Another Museum Day

It is Tuesday and we are in Paris!!!! (I just had to share that thought with everyone and rub it to all those who are working or just plain retired, Dad). It was cloudy but warm . . . nice change from the wind and wearing 3 shirts.

The line for the people without the Museum Pass!

We started our day at the Musee D'Orsay. I know I have said this before but the Paris Museum Pass rocks!!! We got to go to the head of the line and get in within 5 minutes. It is worth every dime. I have decided each trip to Paris (and there will be more, Doug) the Paris Museum Pass is the first purchase after the money changing.

The museum was crowded today because the Louvre was closed. But it wasn't so crowded you could not enjoy the art. I got to see all the Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Bazille I wanted. We museumed out about 12:30 and tried to leave. We had to wait in a longer line to leave than when we tried to get in (the door was broken and they had to get a guy that knew what he was doing to get the door open!).

Had lunch at a cafe across the street from the Orsay and then we walked over to the Tulleries. We walked through the park and sat for a few minutes at one of the fountains.

From there, we found a Metro (yes, we spent the day on taking the Metro!) and went to the Bastille. We were going to go to Marais - there were a few things to see on "the list". On the way to the Metro, I saw a car come right up onto to a motorcycle and the motorcyclist just stopped a refused to go - I tried getting a picture but there were other cars in the way. It is really interesting to watch cars, bikes, scooters, trucks, buses and pedestrians all jockeying for position. When we were on our Segway tour, we had to get in their with the cars in a couple of spots - it was a bit nerve wracking especially since I was the last one in line and there was a car right behind me!

Parking Parisian style

We got off on the Bastille (it is just a giant cylinde commemorating the Revolution and not worth a special trip). Our first stop was Los Voges which is the oldest square in the city. It is surrounded by very exclusive shops - way out of my league (and pocketbook).

Then we stopped at a cafe for a quick break. A drunk came up to me and I think he was asking for money. I told him to go away and kept telling him and he was very insistent. The waiter had to come over and chase him off.

We then walked towards the Musee Carnavalet which is the museum which tells the history of Paris through portraits (and it is free!). On the way there, we found a very cool old church - Saint-Paul Saint-Louis which was founded in 1580's. We stopped to rest and listen to some of singing.

We then found the Musee Carnavalet which had some great gardens - small and filled with flowers. I really liked this because it was so small but well done. We took some pics and then headed into the musem.

The museum is in 2 old mansions and was better than I thought it would be. It had exhibits from the Roman times all the way to modern day. I liked the Art Nouveau section best - it was part of an old cafe. There were portraits of all kinds of people - royalty and commoners. There were also pictures which showed the city which was nice because you could see the changes that Paris has gone throug. I would highly recommend this one - not crowded, not too overwhelming, and best of all - free!

We headed towards the Metro via the Jewish section of the Marais. It is one short street with some restaurants and stores - not a lot to it. I did see some great bakeries and delis and I may come back on Friday to do some pictures.

We walked to the Hotel de Ville Metro and got on the train, heading to the Rue Cler. It was very crowded - all the workers were just getting off work. We changed trains in the Concord station to the purple line. The first train pulls up and it was so crowded, some poor woman was mushed against the door when it closed. I started laughing - she looked pretty funny. She started laughing too. We waited one more train then got on to get home.

We ate at the little Italian restaurant outside our apartment which was the best meal I have had all trip - little did we know. The waiter was very funny and the food was great.

So far the trip has been great. Parisians are not particularly rude - sure there are a few -but there are a few rude Americans. I still love Paris!