taking a political break

OK, I did watch some of the opening Olympic ceremonies and I will try to go to Paris often this next week. I will email Niece Jill who lives there to see how she is coping ~ maybe she left town? 

birthday and time travel

 Here is Dancing Jen in October, 2014, when we were in (duh) Paris. Today is her Happy Birthday and of course I wish her many, many more years of joy and travel and I send beaucoup love and gratitude. 

to Paris with JOY

 I started watching this hilarious show and then stopped for some reason. Holidays? Covid? Cat? I returned this week and now am loving Call My Agent all over again. Such fun, so French. Thank you Netflix for this creative journey with all these me/me/me actors and agents. 

ooooh and it's so very French

 Last night I started watching Call My Agent on Netflix and I think it will see me through this ho ho happy holiday season. It is a series and appears to be filmed mostly in Paris about an agency that works with actors and not one individual seems to be sane and that is a-ok with me. And then we go to a French restaurant and I melt with nostalgia and longing.

Paris is a puzzle

Dear Dancing Jen sent me this jigsaw and we are excited to get started
today. As you well remember, Jen and I "did" Paris six years ago.
Thank you are the puzzle and the memories. Travel while you can
makes even more sense these days, no?

deep in our hearts

We all watched Notre Dame burn yesterday and felt the sorrow through
our own perceptions and (for me) memories. My writing partner this
week is Anna who lives in Baltimore and New York State and this
is what she wrote. I'm sure she won't mind if I publish this here. (Anna
is the cousin of my old friend Michael who died in 2010. She is very special.)

I imagine you are even more upset than I am about Paris. I hadn’t gotten 

to see it yet which makes me feel sorry for myself a little too. I studied and 

wrote papers about the Cathedral of Notre Dame in college. My focus was 

on the art, the architectural style, and what those two things said about the 

people’s relationships to those in power and to religion. I do wish I could have 

seen the rose windows.  And then tonight I read that it cannot be rebuilt as it 

was. Did you read this too? Thirteen thousand 300-400 year old oak trees 

were cut down to build the Cathedral. That is twenty one hectares, approximately 

fifty acres of ancient woods and those trees don’t exist in that number, that age, 

anywhere on our planet anymore. That stopped me in my tracks. It is almost a 

crime against nature to cut down that many old trees and bad karma, if you believe 

in that sort of thing. How in the world did the Notre Dame make it through WWI 

and II and, the French Revolution! Those oaks at least were cut to make art and 

were not the chopped up for firewood and used to heat a porridge or heat the 

water to wash clothes, which somehow seems worse though we should all know 

by now it is the little details like the sole of a wooden shoe clicking on the cobble

stones as you walk, the carved bowl and the spoon catching the afternoon light, 

and the worn door handle that end up being the really important details that carry us.

the French Fevered Brain

Susan is just the BEST travel writer and you will love/love/love her
month in Paris which begins today with all the heart-warming, mouth-
watering details in The All of It blog. She is a fabulous writer with
her eye for detail, camera and their apartment in the (sigh) Marais.

we stand together

A few hours after the horrendous attack in Paris, SF City Hall expresses
solidarity and sympathy. Our niece Jill who lives in the Marais district
and Dancing Jen's friends with whom we had the glorious dinner on our
trip are all fine and that is always such a relief. Beautiful Paris, stay strong.

off to Paris

My protagonist, Ellen, is stuck and so I'm going to send her to Paris for a
few days to visit her friend Trudy and to recap all the intrigue here in SF. She
will be taking a mysterious flash drive and I bet the women will spend some
time sitting here at the Jardin des Tuileries,  talking about life. Laughing
and crying and maybe visiting the Louvre, maybe not.  Probably not.

a marriage celebration

We went back to Paris last night while watching Le Week-End on
Amazon Prime. It's a comedy, but when people are celebrating
their 30th anniversary, there can be some sorrows too. A few
bad memories for Jim Broadbent  and Lindsay Duncan, two
fine actors, but lots of laughs along the way. And a surprise ending!

thank you Fevered Brain!

from Paris to SF

The above was in an art gallery window in Paris. Tomorrow the Keith Haring
exhibit opens at the deYoung and there is much excitement in the air. We haven't
had a blockbuster in eons and we all need the energy that Keith will bring. He
lived a short (1958 to 1990) but extremely productive life. At an early age
he studied the cartoons of Walt Disney and Charles Schultz and from there
took off on his own vibrant career. There is a private walk-through tomorrow
morning and I wouldn't miss that for the world. But today, OFF! and happy
about that. Oh, yes indeed.

walk with me...

