Pharmacie- no hair gel. Franprix- no hair gel. 6:55pm Pema Thang is open for business. Sample plate of appetizers- couldn’t just pick on. Cabbage dumplings with hot chili sauce. Green tea. Heaven. 8pm apartment. Download and back up photos. Write this.
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