Going through pictures

Well...between Lou and I we have over 600 pictures. So I am going through them a little at a time...editing and arranging them to make a slide show. The big thing this year at Christmas will be slide shows. My sister spent 2 months in Montana this summer and my brother is leaving soon for 2 weeks in China. Between the three of us we will probably have hours worth of picutres to look at. So as I'm editing I'll include some select pictures here....

Below is the view as you step out of the front door of our apartment. We stayed in the Saint Germain des Pres area which is filled with boutiques and restaurants....great for strolling and window shopping and just sitting at a cafe to people watch.

Two blocks up on Saint Germain Boulevard was the Abbey of Saint Germain des Pres. It was founded in the 6th century. The high vaulted ceilings always amaze me. There was a mass going on when we walked in. We stay for a bit and then ventured on.

Some window shopping below. The first was a funky little store that had some great items. We both liked the knife holder in the middle of the picture. It's not only functional but can be used to take out your agressions.

Jewelry of course...a really great beaded piece in the center.

And pastries....look at the cakes on the bottom shelf...OMG. There were expensive so we just looked but didn't buy entire cakes like this.

And grafitti.....really cute cat grafitti on the second floor of a building. I have other pics of grafitti but this one I loved and I saw it quite a bit since it was on the route that we walked up to the Seine.

The first of many walks across the Seine on the various bridges. These pictures look a little gloomy. It was cloudy and raining the day we got to Paris but we had good weather overall. It only really poured one evening and of course we were out in it without an umbrella...but when you're walking the streets of Paris....who cares!!

We did end up taking 2 boats trips...a day trip and a night trip. There were both well worth it...especially the night trip to see the lights of the city in the evening.

Below is the tip of the island Ile de la Cite which is one of two islands in the middle of the Seine. This island is the center of Paris and is the location of Notre Dame cathedral. The bridge is called Pont Neuf which means new bridge. It is actually the oldest bridge in Paris, completed in 160o's.

A couple of nice little restaurants. You didn't have to pay a fortune to eat in Paris. Many of these small bistros had pre fixe menus that gave you a choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert for a reasonable price.

I am usually a Diet Dr. Pepper person but that is no where to be found in Paris so I had to live on Diet Coke....or Coca Light as they call it. You can zero in on the Americans by looking for those peole that drink Diet Coke. I like how they served it.....with a lemon and a spoon. Before I left I had to go buy one of the spoons to bring home with me. But for the price of a Coke you are better off buying a glass of wine....you will probably pay the same price.

And these are just select pictures from the first day :)))

I iz back!!!

more animals

Will blog tonight with pics

Last day in Paris

We are winding down our trip. The last couple of days we have just been strolling the streets soaking it all in. Yesterday we stopped in at Notre Dame and just sat there for about 30 minutes. It is truely one of the greatest things that man has ever built. It was started in 1163 and finished in 1345

I have pictures of the stained glass that I will post when I get home...but they don't do justice to the intensity of the colors.

Walking around last night we went by the Repetto store. Repetto is a French ballet shoe company. They do sell other shoes but the back wall was lined with pretty pink ballet shoes. Now I myself never dreamed of being a ballet dancer.... but I have friends that did....in fact there are pictures to prove it....all dressed up in their little ballet outfits. This picture is for them.

A couple of jewelry store windows. There are quite a few of these around as well. Just about every style that you could imagine. Haven't seen any bronze though!!

I probably won't post again until Sunday. Talk to you all then.

