Ahhh BYE Paris!

Today was our last day and Paris and one of my favorites.  Joanne had cut out article in a paper for an haute couture exhibition in the Hall of Justice.  

Of course we couldn’t take pictures but I found this article and picture of the event. http://www.paris.fr/english/english/exhibition-haute-couture-showcased-at-the-hotel-de-ville/rub_8118_actu_126006_port_19237

Thanks Jojo..this was great! We saw designs from the 1900’s to 2012.  They showed how some of the hand beading was done on these amazing gowns. Some were fabulous!!!!  They showed a dress from the design on paper to pattern, then the bead work and the finished dress.  I cannot begin to describe the detail. All I can say is ‘wow’ I was really impressed.   Oh and it was free!

To keep to our theme of fashion today, we went to the Champs-Élysées and to the couture houses that are on a side street. I was pleasantly surprised when the doors we held open for us and we were welcomed just as though we actually had money to buy something.  We both enjoyed the House of Chanel as they had beautiful, purses, brooches and many other items.  We went into the House of Dior and while it was beautiful there we no prices on anything..clearly an indication we could not afford anything.  Next, lunch at Laduree, where they make the best macaroons in Paris.  Basically I made food decisions based on bathroom needs so this was a pit stop.  Amy and I shared a sandwich so we could justify dessert.  In this case, Amy made the better choice…a pistachio filled cream puff. 

Amazing!  I had an éclair with chocolate filling and coffee.  I am sorry but I still like my Starbucks over the espresso like coffee here.

Next we jumped on the metro and headed back to our neighborhood.  I say neighborhood because that is what is has become in just a few days.  We spent the rest of the afternoon looking for souvenirs and a couple of shops we had been in.  One contained all things made in Paris…that one we found.  The other was a store where I had seen some beautiful purses.  No I do not need another purse and we didn’t find it so I have a bunch of Euros burning a hole in my pocket. (but there still is the duty free shop).

In wrap up…

Paris is beautiful

The locals have been wonderful

The history is unbelievable

Traveling here with my best friend has been incredible

And now I understand why everyone sees Paris differently---because there is so much of it!

Bye Paris!

Today we went on a bus tour to Giverny and Versailles and then went to the Lourve (just a quick tour).  Giverny is the the location of Monet’s garden, the inspiration of some of this amazing work.  The trip out there took about an hour and the landscape was beautiful although I felt a little car sick on the ride.  I had a blast taking all the pictures and I think I captured a few really good ones.  I love the one I took with a bee

in the middle of the flower. It is really hard to believe I stood there while a bee decided where to land…not a very typical Cheryl move.  Amy and I lost each other for a little while on the way because both of us got caught up in the scenery…really cannot lose anyone because there is basically one way to go into the gardens. 

After the gardens we went to a restaurant for lunch although I cannot tell you where it was.  Our driver, Ricardo told it was about 10 minutes away but that was clearly Paris time.  The lunch was lovely and included wine and dessert and the other six members of our tour.  

It was really great to take a small tour and Ricardo was a wonderful host. 

 

Next on to the Palace of Versaille….we had two hours and really could have spent a lot more time there.  I think my favorite place was the hall of mirrors but we didn’t get too much of the gardens so I cannot say for sure.  Amy and I realized to late there was open air type bus to take you around the gardens until to late in the day.  We got a little lost on the way back to the bus, but still managed to get back 15 mins early. 

Then off to the Lourve….since it was the end of the day, we just hit  the highlights,  the Mona Lisa,

Venus De Milo,  

 

and some lovely sculptures and of course, the architecture is amazing.  I had to get a picture with Amy behind this marble bathtub so you can see the actual size.  

You could spend days at the Lourve.  I have to say, I still find the museums some what confusing to navigate.  We got a map but we still had to ask directions….is that us?  I don’t think so ;-). 

I decided tonight I had to try the escargot in France, why?  Just because and it was amazing!  

Amy and I sat outside at a café right on the corner of a busy street next to a smoker (yuck) and enjoyed a great dinner…turns out it was the same place we ate at a couple of nights ago when we were looking for someplace to eat at 11 pm….we didn’t realize it when we sat down. Tomorrow….fashion day and a little shopping…more on that to come!

 

Busses and Museums!!!

Day two was a little stressful for Amy and I---we did two loops of the on and off bus and the Seine/Eiffel Tower tour.  It made for a long day. 