Little specialty stores, art galleries, history, the old and the new - who
wouldn't want to stroll through the streets of Paris on a sunny day?
Check out the reflected background behind this bathing beauty shot, I
didn't even aim for that. Bonus!

blogger tourist home

A nice French woman took this photo of me being the solo tourist
at a little cafe near the Eiffel Tower. The food wasn't spectacular,
but I just love sitting and watching all the people. I walked down
the left bank and then crossed over to the right side and it was just
the best day ever - hot even! I meant to hit another museum, but
I didn't want to be inside on my last day.

Air France is wonderful, truly. If you have to sit for 10 to 11 hours,
you might as well have excellent food and service. I'm unpacked
and wearing orange and black already - starting to fade and getting
the jet lag feeling. So good to see Husbando who loves his new
beret and macaroons. It's odd without Dancing Jen, but I'll leave
her alone and email her tomorrow.Yup, we have some memories!

sunday, lazy final day

More beautiful sunny weather here this morning. More church bells - my this last

week flew by, in a good way. Yesterday was a walking/sitting/savoring day and

then we went to dinner in a real Parisian apartment. Jen's friends Pascal, Fatwah

and their 13 yo son generously invited us for a delicious fish dinner, preceded by

fois grois (sp?) the goose liver banned in SF. Yes, it is animal cruelty, but truthfully

it was amazingly good and I can' be rude, can I? Then fish, vegetables, cheese 

and tart - all delicious. Fatwah gave us each a rose when he came home and 

Jen generously gave hers to a woman crying on the Metro. I needed mine for

the blog as all my photos yesterday are on the iPhone and I will share them with

you when I get home next week. It was midnight when we got back home, so

we both had restless nights.

Today I was planning on another museum, but I think I'll just walk along the

Seine and stop for coffee and some sort of snack.

I asked Joe to send me my work schedule for next week and you know how

that puts one right back in the thick of things. But I don't start until Thursday,

so that's all good. No one feels sorry for people with jet lag.

Our plane leaves around 10am tomorrow. With time change we should hit

SF about 2ish. So much I didn't do and see - but so much that I did. 

I have a French mosquito bite on my right eyebrow - ugly!

Next post will be from Bernal - thanks for reading, I don't know why spell

check isn't working, but that just adds to the blog-charm.

saturday in paris after zzzzzzzz

We have two more nights here, unbelievable, no? For some blessed and

inexplicable reason I slept last night! I mean really slept with the ear

plugs in only for maybe a half hour. Our Kindles are such a godsend,

we can both read and not turn on any lights or bother the other person.

I am reading and loving "Paying Guests" and yes, I recommend it.

So, yesterday. I took a leisurely walk through the Tuilleries again, sitting to

watch the tourists sleep in those lounge chairs. Then I walked to Musee

de l'Orangerie that was created for the Monet water lilly searies. Lovely,

of course. But then downstairs, lots of glorious art including a special

exhibit by Emile Bernard that I so enjoyted. Of course I spent more time

here than I planned, and by the time I hit my old stand-by Blvd. St. Germaine

I was famished and stopped at The Two Maggots (see photo) for a croque

monseiur and salad, then some map advice from several waiters.

Onward to the Rodin where I once again was impressed with this artist,

so beautiful. I had tea in the garden cafe and called Husbando, then

ooooohed and ahhhhed some more. He  produced so many, many

masterpieces.

Now, a smattering of photos for your enjoyment. I don't know what order

they will appear, but they are sent with much love. Another sunny day here

in Paris - we so lucked out with the weather. OK, Bernard is last, then 

Deux Maggots and finally Rodin.

friday and on to the world series!