Au Revoir Bye-Bye

Time Warp

After dinner last night we took a walk over to Shakespeare and Co Bookstore as we both have read all the books we brought with us. If you like bookstores you can get lost here. It's not very big but there are books everywhere...new and used. It was opened in 1951 and it still going strong. Right around the corner is Aux Trois Mailletz...this amazing little bar. It was like being transported back to 1950's Paris. There was a piano player so we went in to listen and have a few beers. You could tell there was a cast of charcters in the bar just by looking around. On the other side of the room was a 50 something woman desparately trying to look 20 something in her spaghetti strapped red dress, black hat, black hose and bright red shoes.... but the kicker was when she stood up and proceeded to twirl around the room dancing with a scarf. But everyone if the room watched, smiled, and applauded. Next a French-Asian woman got up and started to sing opera. I told Lou it was his turn to sign next but he wouldn't go for it....but another gentleman did. An older French gentleman proceeded to sign old songs and the twirly girl got up and danced. I don't knoz of anywhere else you could experience something like this. And everyone there was respectful of the people performing whether they had talent or not...but most did. And through it all there was this one guy reading a book. Looking around the room I thought you could probably write a book about all the people in this bar. The aging dancer, the Asian chanteuse, the French man, and the guy reading his book. We started to make up stories about everyone and their lives during World War II and in walked 4 German men which just took us over the edge because they became the SS soldiers. What a night!!

Then today we warped forward to the Pompidou Center...Modern Art Museum. We saw some great pieces...Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Dali, Magritte.

In a separate building they have an exact replica of Brancusi's studio. This is a picture of his tool bench...unfortunately it was behind glass so I couldn't get in and play with the tools.


Some of this sculptures. His most recognizable sculpture is The Kiss

Some views of the neighborhood from the top of the Pompidou Center.

For Donna.....

A little shoe bling....I've asked but nobody stocks your size :))

The Seine at night

We decided to take another boat ride but this one at night....well worth it. You look up and get a glimpse into some of the apartments. Alot of old beamed ceilings. We were also able to see many of the famous sites all lite up.

The Eiffel Tower is lite up with blue lights. On the hour the blue lights go out and it twinkles....very romantic.

This is Pont Neuf which means "New Bridge" is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. The first stone was laid in 1578. The large building is actually a department store with one of the best views of the river.

Not on the boat tour but I have been scoping out the jewelry. This is one of the stores that I found interesting and it is right across the street from the apartment.

And something to tempt your taste buds. The desserts here are amazing.

Walking, walking, and more walking

Paris is a city you have to walk in to really experience it. I just forgot the amount of walking that it requires. Probably 5 miles a day or more. How many of us walk that much in a normal day? Today we took a boat ride on the Seine so our feet got a small break.

A view of Notre Dame from the Seine. Ever the PMC'er...there is some amazing texture on the walls that direct the flow of the Seine....if only I had some molding compound.

The Conciergerie is where Marie Antoinette spent her last 2 months before her execution. I love the turrets.

The oldest house in Paris is right in the middle of this picture. The yellowish building with the Tudor slats on it. Dates back to the 14th century. The rest of the day we spent walking around the right bank. For a change we are not going out tonight. We picked up food to bring back to the apartment. My feet need a break.

One last pic....We were in BHV, a department store that has basically a home depot in the basement and found this leather tool box just perfect for my Fretz hammers. They also had them in lime green, bright yellow, and hot pink. Only in Paris!!

Au Revoir Bye-Bye...

Saturday in Paris

We went north to Porte de Clingnancourt to the mother of all antique and flea markets. Interesting neighborhood. Once off the Metro you walk through a gauntlet of men trying to sell you knock off D&G belts and Chanel purses. It seemed like a dicey neighborhood... more so than last year. We did spend most of the afternoon there browsing. I ended up buying a pretty blue bottle...which Lou told I probably could have bought at home. But with this one I will think of Paris everytime I look at it. There was a tool stand with beautiful old tools and anvils. I have an image but it is vertical and I have no way to flip it. I'll post it later

On the way back the subway was jammed. There were four Metro cops watching people and turning some away...like I said...it was a dicey neighborhood. If my mother would have seen it she would yell at me for being there

Saturday night it seemed like everyone was out walking around having a good time...including us.

