Paris trip
Sep 13th, 2005 | 10:23 AM
#22
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Joined: May 2005
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Oops! I guess I got a bit distracted and didn't get around to posting details of the last day of my trip.
The day started with a leasurely 10.00 breakfast at a corner cafe just along from the fountain St Michel which is a five minute walk from Le Regent.
Afterwards we strolled to Notre Dame.It was just as well we were late starting out as there was a formal ceremony that had just finished and the place had reopened. Shortly after entering, Mass started. I was a little moved at the way those taking part were not phased and were clearly quite used to the hoards of people heaving around the perifery. We sat a while and took in some beautiful singing before moving on with the crowds, occasionally stopping to marvel at the stained glass windows.
Afterwards, we walked around the corner to the bird market. We purchased a little metal cat figure from which to burn incense cones. I preferred the craft and flower shops (some lovely orchids) to the open bird market which I found a little distressing with such pretty birds couped up in such small cages. Much nicer were the low bushes at the front of Notre Dame which were full of common but charming sparrows that flew en masse to take bread from the hands of young children visiting with their families.
By then it was early afternoon and time for the Louvre. As with D'Orsay we were lucky to find only a small queue. I realised we were not going to have enough time for a serious visit, so we aimed to see the Dutch Masters, the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo.
My last visit to the Louvre was pre the glass pyramid. I was impressed with the way this capped a spectacular use of space linking the three main buildings underground.
I am afraid my map reading let me down and we continually got lost which led to a bit of a frustrating visit at times.
Mona Lisa was better displayed than at my previous visit. I actually preferred another Da Vinci portrait nearby. Also of a lady (I can't rember the name) but she had a more stern appearance. Perhaps this makes it less "attractive" but in my opinion more interesting (but what do I know!).
The thing that makes all of these masterworks (portraits) so fascinating for me is the feeling that you can detect what the model is thinking... almost like you know something of who they are. How you can portray that in a still, two dimensional image is... genius.....exactly.
A 20 minute walk back to the hotel was followed by a doze and shower before dinner.
After imposing my preference the night before, I thought it best to allow someone else to choose the venue for dinner. We ended up returning to the fountain St Michel area. I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it is of no consequence as I will not be recommending it. I'm sorry if this sounds pompous but I was reminded that it is possible to have an "average" meal in Paris (damned by faint praise).
However, to finish on a more upbeat note,I would rather experience "average in Paris" than just about anywhere else.
Hoggy
The day started with a leasurely 10.00 breakfast at a corner cafe just along from the fountain St Michel which is a five minute walk from Le Regent.
Afterwards we strolled to Notre Dame.It was just as well we were late starting out as there was a formal ceremony that had just finished and the place had reopened. Shortly after entering, Mass started. I was a little moved at the way those taking part were not phased and were clearly quite used to the hoards of people heaving around the perifery. We sat a while and took in some beautiful singing before moving on with the crowds, occasionally stopping to marvel at the stained glass windows.
Afterwards, we walked around the corner to the bird market. We purchased a little metal cat figure from which to burn incense cones. I preferred the craft and flower shops (some lovely orchids) to the open bird market which I found a little distressing with such pretty birds couped up in such small cages. Much nicer were the low bushes at the front of Notre Dame which were full of common but charming sparrows that flew en masse to take bread from the hands of young children visiting with their families.
By then it was early afternoon and time for the Louvre. As with D'Orsay we were lucky to find only a small queue. I realised we were not going to have enough time for a serious visit, so we aimed to see the Dutch Masters, the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo.
My last visit to the Louvre was pre the glass pyramid. I was impressed with the way this capped a spectacular use of space linking the three main buildings underground.
I am afraid my map reading let me down and we continually got lost which led to a bit of a frustrating visit at times.
Mona Lisa was better displayed than at my previous visit. I actually preferred another Da Vinci portrait nearby. Also of a lady (I can't rember the name) but she had a more stern appearance. Perhaps this makes it less "attractive" but in my opinion more interesting (but what do I know!).
The thing that makes all of these masterworks (portraits) so fascinating for me is the feeling that you can detect what the model is thinking... almost like you know something of who they are. How you can portray that in a still, two dimensional image is... genius.....exactly.
A 20 minute walk back to the hotel was followed by a doze and shower before dinner.
After imposing my preference the night before, I thought it best to allow someone else to choose the venue for dinner. We ended up returning to the fountain St Michel area. I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it is of no consequence as I will not be recommending it. I'm sorry if this sounds pompous but I was reminded that it is possible to have an "average" meal in Paris (damned by faint praise).
However, to finish on a more upbeat note,I would rather experience "average in Paris" than just about anywhere else.
Hoggy
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