Paris...Dreamy, Historical, Expansive, Alive

(August 9-22, 2023)

After Sarlat and St. Emilion in the wine country we were ready to step it up to the big city. Onward to the big kahuna, the city of cities, the place of romantic legends, rude waiters, outdoor cafes with concertinas playing, beret-wearing cigarette-smoking world-weary men, world-class museums, crepes, chocolate, champagne, parks with massive sculptures and so much more. WE MADE IT!!

The day after my birthday we rolled into Gare du Nord station and caught a cab to our new digs in the 15th arondissement. We were by the expo center, not even close to the center of Paris but it was pretty quiet. Except for the gigantic crane and construction of a new hotel going on right next door to us. We were lucky enough to get an upgraded room with a little deck. YES! SO NICE! We could watch the crane lift up concrete forms and other very heavy things and see the guys hammering rebar. This is what I call romance! And...we could see the Eiffel tower. Far, far away. Look between crane 1 and crane 2 from the left. You can see it too! Not complaining here. It was kind of fun.

We actually did get to see the Eiffel Tower up close. It's HUGE!!!

The next day we decided to get right to it and visit the Louvre. Want to tell you this is all it is cracked up to be. It's huge, and very, very busy. And beautiful. Of course we had to go see the Mona Lisa right away. This is how it went. See photo below. We should have gotten there earlier.

I think she's saying.."People- get a grip! Its just a little portrait. You can do better!"

Needless to say, we spent quite a bit of time at this acclaimed and beautiful museum. There was a very memorable sculpture garden, gorgeous rooms recreated from very expensive and old things taken from real palaces. China, sculptures, paintings. I fell in love with the epic and huge paintings of Eugene Delacroix. That man could make the most exciting drama of anything.

Most notable were Napoleon's apartments. I had no idea how narcisstic and egocentric Napoleon really was. He had memorials built to himself all over Paris, including a Napoleonic wreath on a bridge and even the Arc D'Triomphe. It was all about him! Even in the palace of Versailles paintings of his battles took up a full 25% of paintings about the history of France. The entire history! Portraits galore about his conquests. And did you know he divorced his first wife Josephine (who was apparently his true love) because she could not produce an heir? And then he married Marie Louise somebody from somewhere, got a son, but then was ousted from power. The new wife took the son and ran off in exile somewhere (not with Napoleon), but Napoleon Jr. died from TB when he was 20. Talk about your life plans going awry! So much for the dynasty. But, I digress.

Below are photos of his "apartment" in Paris. Not to mention he had all of Versailles, all 2300 rooms. Yes, really 2300 rooms.And probably lots of other places, like ELBA AND ST. HELENA (where he was exiled).

Lots more to come about beautiful Paris.