 

The highlight of which was the Eiffel Tower lighting up….it was beautiful and I was able to get a few pictures…the downside was they were on my iphone not my camera because the battery died and naturally I did not have my back-up.  We had two cameras and to smart phones….Amy had to delete pics along the way so we would have enough room to snap a few at the end of the night.  I realize as I go through all these photos I have no idea what they are of since the bus tour is now all a blur but I thought I would share some anyway.  I do remember the ‘lock’ bridge which is where couples from all around the world pledge their love, lock the lock on the bridge and throw away the key symbolizing there love for each other forever, like Robert and I.

Today we did the D’Orsay museum and Notre Dame, both are beautiful.  The D’Orsay has a very odd layout

so I am afraid we might have missed a few things but I realized as we were leaving that I missed Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ so we had to go back.

  Now you cannot take pictures in these museums but no one seems to heed those rules so I made a couple of exceptions and snapped a few.

Next Notre Dame….A very beautiful church and thankfully you could take pictures just no flash, but they did ask for silence and people were very respectful of that.  The stained glass was amazing and I tried to capture some of it in photos. 

There were a lot of carvings an amazing pipe organ.  I shot a quick video but it did not do it justice.  Then we headed in search of food, which in Paris is very expensive.  We wanted to go to the ‘best ice cream’ place in Paris but we just missed them as they were closed as we walked by.

So we took a realllllyyyyy long walk home and are getting ready for our tour to Versaille and Giverny tomorrow and then working on plans for Thursday…time is going by way to fast.

Arriving in Paris!

I decided I kind of like blogging so I am going to give it a shot while I am in Paris with Amy.  Yesterday we arrived at Charles De Gaulle airport; Amy from the US and me from Kyiv. Amy arrived 3 hours before me and we had a plan….she would meet me at the gate but it figures, since I was coming from another country I had to go through the border patrol and I ended up in a different place.  Finally we found each other and off we go to our apartment right next to the Lourve! 

View from our window down to the Lourve

 Once we arrived, we were met by Julia who is the lady who manages the apartment for the owner.  What a lovely lady...not only did she show us the place but she drove us to the place to exchange money….what a wild ride.  People drive CRAZY in Paris.  Unfortunately the place was closed so Julia set off to find us an ATM…by this time, Amy had been traveling over 24 hours so she was exhausted and ready for the car ride to end!!!!  

I have to say this apartment is incredible…it is very centrally located to all the major sites with easy access to the metro and busses.  Literally this apartment has everything; washer-dryer, kitchen with all appliances, wifi, phone where we can call home for free

Living Room

Kitchen

and one bedroom with a huge bed….just to name a few.

Once we got settled, we went off in search of food.  We found a wonderful place down the street with a great selection of vegetarian and vegan food…turns out it was an organic restaurant.  The food was fabulous and the waiter adorable. We had a dessert with some fancy name which I cannot remember but here is a picture!    We of course left a tip and he was so grateful as Parisians don’t tip.

Today we had no plans on the itinerary so we headed off to find a Starbucks…after 4 weeks I was in total withdrawal and there was one with in a ½ mile and yes we walked it! 

Yahhhhooo Venti Mocha!



Amy mapping our day



Next we decided to take in one of the museums on our list, L’Orangie. I am finding out Amy and I are not as good with the map as I assumed we were.  We ended up walking around a long way out of our way to get to the museum basically around the street ;-). 

Since we didn’t have a pass or advance purchase of a ticket, we had to wait in line.  We waited about 30 minutes and entered the museum and bought a museum pass for the next 4 days so we can go to as many as we want as often as we want.  Not sure how many hours of museums I can manage in a day so this will be great to see them as we want to.  This particular museum had murals done by Monet that are lining the walls in two oval rooms designed especially for them.  They were unbelievable…it is hard to imagine the process he went through to paint them.    I was a little disappointed that we could not take pictures anywhere in the museum but I obeyed the rules even though many around me did not.  

After seeing Monet’s work, we headed downstairs and were able to see many more famous artists and a special exhibit of Italian impressionists.  I found a picture on the internet of my favorite piece in the whole museum. 

Song of the Starling by Silvestro Vega

 You cannot imagine the detail on this painting from the sheet music to fabrics on the clothing.  Truly amazing!  We saw paintings from Gaugin, Renoir, Matisse and even Picasso but this painting by Silvestro Lega still sits vividly in my mind.  

By this time we were starving so we headed in search of a restaurant and found a great Italian restaurant….had great food and stopped by the organic restaurant so we could take that crazy dessert back to the apartment for us…

And now we are doing laundry ;-)

Here are a few of the other pics we snapped!