Louvre, laundry & a walk!

Thursday, 16 September 2010

Allo!

Well, here we are again, finally, hopefully recovering from our lunch yesterday in truffle heaven! Wow! We got back to the flat and crashed, and that was, I thought, it for the day…however…up around 6, and decided to head to the Louvre for their late-night Wednesday night; they’re open until 10 p.m. Mom decided that she did not want to play with us, but would instead shower and head to bed with a good book. So…R and I out and down to the Louvre on bus #21, which let us off right at the Palais Royale and Rue de Rivoli – in other words, right across from the underground entrance. Got in about 7, and decided to cover the Egyptian rooms, as we hadn’t yet seen Robert’s trusty knife that he has been lusting after for years. (And every time we have to check to see if by any chance, someone has left the door open on the exhibit case, and he’ll be able to bring it home!) Well, they hadn’t…however, it looks to us as there has been a major realignment of the Egyptian rooms, and it was wonderful! Lots of new things to see, very well arranged. They are still not completely finished, but close – and we really enjoyed it! By the time we finished the Egyptian collection it was close on 9 p.m. and things were really calming down for the day. In fact, it appears that in many of the rooms, the lights are turned off with only the lights in the display cases on. We went through some of the palace rooms – the Louvre after all was a huge palace – looking at the ceilings and ornamentation that is in addition to the regular exhibits! Finally hit the Apollon room, which houses some of the real jeweled treasures – crowns, scepters, etc. – and got to see it in total darkness with only the display cases for light. It was amazing! Reminded both of us of the time we saw the Chateau of Chambord in the valley of the Loire on a private nighttime tour that used only candles and fireplaces for light! Kind of spooky, but definitely in a good way! Were back at the flat around 9:30 for a very good night’s sleep! (In spite of the nap!)

Up around the usual time, and decided to make our second (and hopefully final!) trip to La Poste. Hard to believe that we have so much stuff, but yes, another 15 lbs. went out the door today. Most of it was in the one huge volume that R bought describing the Saudi Arabian exhibit, but there were still books, aprons we bought yesterday at the Truffle House and lots of miscellaneous odds and ends. Am hoping that we make the weight limit with Easy Jet on Saturday, that’s for sure! From La Poste we re-caught the 27 bus and went to Rue Mouffetard to our favorite butcher shop. Got the faux-fillet for BTOR as well as some melon for breakfasts the next couple of days. R figures he will run out of coffee tomorrow, and doesn’t want to buy another pound of coffee and leave most of it, so have no idea how R and Mom are going to survive on Saturday. I’m sure they’ll manage somehow! (Spoken by someone who has never had a cup of coffee in her life and is proud of it!)

Dropped things off at the flat, and headed out for a succession of buses that eventually left us off near the Bastille and the lovely walk we like to do. Right near Bastille there is an unused train line viaduct that has been de-railed and turned into a lovely, long garden/walk. There were walkers and joggers, as well as folks like us, just enjoying the lovely stroll above the traffic and noise. The walk also takes us past my favorite French police station, the top of which is surmounted by immense statues! Think this is so odd!!

Took us about half an hour to reach Ave. Daumesnil and the small café that we found several years ago. Arrived just about lunch time (the plan!) and had our usual cute little waiter. No English spoken here, that’s for sure! Mom and I both had salads – hers was a Nicoise and mine was a country salad with greens, ham, emmenthal, tomatoes, green beans, boiled potatoes and I don’t know what else! It was great! Robert the brave ordered Durade, a fish that he particularly likes, with fries. Well, of course the entire fish just swam right up to the table…and I was having to sit next to this dissection process of which R is truly a professional. He very much enjoyed it! Also had two pitchers of wine (½ liter each) … oh my! After that, we decided to take the bus back to the flat. And, as it was getting chilly, I wanted to stop and put on jeans, and R wanted his jacket. However, once back at the flat, Mom decided that enough was enough, and nothing could persuade her to go out again…she said her feet needed a rest! So, naps all around again – Oh! We had done a load of laundry in the morning before going out, and it was, of course and of necessity spread throughout the apartment! Katy, I thought of you and your room in Taormina!! Did manage to get things dry this afternoon, and just in time, as huge rolling black clouds moved in…it has started to sprinkle a little; hopefully it will be a brighter day tomorrow, as we hope to sail on the Seine!

BTOR for dinner; I’m getting used to cooking in the tiny space again, but to be honest, I HATE electric stoves! I’ll NEVER get used to the hang of it, I’m sure! I floated the idea of a walk but was quickly shot down by the two others here in the flat…grr…...

More later!

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