October 6, 2010

Paris, Here I come!

Tomorrow I leave for Paris. So far the only thing that's co-operating is the weather. A balmy 25 degrees on arrival tapering to a more seasonal 15 on the day I leave. (That's 75-60 degrees F). I've got the "what was I thinking" jitters and I feel as though someone's called my bluff. It's really happening. Oh Mon Dieu.

Like with all my travel plans I have everything planned down to the nth degree - right down to the minute my train leaves for Auver-Sur-Oise. But that's easy in Europe - you can plan your train right down to the minute -WHEN THEY'RE NOT ON STRIKE... Okay. Okay. I'm calm again.

Some of the things I hope to see are: the Musee National du Moyen Age also known as the Musee Cluny which houses The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry; the Musee de l'Orangerie which showcases Les Nympheas, Monet's waterlily murals; and the Mosquee de Paris, which looks and sounds lovely.

I'm revisiting Musee D'Orsay, to tip my hat to Olympia and to pay homage to the self-portrait of Vincent - a print of which we've had on our dining room wall forever.

I'm taking a minibus to Giverny to get my fill of Monet's gardens and to tour his lovely pink house. I'm also planning a train trip by myself to Auver-Sur-Oise. I have a 12:00 lunch at the Auberge Ravoux, the inn where Vincent Van Gogh died. I hope this comes to fruition as the train unions may impose an open-ended strike starting October 12. That also plays havoc with my return trip to Charles De Gaulle.

Mainly though, I'll be walking and eating and walking and eating. I'm going to drop into Le Bon Marche and their Grandes Epicerie. Conran, Deyrolle and Galeries Lafayette. I've planned out a walking tour of Kiki de Montparnasses haunts and houses and I'm going to peer through the gate of 28 rue Jacob, where Colette lived with Willy. And if it rains, I've planned a walking tour of Paris' covered galleries and passages.

I'm not planning on doing the macaron thing (sick of hearing about them) but I do intend on stopping at Berthillon for an ice cream. But what flavour? I think I'll leave that planning until I'm in the line up!

The great picture up top of Paris in October was found at www.shrewshutters.wordpress.com

10 comments:

studioJudith said...

Excellent choices ... .
walk & eat & Colette & Deyrole &
walk
eat
walk
eat !!

I'm green with envy.
Could you possibly stop by
Lauderee and have a macaron for me?

judith

studioJudith said...

Opps ! I was so anxious to leave a comment I rushed by your no macaron note.

Do let us know which flavour ice cream you choose -

jjj

Giulia said...

Bon voyage! (And if you feel the urge to stray from something, please do. You have no one to please but yourself. Yay!)

xoxoxo from DC

Brian Miller said...

sweet. have fun...have always wanted to go...

Laurie Grassi said...

Have tons of fun! It will be fabulous, I'm sure! After all, it's Paris, so how could it not be? All travel is an adventure! :) L

Anonymous said...

bon voyage

debbie in toronto said...

by the time you read this you will already be there no doubt...enjoy every minute...sounds like a full schedule..mon dieu!

as for what flavour...go across the little bridge ..there is a cafe right there on both sides of the street but the ice cream stand is on the right hand side...we had the vanilla since that is the true test of an ice cream maker and it was unreal...a dark caramel colour and so rich and creamy...I never wanted to leave that tiny island...it's heaven there..and yes..skip the macaroons..too sweet and over rated...beautiful to look at but hey..everything is there...can't wait to hear all about your trip...ENJOY

secretfragileskies said...

oh Paris in October! Remember everything for us!

Diane said...

bon voyage!!!!

I am looking forward to your posts - maybe even your own video?

the Clever Pup in Paris travel series.....

Hels said...

Even if you had 3 months, you still wouldn't get to see everything on your list. And in any case, who wants to exhaust themselves in Paris? Lots of decent champagne, I say :)

Musee Cluny is a great choice! So is The Carnavalet Museum which specialises in the history of the city. The museum occupies two neighboring mansions which were purchased by the Municipal Council of Paris and opened in c1880. The architecture is splendid; so are the contents.