Bonjour! (Wednesday)
This morning, after our breakfast, we decided we would like to see some paintings by Claude Monet at a museum that we had not been to before. The Musée Marmottan was located on 2 Rue Louis Boilly in the 16 Arrondissement, and would take 2 trains to get there.
While walking through the tunnels towards the train, we passed someone sitting on a chair playing an accordion and commented on how often we have heard talented musicians who have set themselves up here and there in the tunnels to play their instruments, and hopefully make some money doing so. Also it's amazing to see how many musicians hop on the trains and take out a clarinet, accordian, saxophone or guitar to play some lovely music. When the song is over, they quickly move all over trying to collect money. Mostly they target the tourists.
When we got off the train, and came up the stairs of the tunnel, we emerged into another beautiful area, and commented on the fact that each area we come to is just so amazing and unique. Today, the sun was shining brilliantly. We walked through a large, beautiful green park called Jardin Du Ranelagh towards the museum.
The Musée Marmottan was once a lodge where a person named Paul Marmottan lived and whom worked on expanding his father's collection of paintings, furniture and bronzes. Marmottan bequeathed his home and collection to the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and the collection became the Museum Marmottan in 1934.
It features a collection of over three hundred Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Claude Monet (with the largest collection of his works in the world), Berthe Morisot, (who was incredibly talented, but because she was a female, had to work twice as hard as everybody else), Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin, Paul Signac and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. We rented the audio guide and spent two hours looking at this most amazing collection.
As well, the Marmottan had a temporary collection of paintings by Marie Laurencin. Talk about stunning art. We were amazed by the beauty of this collection, and neither one of us had ever heard her. She is another person with a fascinating life story.
We were really glad we took the time to come to this museum. It is so incredible to know that the majority of these great artists, knew each other, and even collected each others works.
Another beautiful thing about Paris? Everyone once in awhile - you'll be walking along and there will be a an upright piano sitting in a park, or in a square, or in a shopping area. Members of the public are invited to sit down and play a tune. On the piano are the words "Play Me". Today, when we were on our way to catch the train back to the Marais, we passed by such a piano, where a girl sat playing and singing. Only in Paris.
We decided it was time to stop at a cafe for some lunch, so today we chose Le Sevigne on Rue Payenne. The waitress was pleasant, and we ordered Croque Monsieur sandwiches (which I will definitely practice at home). There was a side salad, and all was delicious.
A word about the Croque-Monsieur. The name is based on the verb croquer ("to crunch") and the word monsieur ("mister"). The sandwiches' first recorded appearance on a Parisian café menu was in 1910.
After a break at our apartment, we went out and walked over Pont Louis Philippe on our way to meet some friends from home in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral. A jazz band was set up and playing just on the other side of the bridge on Quai De Bourbon in the 4th Arrondissement. We paused for a few moments to watch and get a few pictures.
When we arrived at the Notre Dame, there were hundreds of people milling around. There was an enormous line up to just to get into the cathedral and have a look. There was also an extensive lineup around the side, where people waited patiently to climb over 700 steps to the top for a look at the beautiful gargoyles close up, and a wonderful view of the city.
We found our friends and walked over to the March Deux Fleurs, the ancient flower market in Paris, not far from the Notre Dame. All the shops were open, so we looked around at lots of interesting things. The flower display, especially the enormous, colorful, hydrangeas, were breathtaking.
We walked over to catch the train to the Trocadero, where we could have a great view of the Eiffel Tower. There were lots of people milling around the square. There was a band playing guitar and pan flutes. It reminded me of music I used to hear at the Farmers Market at home once in awhile. The band was excellent and the music lively.
After this, we found a little cafe to sit at, and enjoy some rose wine. It's not often you are fortunate enough to be in Paris, let alone have your paths cross with your good friends from home!
We left the cafe and walked to the Arch De Triumph, where the traffic was roaring around in a willy-nilly fashion and then on to the Champs Élysées, which always feels like a giant outdoor shopping mall.
Then we walked by Fouquet's which is a famous restaurant along the Champs Élysées. I knew this cafe had some history, and everyone was willing to stop by and have a look. When we went to the entrance you could see plaques on the ground of many of the famous people who had been there, (Juliette Binoche, Kirk Douglas, Coco Chanel) to name only a few. We stood looking at the menu which was posted at the entrance, and decided we didn't really want to pay those prices for dinner. Also, you would probably like to dress up to come here.
Fouquet's is a restaurant that has been linked to high society in Paris since 1899. It has also been a popular meeting place for people from cinema, arts, and culture, especially in the 1930's.
After walking around, first ending up at a pizza place, then leaving - we were all getting hungry, so we stopped at a place called 'Hippopotamus' just off of the Champs Élysées (which is terribly sad when you think about it). It had a big, shiny menu and reminded me of a Boston Pizza menu back home. We tried the New Orleans chicken, and I asked the waitress what spices were in the chicken, but she just said, "just spicey!"
After this, it was close to 11:00 pm, and we walked to the Eiffel Tower so we could be sure to see the twinkling lights at 11:00 pm. We watched the beautiful light display, and then decided we'd catch a cab back to our respective places, because we were quite tired, and some of us could barely walk. We couldn't get a cab, so we all limped over to the train. One person in the group was especially uncomfortable in his new shoes, and said he would be giving his shoes away to Value Village as soon as he got home.
So, we waved good bye to our friends at the metro, and then we started our 3 train journey back to our apartment. I could barely make it up the 4 flights of stairs to our room. Finally we fell into bed at 12:30 am, after another wonderful evening...
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