Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Even French People Feel Bad For a Man with a Lost Wallet

Bonsoir!

Yes, there is one advantage to John having a lost wallet, he can get student prices at all the museums! If I tell the ticket taker (in French, bien sur.) that ton portefueille etait volee, then they don't ask for his student card and just give him the price. Oh sweet revenge, Paris! The whole speaking French thing is going pretty well for me. Only one dude has rolled his eyes at me so far. Great success! Thanks to Madame. She did a great job. I haven't taken French for six years and I can still get around. It's a good feeling.

We're really enjoying Paris so far. I finally washed my hair. Feels good. This apartment is wonderful. We've been cooking instead of eating out and saving a lot of money. Randy and Diana (the apt. owners) are having us over to their place tomorrow night for duck confit. After my duck-gasm in London, I am super excited. The produce, eggs, and meat here are very reasonably priced at the local markets and taste wonderful. John and I really feel like we're on vacation now, spending our evenings relaxing together, cooking and drinking wine. This honeymoon was worth the wait.

I'm beginning to remember why Paris holds such a special place in my heart and mind. There's something about the general ambience of this place that is completely captivating. I also get quite the thrill out of speaking the language, which contributes to the romance. John and I took a grand walking tour today, beginning at the Sacre Coeur (a cathedral in Montmatre that sits high on a hill overlooking the city), through the touristy, bustling streets of Montmartre (the artists' district), ending at the Tuileries and the Louvre, then back to our neighborhood in Montparnasse. We're picking up a museum pass tomorrow, so we didn't hit any of the big attractions today. We did spend some time a small gallery devoted to Salvador Dali, which was just wonderful. John and I are big Dali fans (you might recall that we visited his "residence" in Figueres when we visited Barcelona), so seeing some of his lesser known works was really a thrill for us. The gallery, located in Montmartre where Dali was unofficial "Emperor" among artists for a short time, was small, romantically lit, and intimate. Ambient music played in the background, and all of the patrons were virtually silent, as if in reverence of the spectacular objects on display.

Dali, a forerunner in the Surrealist movement, is best known for his paintings, most famously, The Persistence of Memory. This gallery, however, was hung with watercolors, lithographs, and sketches. There were also striking sculptures and installations on display. It was one of the best experiences I've had in a small gallery like that. Often, spaces like this are overpriced and house objects of little interest. The collection here was stunning and enlightening. We learned much more about one of our favorite artists, always a delight.

Not much else to report on today. We took it easy, just absorbed the city in all its glory. We have some busier days ahead of us and we'll be sure to keep you posted. It's dinnertime, so we're going to cook up some pork chops that we picked up on our way home today. Sorry, I can't resist the food reporting. Forgive me.

Love you all! Bises!

For anyone who wants to see where we're staying in Paris, check out this link for La Cigogne.

2 comments:

  1. I have to tell you, Kate, when Mamaw saw the picture of the "trashcan with little people," she exclaimed, "What's that?" When I explained that it was art, her response was, "oh, yeah."

    Don't worry about the "food comments" or anything else in your posts. thay are delightful. It's like being there with you.

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  2. Tell Mamaw we love and miss her! I wish both of you could be here with us. We're having the time of our lives!

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