The Louvre! Which, we've discovered, is just a 10 minute walk from our hotel. We spent the better part of the day there. Gazing at Greek , Roman and Italian statues, Italian paintings and oh yes - French statues in the Cours Putin and Marly. The Marly horses were simply splendid.
After four hours of room after room filled with art in a setting that is - itself - a work of art, we stumbled up to the Jardin des Tuileries whose gardens were originally designed in the 17th century. Very formal but pleasant gardens ablaze with color and punctuated by three fountains, Napoleon's triumphal arch on one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other.
After relaxing at one of the fountains, we headed to the Orangerie. This small museum houses eight huge canvases of Monet's water lilies in two perfectly lit oval rooms. These are among the most peaceful spaces one can find in a museum, even when filled with tourists and cameras.
After emerging from the Orangerie, museum'd out, we headed through the Place de la Concorde and out along the Rue St Honore. Stopping for a snack (millefeuille with framboises et chantilly), we stopped to munch in the Place Vendome among the grand houses. Then it was on the the Jardin du Palais Royale for a rest and to decide about dinner.
We had come across a place on Place Andre Malraux, which seemed a likely candidate, so it was off to Le Dauphin, our splurge dinner for the week. An excellent Bordeaux white, with escargots (Chet) and pate de foie (Lynne), a magnificent stew of pork cheeks with root vegetables (Lynne) and pasta with wild mushrooms (Chet), and figs in a Jurancon for afters. Yum. We settled the bill, stumbled out and wandered back to our hotel, Chet taking pictures of the Tour Eiffel and the Louvre at night on the way back.
Another full day in the City of Lights!
After four hours of room after room filled with art in a setting that is - itself - a work of art, we stumbled up to the Jardin des Tuileries whose gardens were originally designed in the 17th century. Very formal but pleasant gardens ablaze with color and punctuated by three fountains, Napoleon's triumphal arch on one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other.
After relaxing at one of the fountains, we headed to the Orangerie. This small museum houses eight huge canvases of Monet's water lilies in two perfectly lit oval rooms. These are among the most peaceful spaces one can find in a museum, even when filled with tourists and cameras.
After emerging from the Orangerie, museum'd out, we headed through the Place de la Concorde and out along the Rue St Honore. Stopping for a snack (millefeuille with framboises et chantilly), we stopped to munch in the Place Vendome among the grand houses. Then it was on the the Jardin du Palais Royale for a rest and to decide about dinner.
We had come across a place on Place Andre Malraux, which seemed a likely candidate, so it was off to Le Dauphin, our splurge dinner for the week. An excellent Bordeaux white, with escargots (Chet) and pate de foie (Lynne), a magnificent stew of pork cheeks with root vegetables (Lynne) and pasta with wild mushrooms (Chet), and figs in a Jurancon for afters. Yum. We settled the bill, stumbled out and wandered back to our hotel, Chet taking pictures of the Tour Eiffel and the Louvre at night on the way back.
Another full day in the City of Lights!
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