When one starts the day in a royal residence, a tone is sort of set.... How am I supposed to live life without a throne room?? I'm pretty sure that the throne room would be a fine addition to the yellow house--complete with velvet throne and gold filigree. Another gift idea!
We began the day at Fontainebleau, Napoleon's resting place on the way to Italy when he was inclined to leave Paris and head there. He preferred it over the castles of Paris because it was "more homey." Clearly, Napoleon's idea of "homey" and my idea of "homey" are not the same. My homey does not have a ballroom... or gallery with frescoes of my own self in hunting and dining vignettes... or a throne room... or a tapestied bedroom with a petite little fence to keep out those I have not selected for my inner circle of servants. Hm. Obviously, a contractor will need to be alerted. And someone need to get permits from the city of Herrin for me. Tout de suite! :-))
Next, a trip to Hotel des Invalides--Louis' hospital for wounded soldiers. Today, it is still a convalescent home for soldiers, but also the final resting place for Napoleon and a museum for France's military history. Got the obligatory shots of the altar and tomb, and then went off to the museum sections I hadn't seen before; the WWI and WWII installations were really interesting--we discovered we had stood in the same place Hitler had stood for his own money shot of the Eiffel Tower. Eek! Weird and creepy observation. Then we took a look at the Revolution exhibits that featured both the French and the American Revolutions, since the French helped us win ours. All in all, even though I'd been here before, I found new things to learn and to see! Good visit! During my very pleasant visit, however, my friend and our sponsor Michaelann was at the American Embassy trying to get a new passport for one of our girls--whose passport was PICKPOCKETED!!! Sacre bleu!! Stay tuned. She is still without a passport because the Embassy closed early (because it is Friday... and the weather is good... so everyone bailed... and they'll come back on Monday... probably...), but there is a plan in place and she will be fine. No worries. :-)
Then! THEN! Sacre-Coeur was next on the to-do list. It's the big "new" church on the hill outside Paris with the great view and the bright white stones--called "new" because it is only 125 years old. A baby church! :-) I actually took a picture of the mosaics on the ceiling before the gendarme told me firmly that I was breaking the rules. Oof. Sorry! Kind of.... It's always better to ask forgiveness than permission!! I have an actual pic of the ceiling of Sacre Coeur! In my camera! Rock on! Je gagne. After some time admiring the cathedral, we wandered out to Place du Tetre where all the artists sit and paint portraits and scenery--one of my fave places in Paris! I am bringing home a watercolor of some poppies (love the poppies in Europe) and also, for a change, some ink drawings of several places in Paris. I have plans for all my pretties... assuming Hobby Lobby runs some sales! Girlfriend will be BROKE when she gets home! :-)
On to dinner--which is free--at La Poutre, called this because of the wood beams on the ceiling. They served us boeuf bourguinonne (ugh. Do not judge my spelling here. I know it's off a letter or three... but it was YUMMY), an onion quiche, a fresh salad, and peach melba! DELISH. Very happy belly right now. But the rest of me is exhausted and in desperate need of sleep. Bonne nuit, mes amis! A demain!!
No comments:
Post a Comment