More later

Victim #3

Not a person but an object. I broke the leg off a chair....when will the carnage end??? If things really go in threes then hopefully I am done. Yesterday we spent the day back in the Louvre in the Egyptian section. Amazing pieces

Canopic jars which were used to hold the internal organs of the person being mummified. I had always heard they placed mummified cats in the tombs with the dead but I hadn't seen any until now....

Some of them were painted up really nice....thinking of the upcoming art shows....I think stuffed versions of these would really sell. I have some closeups that I will post when I get home.

There were a ton of tablets with hieroglphys and figures on them.

Today we went to Saint Chapelle church. It was built to house the crown of thorns of Jesus (at least they believe them to be). They have since been moved to Notre Dame and are only brought out at Easter. But Saint Chapelle is still a major attraction due to the stained glass. You are surrounded by it.

As the sun comes in through the windows is sends ribbons of color around the room. At one point this chapel was used by the King as a place of worship.

A few nights ago we were on the Metro and I had a moment...not one of my typical dofus Gail moments, but a moment when I thought...I am in Paris on the Metro. I grew up on a farm in Ohio and never thought growing up that I would ever venture out of the country. And here I am walking the streets talking to the people in my very limited French. It's like....I'm a big girl now moment. As long as nobody is yelling...Hey Big Girl...I'll be OK.

It has been "interesting" watching the world economy collapsing while we are in France. The TV in the apartment only gets 3 English channels and they are all news so it is hard to avoid hearing about it. What an absolute mess. I stopped my employee 401K before I left. God knows what has happened to my investments. I don't want to think of it. So much for any type of early retirement. The Europeans for the most part put the blame on US for this mess. I don't understand any of it. I am also sick of watching the election coverage. So many lies and BS being spewed by at least one candidate is making me ill. There has to be an end to all this and a return to sanity.

Well I'm off to take a nap before we go out on Friday night....Au Revoir Bye-Bye

EHHHHHHHH

So in two days I have managed to assault two people and go brain dead.....at least according to Lou. Yesterday we went out to dinner in the pouring rain but that doesn't seem to stop people here. We found a cafe that had and outdoor table available (it's 40 degrees out and raining but as long as there is an awning and heaters it doesn't stop people from eating outdoors). So we ate and drank and drank. I was pointing something out...Anne and Cris know how subtle I can be....and my hand came down hitting my fork sending it flying across two tables and hitting some guy in the leg.....desolee, desolee (sorry, sorry) I said....but he was victim number one. Today at the Louvre I found a very cool terra cotta tablet with ancient writting on it but I had to ask a clerk for help. I walked right up to her, said Bonjour, then went brain dead. I was thinking it is probably rude to ask her if she speaks English in English and on the tip of my tongue was parlez-vous anglais?...but all I did was stand there and say EEEHHHHHHHHHH. Probably very used to dealing with dumb Americans she responded with...Did you vant to zee zomething?? I started laughing...Yes Please.....brain dead. So tonight we went out to eat on the Champs Elysees...again outdoors in a crammed cafe. The waiter told us to sit at a table back in the corner. In the process of getting there I hit a handicapped man in the head with my purse....victim number two. And we still have 10 days to go :)))

We spent the day in the Louvre looking at the art from ancient Mesopotamia. We saw the Assyrian Bulls. They were beyond magnificent.

I have a number of pics of tablets with ancient writings and I found a book in English in the gift shop on the history of writing focusing on ancient alphabets, hieroglyphs, and pictograms.

Tonight after dinner we went over to the Arc de Triomphe to see it at night.

I have so many more pics but will wait until I get home to post the best.

I have pics

This is the street where we live...Rue de Vieux Columbier. We have a ground floor apartment which is set back in the building. You wouldn't even know you are in the middle of Paris it's so quiet.
The dining table opens onto the back patio as well as one other window and a door. Feels like we are in our own little cave.

Lou getting comfy in the living room.

So today we went to the Musee National du Moyen Age....Middle Ages. Small but interesting. The remanants of a Roman bath dating back to 200 AD are on the grounds. It is housed in an old abbey.

