Academie Nationale de Musuque

Saw this guy entertaining the crowd gathered on the steps of the music acadamie, singing, what else in Paris, Mrs. Robinson and then Bob Dylan songs.

French dinner at home

After a long day of walking neighborhoods, great food, museum and metro trips, we decided to eat in.  We stopped at the grocery store and stocked up, then stopped by the bakery for baguette. To our delight the baguette was fresh out of the oven, it was 8pm, we think the bakeries in Paris do a late bake because people stop off on their way home from work to get fresh bread.  Just a theory. Anyway, baguette, Brie, steamed broccoli, avocado, tomato, ham, salami, grapes,  and Veuve Clicquot.  A perfect night . . . In Paris!!

Musee Bourdelle and giant statues

The woman who we are renting the apartment from stopped by last night, wonderfully fun woman who is from New York and has lived in Paris now over 15 years. We took her out to dinner, a restaurant she knows well, totally French, no tourists, we had an amazing meakL, wine and incredible dessert.  Anyway we told Debra we really did not want to crowd into packed museums with all the tourists (there's a theme here). Debra suggested we check out the Musee Bourdelle. We did, it was quite far, but we found it.  This is the sculptor artist, Antoine Bourdelle. The museum was actually created around his Paris apartment where he lived and created masterpiece sculptures from age 16 in 1885 to his death in 1929.  

The museum was beautiful, with his huge sculptures, rooms showing how the plaster then bronze sculptures were made, and lush gardens with restful park benches (I took a nap) among sculptures. No (well, maybe just a few) tourists.  Well worth the trip.  

Montmartre and The Moulin Rouge

We went to explore another neighborhood, Montmartre, known as a haven for artists. Also the location for The Moulin Rouge. Took the metro to Blanche, walked up the steps, and there were all the tourists snapping pictures of the Moulin Rouge. Ugh.  Way too touristy. We found a Russian couple to take our picture of us with the MR behind us, then we got the heck outta there.

We had a guide card for the rest of Montmartre and took off.  This area was immediately beautiful and interesting, with windy hills, and beautiful homes lining the streets.

Henri B's long lost great great great grandfather

Henri B. (H&B) is enjoying his travels in Paris, today at Musee Bourdelle, we found a sculpture of his long lost relative.

Jet lag & a tower

Jet lag seems to be kicking in 2 days after our arrival, can't seem to sleep at night and am not getting up early for runs. So yesterday we got a late start, and after a day along the Champs de Elsee, we rested back at the apartment then left at 10pm (23:00 euro time) to the Eiffel Tower. It's amazing at night! We hung out and walked around the park, then found a quiet nearby neighborhood where we had a late small dinner, then crepes, all with a view of the glimmering Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. Got home around 1:30 am. Sooooo Paris!!

Henri B hamming it up with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

Latin quarter

Sunday we toured the Latin quarter, it's across the sein river, and kinda cool narrow cobbled streets, but really too touristy here.  EVERYONE has to see the Latin quarter.   The most interesting thing was the lock bridge, which is a bridge across the sein that has literally thousands of brass locks locked to the chain link fencing that spans the bridge.  People write messages on the locks , lock it to the bridge, then throw the key into the river.  Go figure.

Morning run to the Eiffel Tower

Longer run today, from the apartment in the Marais to the Eiffel Tower, followed two runners Who led the way on a great route. Man the ET is big once you are right under it. Ran 7.5 miles,cool morning refreshing run. Tomorrow a bike ride, the info is that they close many roads to cars on Sunday to allow and encourage more bike riding. Cities everywhere are trying to get people out of cars and onto bikes. Check out my activity on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/77052666. Www.strava.com/activities/77052666

Mike when HB3 goes down

Saw this in the park neare the Louvre. We all feel a bit of this when the computer goes down. I'm sure that's what the sculpture's model was experiencing here.

Day 2 in Paris

What else do I think to do in a new city? Go on a run or ride. Got up at 6:30 early morning and went on a beautiful run along the Seine river, to the Louvre and Tuileries gardens. Lots of joggers here. Returned, got Pam up, and headed out for . . . . Ahhh, caffe and chocolate croissant!! We are finding bakeries and brasserie to be our favorite places to eat. Had an amazing dinner, at Le Gorille Blanc, recommended by our host, Deborah. Off the beat and path, no tourists, just locals. Great food, great waiter. Told us the history of the restaurant (named after the famous albino gorilla, "Snowflake". Here's some pics of us, Eugene (the host's cat in our lovely apartment), and Henri B.

Pics from Paris - Eugene our host's cat

Arrived in Paris

After 18 years with Hanna & Brophy, i have had vacations here and there, up to a week, maybe 10 days, though I usually bring a laptop to do work while away. I am now on a real vacation here in Europe with Pam. Time to reconnect with Pam, and life. Live to work, or work to live. I hope its time for the latter. We arrived in Paris today, staying at a lovely apartment referred by our friends Ellen and Peter who were here 3 weeks ago. Debra, the apartment owner, had us picked up at the airport by her driver friend, Fred. We got settled in, and headed out for an early lunch. We are watching Debra's cat, Eugene, who at first was shy, but on our return from lunch was very social. Here's Eugene laying on my travel bag, very content. We wound up being quite sleepy from jet lag and time zone issues, so we slept. I got up in time to go out and buy some groceries before stores closed, the essentials, including a bottle of Pam's favorite, Veuve Clicquot,Greek yogurt, and for me baguette and yummy jelly. The adventures start tomorrow.