By
Gypsy Rhapsody
(Note...Flat Stanley is a book written by Jeff Brown. Stanley could go many places because of his "flat" state that would not have been possible by ordinary humans.
Hence, the creation of Flat Gypsy.)
As much as I begged and pleaded with Vannie and Dave, they put there foot down about me going to Paris with them. It was just no way that would be possible. I explained that I would be very quiet and would not get in their space and would not spend too much money. But NO was the final answer...and that was that.
So Flat Gypsy was born.
Vannie had hoped that I could continue to write my blog while they were away. She would just send the pictures back to me, and I could relay their adventure to you guys.
But, alas, that didn't work out...I was stuck here in Hillsboro with only the pictures that I could see on Facebook. I guess that was OK. I did have a guest while they were gone...a small little mouse came to visit. The weather was terrible, and the poor little thing needed a dry place to stay. He was a lot of company to me. We shared our adventures and stayed up to all hours of the night talking and laughing. I didn't know mice could be so personable.
When V and D returned, they were not too please with my guest, and made him leave. I didn't see how they accomplished that task, and, truly, I don't think I really want to know the circumstances of his departure.
Oops...did I get off track?
Back to Paris.!!!
The Apartment
Le Marais District
68 Rue Beaumarchais
Chester and Dave are trying to punch in the code to get in the door.
Vannie said they finally got it,
but it took an act of congress for them to agree on how it should be done.
Well, Well, Well...looky here...
Flat Gypsy showing up on the stairs.
Seems they are on the 5th floor...and the elevator is VERY small.
V said only one person and one piece of luggage at a time.
It creaked and groaned and was very slow.
...and you had to hold your mouth just right, too.
So...........V and D walked up most of the time.
It was very good exercise, too. Yes, Flat Gypsy was the way
to go. I could have never made it up those stairs.
This was one of the bedrooms. Dave rigged up a clothesline.
There was a washing machine in the apartment, but no dryer.
Vannie said that that when the clock struck 5:00 pm,
the gang would sit down at the dining room table and
plan their next days adventure.
V...FG...D at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris...
I did have some comfort in knowing I was there in "spirit".
D said that one of his favorite things about the trip was
...THE FOOD.
Fresh, organic, lots of butter...DELICIOUS
V said, "thank the Good Lord" they did so much walking.
There are many many merry-go-rounds in Paris.
I'm so glad FG got to experience a white horse.
All the good guys always get the white horses.
Centre Pompidou...Modern Art Museum
Looks like it is under construction to me, but V said it was just really "mod-dern".
FG looks like she is lovin' the inflatable exhibit.
The artist is Jeff Koons. Jeff is America's highest-selling living artist.
This huge, shiny, stain-less balloon dog sold at auction for $58.4 million.
I find I actually look and feel kind of inflated at times.
Airstreams just have that characteristic...and the new ones sell for just under that amount. LOL
Vannie made one of these panorama shots in this exhibit room.
Cool.!!!
FG leaving the Pompidou Center...Fun Day
Now, Time for café crème and pain au chocolat.
This break time became a habit.
L'Open Bus Tour of the City
Vannie said they bought a 2 day ticket and loved riding in the open air top deck.
Wow...Is that the Arc de Triomphe way down yonder?
It is located at the far end of the Champs-Elysées.
It honours those who fought and died for France
in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Now, I am really jealous.
La Tour Eiffel
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair.
It is 1,063 feet tall.
There are 3 levels...and this is the one at the top.
Wheeeee
Looks like everybody is all smiles...
or else the air is so thin at the top, they are all just a little giddy.
Lunchtime
Foie Gras
...made from the liver of a duck that has been specially fed...as in stuffed.
V and D said, "DELICIOUS"
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre
Located on the highest point of the city
...Made of travertine stone
Flat Gypsy and V and D getting ready to climb the steps to the church...
and there are a bunch of them.
On your mark...get set...Goooooo.
The beautiful ceiling
Largest mosaic in France
These nuns treated everyone to a beautiful concert.
V said their voices were glorious.
After touring the church, the gang enjoyed the food
from nearby vendors.
Ooo-la-la
Vannie loves talking to one of the many artists
around the area.
...And then there was the Robin Gardens..
The day was delightful...sunny, just-right temp.
V and D danced their way through the gardens...
loving each and every moment.