An ancient Scandanavian cross. I was admiring the handmade chain it was on.

This was a collar...for a very large dog or disobediant husband.

The tapestries were beautiful. This museum houses the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. No pics...they are in a special room with control conditions and lighting. They were beautiful.



This is the ceiling of one an exhibit room in the museum...just amazing. In places like this you see just as many fascinating things looking up as you to the exhibits on the wall.

The rest of the day we just wandered around the city. One branch of the Seine.

A Christian Dior purse for 2500 Euros....what does that even calculate into in dollars....I think the answer is too damn much.

Live from Paris

Wow!! 32 hours and going strong. I'm typing on a French keyboard...similar but not a qwerty so it's going to take a while to type this....not that you will notice. We got here at 7:30 this morning and got into the apartment to drop our luggage off. We left so it could be cl"eaned. Walked up to Saint Germain de Pres area for about 2 hours until it started to rain. I have to say that if you are rich and skinny this city has some of the most unique clothes I have ever seen. So cool. And if you have a shoe fetish...Donna....you can lose your mind. It seems like every 3rd store sells shoes. After a 4 hour nap we went back out for dinner. Even though it's in the 50's, all the cafes still have people sitting outside dinning. Lou asked the waiter if the Andouy Sausage was good and he said "NO".....strange so we questioned him. All he would say is that is was special. The couple next to us leaned over and told us it was intestines. Ah...say no more...but they did. Apparently it is actually intestines...it's hollow. So we ordered the scallops. Stopped into a very small bar to listen to a French jazz band and now we are ready to crash. Not a bad way to spend 32 hours.

Back after some well needed sleep;

Chinese Stamps from Rio

Anne e-mailed tonight about the Rio e-mail that went out announcing the Dynasty stamps that they have for metal clay. I just logged into Rio to get a good look at them. They have quite a few. They look interesting. I'd like to play with them on the shields that I have been making. The designs go very well with the artifact quality that bronze lends to pieces. Check 'em out.

I find that I am researching old shields to see the shapes and designs as well as various artifacts from archeological digs to get ideas for the bronze. I think I'm addicted to the stuff. Now if I can just figure out how to take the clay and kiln to Paris with me I will be happy.

We all know that isn't going to happen...but I will have a new focus when I walk through the museums. I'm driving Lou crazy because I keep talking about the things that I want to search out in the museums. He finally had to tell me that this trip isn't all about me and my jewelry design. Silly boy.....of course it is. He knows that I am going to drag him to museums and flea markets all in search of ideas. And in between we will do the things that he wants to do....a boat trip on the Seine at night, a visit to Le Crazy Horse, some jazz bars and wine bars. Liquor him up, show him a topless girl and I can drag him just about anywhere :))) If I could line up a golf game for him he would be in hog heaven.

I don't know if I will be blogging while I'm gone. I hope so. If the computer in the apartment doesn't work, there is suppose to be an internet cafe fairly close so I am going to try to blog a bit and maybe get some pics up. If not.... I will talk to you all on the 19th.

a bientot mon amies

My smile gets bigger.....

the closer we get to Saturday. At work...almost all the grants are done. In the past month that totals 16 with the majority of them due October 5th. I have one left to get off my desk and that one will go tomorrow. We had our 2009 budget meeting with the Division on Monday. Now it's triage time. I look at a piece of paper and decide whether it will be handled before I leave or after I come back. It is amazing the sense of clarity you get when you know you have 2 days. It's either doable or not. If not it goes into the pile that will wait until I get back. I need to prep my coordinator and secretary and assure the Chairman that most things can wait until I get back and if they can't give him the name of another Administrator that can help. When I walk out of Friday I will not be thinking of work for 15 days. We will be totally cut off from work....the blackberry's don't work in France and we are not taking an international one. We do have a phone in the apartment with unlimited calls to the US, but I already told Lou there will be no phone calls to work. The only person that has the number is my mother and that is for emergencies.