Wednesday 8 December 2010

Lunch at the Musée d'Orsay

Meet at the restaurant at two was the call. DM off to photograph Paris from the top of Notre Dame cathedral.
Three quarters of an hour in heavy snow to get to the museum. Three quarters of an hour waiting in heavy snow to get in. Got to the restaurant at 2 mins. past two. Waited another three quarters of an hour before ordering. Had a glass or two of rosé whilst waiting.
Finally ordered at 2.45 as they were about to start afternoon tea and lunch was off.

Had a perfectly cooked piece of bass with broad beans (My starter was French onion soup and cooked by a fool)


Followed by  Île flottante.  Lightest of meringue floating in crème anglaise (out of focus so I can't show you that)

Took in some of the surrounding beauty






....whilst the Italian couple next door to me (the place was crawling with Italians) talked incessantly about my clothes, my being alone, my writing in a small book (jewellery notes, not food critiques), my jewellery, what I was eating, what I was doing there solo, my platinum AMEX and finally, when I stood up to leave, the quality of my mink shawl. OH how to not just understand a bit if Italian, but to be able to give them a mouthful when I left.

On the way out I saw your doppelganger Jo Marks - except she had on the most God awful knitted beanie, so I knew I couldn't be you.

During the meal I did wonder if DM had safely negotiated the high rise of Notre Dame, but then had another glass of rosé to calm the nerves.


Decided to walk home as it had stopped snowing. A few snaps along the way



Paris is lined everywhere with these pop up shops selling Christmas stuff

Our gnome in the guest lavatory has a few brothers in Paris


Ahhhhhhh!

Presumably named for the street, but has an unfortunate link to an eating disorder when you look at it quickly



So home again, walking three arrondissements, swinging past Notre Dame to make sure that DM wasn't dangling from a gargoyle.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

More colour and movement - from our favourite Boulevard St Germain






Still at the Louvre

Well, there is just so much to see



Cheeky monkey








DM says that if he had not been taking this shot you could have seen him taking "un verre" roughly where the rectangular white sign is behind the chairs. We have taken to rosé wine in a big way since we have been in France. The French drink it as an aperatif with a shot of grapefruit juice in it.
Haven't had the heart to try it yet - but I suppose, when in Paris.......


....and here's another cheeky monkey in the middle of the road, in the Champs Elysées with the Arc du Triomphe in the distance

You know I said it is cold

This is in our street




A view of the workman's area at the back of the Louvre

On the way home



Ending with something to warm the heart. A Metro entrance - and this is not there just for Christmas - it is outside the Louvre!

Monday 6 December 2010

DM has just spent two days lost in the Louvre

....and here are a few of his discoveries in the Richelieu wing



The most beautiful window




I think that this is my favourite




Napoleon's apartment - not for the faint hearted



Saturday at the Louvre means standing room only with Lisa


It has been a bit nippy

Locals well prepared for the low temperatures. Highs of +1ºC and a couple of nights at -7ºC



Even the fountains outside the Louvre were frozen over


and this is our little balcony yesterday morning. No tea and croissants out there at -3ºC


Mr Marks and a few of his favourite shots

This one taken by me of course









This is in one of the entrances to the Louvre. His cello playing was superb