I CAUGHT THE COLD

Well, after spending my time in the same room as Ruth, I caught her cold.   Thankfully, I didn't come down with it until I was home.   I could have been dragging a suitcase and moving to a different place every night.   I was so happy to have my own couch and bed to spend some miserable days while getting over it.

HOMEWARD BOUND

Ruth started getting sick Wednesday night.   Thursday she was under the weather and didn't venture out much.  The Alps were getting a big snow storm this weekend and we were warned by the hotel owner to bring heavy clothes and boots.   I checked the weather........17-21º F and who knows how much snow.   The wind was out of my sails by then and I wanted to bypass all of Switzerland and just go to Provence.  I finally made the decision, based on my needs, to come home.  I called United to see what was possible, and it was for a $75 fee.  After thinking it over, Ruth decided to do the same.   I do feel coming home early was the best thing for me.

MEALS/FOOD

The BandBs in the UK consist of a substantial breakfast, but France is limited.   UK serves the 'FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST' which includes your choice of any of the following:  egg(s), bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomato, beans (think pork 'n beans), juice, cereal/porridge, coffee, tea, yogurt, and whole fruit.   It is more that a person can eat, so we found that eating a little cereal, eggs, bacon,  tomato, toast w/ butter and jam, would hold us thru to the afternoon.   Then we would take a yogurt and piece of fruit for a light lunch, then eat out in the evening.   We filled in with a few snacks of nuts or cookies.

Paris is nearly all bread, so I have been in hog heaven.   Hope the waist line has stayed the same.  Florence, our host served baguette, croissant, juice, fruit (usually canned.....nothing fresh), yogurt, and coffee everyday.   We did get a chocolate croissant this morning...........yippee!   We lacked some of the protein (eggs and bacon) that we had grown accustomed to in the UK, but it was filling and we survived.   I filled in with some of my protein drinks and bars.

We went to a real French restaurant last night for dinner.   It was recommended by Rick Steves and Ruth thought that it would be just the spot for an inexpensive French meal.   I got sea bass and sweet potatoes and an apple tart w/ vanilla bean ice cream (which I shared with Ruth).  She bought an appetizer which was less expensive and ended up with a combo of fish/shellfish tartare served in an oyster shell and served on a bed of sea salt (which she thought was rice until she tasted it).   She wasn't pleased, but ate most of it.  For a few euros more she could have had a 'plat' with something more substantial.

NOTRE DAME

I took an easy day today with a bus ride to Notre Dame.   It is truly beautiful with the arches, stained glass, and all the side chapels.   There was some kind of service being held with some priests in the nave.   People kept passing right thru and around, so I followed them.

After leaving the cathedral, I went back to the bus station to ride the #69 to it's end.    While waiting a quick downpour hit while I was under the shelter......thankfully.    I went back to the Louvre to go to a gardens museum that I never found as it was quite a walk thru the gardens.    I gave up, tried to find my #69 bus line and couldn't, so I walked to the other side of the Seine to catch the train back to the BandB.   Paris is a very confusing city.........wonder how long you would have to live here to get around easily......more than 4 days definitely!

LOUVRE

The Louve is a huge place with rooms and anterooms on all sides.   It was so easy to get lost.   I felt like I had to kept trying to find where I was and where I was going.   Everyone was very helpful.

Ruth and I had our evening meal at the Louvre, then split up to each do our own thing at our own pace.   It worked out nicely.   We went in the evening because she thought it would be cheaper, but it wasn't.  She was a little upset over it thinking that we would have been able to spend more time there.   There were fewer people, so I think that made up for it.

The glass pyramid is the security check in place, then you go under ground to buy tickets, go to the toilette, purchase food, etc.

Above were a row of sphinxes that I found interesting.   Much of the egyptian relics were quite fascinating.   Below is Rameses II.

 Below is Aphrodite, aka VENUS DE MILO

And of course, the most famous, Mona Lisa.   The portrait was covered by glass, so there are reflections in the picture.   The guards were close by and loads of people crowding in to take pictures.   I just took 3-4 from different angles hoping one would turn out.



Getting lost, the humidity inside the building, made my decision to pick and chose my favorites and enjoy the journey along the way, then go outside.   I found a little sidewalk cafe and had a glass of wine. The server gave it to me, then another one came and asked me to move to a corner...... make room for more people.   All of the tables are tiny and only seat 2-3 people, but I guess the real estate where I was sitting was more valuable than the corner lot!   I sipped, then gulped and left.

I bumbled into a metro and knew where I needed to go on it, so down I went.   Got off at a transfer stop and then got on the train going in the opposite direction.  I realized it at the next stop, but couldn't get off so had to go one more stop, then turn around.   WHEW, made it.   When I came up at my stop the lighted Eiffel Tower and the bridge were a welcomed sight.

RODIN AND d'ORSAY MUSEUMS

Today was a relaxing day.   I toured the Rodin and d'Orsay Museums and wandered around the St. Germain area.   Rodin was a small museum but very interesting.   I have discovered that artists were subjects of sculptors and visa versa.  The d'Orsay was a beautiful museum, but no pictures were allowed.  I enjoyed the sculptures, especially 3 in a series of the busts of Africans using 3-4 different colored stone.  They were magnificent............and I wanted to sneak a picture, but resisted the temptation.  There was a display of art nouveau furniture that I also enjoyed.

VERSAILLES - PALACE & GARDENS

No pictures today as I had the problem today.   Normally I get everything ready the night before and thought it was all in place.   I changed the memory card at the Arc de Triomphe yesterday, but had to reinsert it to download the pictures from the old card.   Then tucked away the new card, so when I got my camera out at Versailles I discovered the old memory card ....the full one.... was in my camera.   I should have deleted some of the early photos I took on the trip, but it was so crowded I just decided to enjoy the visual journey and not be bothered.

Today the tourist trade was brisk.........I was one of about 5 million sardines all moving as a disjointed group from room to room.  I opted not to go thru the gardens... €6-7 extra because it was "Music in the Garden Day." I chose to walk to the Marie Antoinette compound........ but what a walk it turned out to be.   Once I got there, I toured her chateau, but didn't have the energy or motivation to walk any further to enjoy the gardens.   The estate was quite large.

A small shuttle train happened to be ready to leave when I came out of the chateau, so for €3.60 I took it back to the palace.   The driver let us off inside the garden, so I was able to wander around the palace gardens with lovely (but piped in) music accompanying me.   I was disappointed in the gardens as that was the one thing I really wanted to see in full bloom, but they were doing their winter preparations and taking out the annual plantings.  None of the fountains were functioning...........so does this mean I need to come back once again?   Given the number of people to contend with I am thinking it won't be an option for me.   I enjoyed the day for what it was..........a day by myself, without a camera, and just the beauty of being there.