Vannie was remembering all those lessons she taught on Rodin
at Broadmoor Elementary.
Snack time
The famous French macaroons
Musee Picasso
Jan and Chester are pondering
the meaning of this painting.
I'm sure there is a wonderful hidden meaning
tucked behind one of the "behinds" in this creation.
...and I am sure Vannie has this one all figured out.
I think this is a lady from my childhood.
Remember, I lived a big part of my younger days
in Dry Prong, LA.
Palais Garnier Opera House
The Marc Chagall ceiling
Dave said that they all had a crick in their necks
after this tour. So much to see.
The interior was filled with corridors, stairwells, alcoves, and landings,
with velvet, gold leaf, cherubim and nymphs everywhere.
Baroque at it's best.!!!
Lunch time...again.!
Duck Legs, etc.
V and D ate lots of duck.
D says, "DELICIOUS".
V and D had a hot tip from a friend in Austin
about these street performers.
This is in the Latin Quarter in Paris.
These performers are actually locals that come
out to perform after church on Sunday.
Vannie said it was magical.
These guys actually played "When the Saints Go Marching In"...
and Vannie and Dave waved their white napkins from the
Pain au Chocolat that they were eating and did a quick second line.
V said everyone thought they were a little coo-coo, but who cares.
Dave said this lady was singing her heart out in the same area.
There was also a street market open....
....music, food, dancing...hey, sounds like home in Louisiana.
pain au chocolat
(homemade croissant that contains a bit of
high-quality dark chocolate)
Spooky
Chester and Vannie were brave and headed down to the Catacombs.
Jan and Dave stayed up top, drank coffee and ate pain au chocolat.
It was dark, eerie, and somber.
The remains of 6 million people.
Vannie said it was amazing how mythically each
and every bone was placed...some just in rows...
and then some in a cross or heart.
Love Locks...
A couple writes their names on a padlock and
locks it onto a bridge. They then throw the key
into the Seine River as a symbol of their undying love.
Oh, Good Grief...
This is getting a little mushy around here.
Lunch time...once more.
Lentils wrapped in smoked duck...
V says, "DELICIOUS"
Au temps de Klimt
Musée Maillol
Klimt's "Golden Phase"
Many of his paintings during this period
contained gold leaf.
Train Trip to Vernon
Departed train and followed the
footprints to Giverny
...Home of Clyde Monet
Rented bikes in Vernon
Rode about 5 miles into Giverny through
the beautiful French countryside...
The infamous "bridge"
FG becomes part of the painting...
Monet's pink house looked even more amazing
with a plethora of pink tulips greeting everyone as they entered the house.
The flowers in Giverny were absolutely breathtaking.
The ride back to the train.
Dave said that it just didn't get much better than this...
except when he was eating a pain au chocolat.
Musée d'Orsay
Housed many impressionist paintings
Van Gogh
Gauguin
Dave and Chester
in front of the d'Orsay
Vannie and Jan
Musée l'Orangerie
V and D standing in front of one of Monet's water lily paintings
Close-up of the water lilies
The Tuileries Gardens
The French LOVE to trim up their trees.
Vannie said it was amazing. They never saw
the tree trimmers, but their hard work was evident.
At the edge of the gardens
Time for café crème
and pain au chocolat
Shakespeare Bookstore
...right next to Notre Dame Cathedral
...only English bookstore in Paris
Flat Gypsy among the old dusty bookshelves...
...headed to the second floor...
Vannie and Dave took a late evening walk
and discovered Paris after dark.
La Tour Eiffel
Musée d'Orsay
(notice the clock...you saw it up-close and personal a few pictures back)
Musée du Louvre
Tea and crepe after their
adventure at night
Now, for a good night's sleep.
Taxi will be picking the gang up at 6:00 am tomorrow.
The Paris Sunset at the airport
Dave said it was like Paris was giving them
her best goodbye possible...
Which terminal?
Dave had an app on his phone to help with terminals,
metros, streets. It was a lifesaver.
On the last leg of the trip...
Flat Gypsy is starting to look a little pooped.
London to Dallas
A trip of a lifetime...
Forever Friendships
The Food
The Sites
The People
The Atmosphere
The Culture
Forever Memories
To Paris...
Merci
Adieu
Bon Voyage
Joie de Vivre