Wow, thank heavens for the iPhone - I listened to the game during the night and

when Morris hit the home run I almost screamed. Then, bottom of the 9th - I

really so love our Giants. This morning I am having a $15E breakfast at our hotel,

with a whole banana, cheese, rolls and (imagine) a pot of coffee! I'm sharing the

table with a woman from Denmark and she is busy on her iPad too. How did we

travel before these wonderful conveniences? I've been watching videos of our

Giants and their colorful fans and looking forward to the World Series next 

week. Orange people vs. the hefty blue ones in KC.

But hey, ths is about Paris, n'est pas? So yesterday, no rain all day. I had a great

time at the Pompidou Center because of the strange and unusual art and the

building with the elevators on the outside. I'll show you somee photos next.

Stopped for a latte and a sweet, just like at home. Everyone is so friendly and

eager to please this happy American. I spent more time here than I planned,

then walked to the Louvre.

What a zoo, but free on the Museum Pass, so I really needed to go in and

experience the whole thing. It was not an easy time, but I did see the

Italian section and had some wonderful memories of touring Italy with

ALL those women a few years ago. 

By then it was getting to Husbando Calling Time (4:30pm here, 7:30am SF)

so I went to the Tuillaries and sat by a fountain. I have grown to love these

huge grounds and will probably end up back there today at some point.

This is the last day of the 4 Day Museum Pass (a really good deal), so I

will try to hit 3 on the list. But, thanks to the Giants, I am moving slowly

this morning.  

Oh, dinner - with Dancing Jen in a pizza (!) place here in the nabe. We were

both tired and retired eardly with our e-books and iPhones.

The photos are backwards - the bottom is the view from Pompidou elevator

and the top the garden. 

thursday with photos

I'm back at the Pigeon, taking my time before hitting Le Pompidou Museum

which doesn't open until 11am. What? I will tell you in just a few unworthy

words how very much I enjoyed D'Orsay - I didn't think I would because 

I had seen so many at the DY, but my, this was entirely different. Just the

magnificent building and the different small rooms and ALL that art. I spent

more time there than I planned to, just soaking it all in. And then the people

watching and all the little family squablles from tired travelers. Great!

I had planned to hit the Louvre, but my mind was too full of all those 

Impressionists, so I went on a long walk - stopped for a fruit dish and 

some coffee on St. Germaine whch is about two blocks away from Rue

Jacob and a good central "now where am I? guideline. A young woman

asked me for directions in broken English and I felt smugly French and

she greatly relieved when we used our native tongue.

I see a big tour group now, heading to Notre Dame. I like sitting alone

in these outdoor cafes - reading/writing emails, da blog and just looking

at all the people from all over the world. I'm feeling so comfortable now

and so admire Niece Jill who moved here from St. Louis more than

20 years ago. I understand Fev. Brain who feels she was born to live

in Paris. She will return, as wll I.

A little rain yesterday, none today. The weather is perfection. First photo is 

Rue Jacob, the street where we live.

versailles in the sun

We spent the entire day here (pix after I return home) and it was absolutely 

gorgeous. The last time Husbando and I were here it was raining and we 

didn't walk in the extensive gardens. Yesterday we soaked up the Palace,

the Queen's "cottage" (thanks, Jen!) and those magnificent paths and pools

and my, what a life the Sun King lived. We had a dinner snack in the pleasant

city of Versailles and hopped a crowded train back home.

I listened to the Giants - congrats on another win, but those KC Royals get

alll the attention. They are formidable and fun indeed.

Today we are splitting up and I am having an omelet, croisssant and oj

here at what I think of as the Pigion Cafe because one was sitting snugly

on a table last Sunday. None today, but I am getting exquisite and friendly

service from our previous waiter. No rush in Paris, I've been sending emails

and now posting your update.

I will head to d'Orsay to tell the retail workers there that I understand their

pain and I will bug them about stocking a postcard that they must have 

and don't. 

Weird, this. My feet and knees are fine with all this constant walking. I know

you wanted to know that.

More tomorrow. Thanks, as always, for reading.

wednesday, maybe rain?