PARIS TRIP 2009 DAY SEVEN

It doesn't seem possible that we have been here for a week.
Today we decided to go to St. Sulpice and t St. Germain-des Pres
Churches. We walked down our street and found a lively Sunday
morning market. Fresh bread, meat, friuts, veggies, fish, cheese, wine
sour candy. I bought some candy that looked like red rasberries. I
popped one in my mouth and puckered like I never have before. After
the initial shock the candy is really good. We caught the Metro and
headed to the Rive Gauche (Left Bank)

Looking straight out our apartment window.

Looking left out the window. This is the street where the market was.

I couldn't see it from our balcony.

Fountain in front of St. Sulpice

This is the organ at St Sulpice. When we got there Mass was being said so

I heard Mass and went to communion. After Mass the organist

gave a small concert as we toured the church. This church is featured

in the novel "The Da Vinci Code" because of its obelisk. There is

actually a sign that says words to the effect "that dispite claims in a

recent novel this site was never a pagan temple and this is not the

Rose line".

The altar

THE MUSEE D'ORSAY PARIS 2009 DAY SIX

Today the forecast was for light rain all day so decided to
take in the Musee D'Orsay. This is an old train station that was
scheduled to be torn down. According to Rick Steves, the French
decided that it would be a good place to house the 19th centure art
scattered throughout the city. The collection is enormous and
wonderful. I like this picture. I think it would make a good
Christmas card. It's "La Vierge au rouge gorge"
by Ernest Herbert

This is "Portrait of the Artist's Mother by

James Abbot McNeill Whistler

"Bal du Moulinde la Galette" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

"La Rue Montorgueil fete du juin 1878"

by Claude Monet. Rue Montorgueil is the market street in this

neighborhood. There are cheese shops, butchers, fruit market,

vegetable, market, wine stores and several boulangerie-

patisseries, cafes and one supermarche.

"A Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh

I only saw the ground floor, the mezzanine and the 5th floor.

I missed the 3rd and 4th floors. I guess I'll just have to come

back to Paris to see them.

MORE ORSAY

After the Impressionists it was time for lunch. This is
Le Restaurant. I had pork with brussel sprouts and endive,
half a bottle of wine, chocolate cake and a cafe creme.

Another view of the dining room.

View of the main floor from the mezzanine.

" The Romans of the Decadence" by Thomas Couture.

" And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care"

The combination washer-dryer didn't get my jeans or socks

completely dry.

A DAY AT VERSAILLES

Decided to go to Versailles on day 5. Took the
train and arrived around 9:30 The place is
massive. This is the courtyard in front of the
palace. The pavement is all cobblestones.
Fun walking.

The famous Hall of Mirrors. This is where the Treaty of

Versailles was signed ending WWI. This room has 17 floor to ceiling

mirrors. Mirrors were rare and expensive in Louis XIV time and this

room showed the power and opulence of France in the 17th century.

No wonder they revolted in 1789.

I just liked this scene. Note how the trees are planted in such a straight

line. The entire garden is designed in goemetric patterns.

View from the back of the palace down to the Grand Canal.

We walked this to get down to the Grand and Petite Trianons.

A view of the garden from a different angle.

BEDROOMS OF VERSAILLE

One of Louis XIV in the main palace

The Kings bedroom. Rooms on either side were

council rooms.

The queens bedroom. Two queens died here and

19 princes were born. The last queen was Marie Antoinette.

The queens bedroon at Petite Trianon.

One of the kings bedrooms at the Grande Trianon

PICTURES OF VERSAILLES

Marie Antoinette's estate Petit Trianon

The lady her self

Versaille wildlife

A view from the main palace to Marie Antoinette's

little place. We walked this.

The chapel as we were leaving.

I have more pictures but that's all for now. We had a wonderful day but it was very tiring.

PARIS 2009 DAY FOUR

Went back to the Louvre today.
That place is overwhelming. There is so
much to see. This is called Capital of
Apadana.

Winged Bull, Palace of Sargon ll

Hercule combattant Achelous metamorphose

en serpent.

Look at the name underneath en serpent. Not quite

spelled the same but I couldn't resist.

Julius Caesar on the right, Hannibal on the left.