Paris Day 6

Lazy morning for everyone… Scuffed around a bit with reassembling odds and ends, a lovely coffee and breakfast, and getting the garbage/recyclables to the room on first floor. Janie made crepes for the kids while she and I enjoyed omelettes. Solid start to the day!

We were out the door around 8:30 AM with the rest of the morning set aside for exploring the Latin Quarter. Once again, we were looking for lesser known spaces and places and perhaps angling around crowds and lineups. We got a head start by grabbing the metro, then travelling on foot to Arènes de Lutèce.

This quiet space was once the site of gladiators and dramas. It’s an ancient Roman ruin (re: Latin Quarter)  that once could seat 10,000. This morning, it felt small and quaint. It looks as though the area is now used as a space for recreation. Interesting historical perspective though. I did know that the Romans were influential in establishing the first communities in this area, but I wasn’t so familiar that I thought the Romans were established enough to be building huge arenas! Fun stop… Giving one just a little bit more to think about.

Well… I didn’t quite have a map this morning so I was winging it from what I remembered from Google. Anyway, just around the corner we made it to the Grand Mosquee of Paris. This little jewel is tucked away from the downtown core. I’d never been to a working mosque, and really don’t know a lot about being Muslim. I am, however, always interested in learning about others. Once at the main doors, we entered into a peaceful domain of patterned mosaics, rooms for prayer and outdoor gardens. Just one other group visiting… Almost completely alone in a city of millions! Loved the visit, but in retrospect should have had someone guide us through (we needed Raphael to pop out around one of the pillars).

I had designs on seeing another street market so we moved westward to Rue Mouffetard. The pedestrian only streets, gorgeous smells (oh my there was a spicy bread smell coming from somewhere that was driving me crazy) and food vendors were just getting on the move. We guessed that during full swing the area would be difficult to get through!

Then back toward the city, walking all the way, and the Pantheon, Paris’ resting place for its most impressive. The Pantheon is an incredible building, looking as though it would be more suitable in the Foro Romanum than downtown Paris. It has a bit of an identity crisis, being born just prior to the revolution and yanked from the Church and placed with the people of Paris. As I remembered, it was cold, and the layers of stone stayed cold our entire visit.  We did get underground into the crypts and saw the resting place for Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola and the Curries to mention a few. The gang did better than I, understanding the all French interpretations, but I still enjoyed the space… Even in its vastness.  It’s a huge building!

Just steps away is Jardin de Luxembourg. Although early in the growing season… It seemed as if much of Paris was enjoying the expanse of walkways, trees, fountains, statues, and even sports areas with things such as tennis courts. Parisians use these spaces, and I love walking through and watching citizens with eyes closed and head back, sucking the warmth from the sun. They know how to live here!  Parks are used and cherished in Paris!

The whole morning we worked our way back to our little apartment, so we made plans for dinner there. Janie swarmed the kitchen and everyone had baguettes with ham/cheese, the adult meals garnished with a salad. I was full when done… And close to hitting a nap when we decided to get back out! Across the river once again to the Tuileries and our only gallery of the day.

I really only had one thing on the agenda when I purchased tickets (a combo ticket with D’Orsay) for the Musée de l’Orangerie, that being “Monet’s Waterlillies”. They are famous, and that’s what often sells. We arrived and there is a floor dedicated to Monet’s paintings (designed by himself) in two huge circular rooms upstairs. We sat and very much enjoyed the expansive paintings.  What we didn’t realize was there is another wonderful collection downstairs. Not huge, but just enough to give visitors a quality sampling of artists such as Renoir and Matisse (among others). We enjoyed the visit, and didn’t come out bug eyed and staggering from hours of work after work. It was thoughtful, with the viewer in mind, and we appreciated that!

Then back towards Notre Dame, after having a lovely stroll through the Jardin des Tuileries, where we thought we might perhaps get a moment to see St. Chapelle. Upon viewing the line up, we quickly deferred and rolled onward to Ile St Louis in search of ice cream.  We mortgaged the house for four cones, but my oh my it was good! Then sat back and enjoyed the accordion player resting gently at the end of the pedestrian bridge. One of those scenes that’s unmistakably Paris.

At home (this was another +20,000 step day) Peter and I relaxed a bit. Janie and Monica had eyes for St Germaine and continued onward searching for the long lost bathing suit! They arrived back an hour or so later to a quiet apartment (I managed a short nap) and we had a nice evening meal!

After supper we had one timed event on the docket… Eiffel Tower.  We pre-purchased tickets from home online for Mar 17 at 8:00 PM. Love the tower after dark. At about 7:00 PM we caught the line westward and dumped out of the metro just south of the tower. We walked in through the park and directly underneath. With advance tickets, we moved directly to the elevators following the obligatory security check. Then quickly up to the second deck. Upon arrival we found out that access to the top had been cancelled due to a running event, with participants involved in a race climbing the stairs. TV cameras, paramedics… the works! Had a great visit though… Not nearly as windy as our first encounter. We spent about an hour and 1/2 on site and in Trocadero enjoying the view of a well lit Paris after dark!

Just one stop left… For drinks on Rue de Buci! We snuggled in under the lamps street side, just beside a four man group playing swing numbers, to get on our inner St Paddy. Nothing major, Just relaxed with a beer… But fun to watch the revellers make there way up and down the street. Then off to bed with a huge Friday planned!

… Day 7