Versailles

The weather promised to be perfect so we took the train to Versailles.

Here's a tip: buy a 2nd class ticket; it cost about a third of 1st class and you are seated in the upper level and have a great view.

These guys appeared out of nowhere, played a few tunes and then passed the beret and moved on to the next car.

The train makes several stops and the announcements are only in French. Several people in our car got confused and got off too soon. Versailles is the end of the line, so stay on board until you get there.

And after a full day of French royal splendor, what could be more welcome than.....

a TexMex dinner at El Rancho????

As Marie Antoinette was reported to have said,

"Let them eat sopaipillas!"

We had seen a few Starbucks and MacDonalds in Paris, but this place, right next to the Versailles train station really surprised us and made us laugh!

Charles

A day at the Opera Garnier

Do not miss this amazing place. Tours in English are offered on Wednesdays at 11:30 and 14:30. Get to the ticket office at least a half hour before and bring cash for your ticket; the credit card machines are often out of order. The tour lasts one and a half hours and is very entertaining and informative.

Here are some images:

Box Five is on permanent reserve for the Opera's most famous visitor...

The Phantom!

After the tour you can wander at will. We visited the gift shops and, seeing this storm brewing, made a dash for lunch at Cafe de la Paix.

Charles

Librairie Galignani

If you love a good bookstore, sit back and enjoy this:

http://www.galignani.com/index.php

Lunch and a book shop

The Eiffel Tower will have to wait until I have downloaded Charlotte's photos this weekend.

In the meantime here is Angelina,

a Belle Epoque salon de the on the Rue de Rivoli across from Jardin des Tuileries.

It was the favorite tea room of Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel.

We enjoyed a very good light lunch, elegantly served.

We took a box of their signature pastry, the Mont Blanc, back to our hotel for later.

After lunch, we spent a lot of time and euros at this perfect bookstore next door. It is a French law that books cannot be sold at a discounted price; they take care of their artists in this country.

Charles

A day at the Musee d'Orsay.

I love the architectural details found on the old Paris-Orleans train station that became the Musee d'Orsay.

There are statues of wild beasts to look at whilst you are standing in line.

And you stand in line for a looooong time.

The Legion of Honor Museum is just across the street; I plan to visit it on our next trip.

Napoleon is everywhere.

I wish I had some photos from inside the Orsay for you but as sometimes happens in Paris museums, the rules change. Last time we were here you could take all the photos you wanted in Orsay but not in the Louvre; the rules were reversed this time. If you are interested in the Orsay holdings, I do have a visitor's guide that is rather complete.

After a few hours in the Orsay, we caught a boat/taxi at this dock and made our way under threatening skies to the Eiffel Tower.

Charles

A day at the Louvre

We crossed the Pont du Carrousel from the Left Bank to the Right Bank of the Seine; this is the entrance to the Louvre on Quai Francois Mitterand.

This photo should follow the on below; it shows a wing of the Louvre from inside Pei's pyramid.

You enter the Louvre through the pyramid; escalators take you down to the ticket booths.

If you need a bit of French fuel before taking on the galleries, this is a great little cafe that is tucked away in a third floor corner of the south wing.

Photography is allowed but it is very hard to get close or to get a good angle. And it is impossible to know where to start or when to stop; you want it ALL! And don't forget to look up; you can find incredible beauty where you least expect it.

Through this arch to lunch in the Jardin des Tuileries.

It is important to stay hydrated. And when really good French wine is cheaper than Coca-Cola, what can you do?

Musee d'Orsay tomorrow.

Charles