Going to Versailles

Tomorrow we are going to the famous palace, so be sure to look at the posts because there will be a LOT of pictures and probably quite a few posts. So be sure to stay tuned.

-A

Eating Breakfast

We are eating breakfast before our jaunt to the park.

- An avid reader

No Catacombs

We couldn’t stop to visit the catacombs today because it was closed for renovation which made me very frustrated, because it was one of the things I looked forward to doing. So now we need something else to put on our agenda, but we still haven’t decided.

-A

 

 

 

Our Metro stop

Maubert-Mutualite

Our Metro line #10 is special because we have our own musical group that plays on the voyage (though only one song) and hops on and off of cars every stop. The first time we saw the early version of this musical performance there was only one trumpeter, but everytime we see him he seems to have more and more people with him adding about 1 every couple days. After the performance, the trumpeter goes around the car asking for a donation though he does not seem to get much he is very persistent, as he is there almost everyday.

-A

low tech/high tech

In addition to manual agenda planning we also use the computer to make efficient trips. Rick Steves has audio and video tours that we have used both on the computer and on an iPod and an iPhone.

We found that the video podcasts (less than 5 minutes) are useful before we go to get a sense of the place before we visit. We use the audio podcasts (up to an hour) to find out more about what we are seeing when we are actually there.

Listening to Rick works better in buildings than on the street. ‘A’ was vexed after 20 minutes of listening to “look left” and “look right” on the walk from Notre Dame to Pont Neuf because there were other things he wanted to look at.

Having access to the internet is a good way to check operating hours and to find more information about sites.

-B

I’ll miss the butter

The butter we have at the apartment is so odd yet so good. The butter has chunks of gros sel or big salt, making it saltier than anything I’ve had in the U.S., and definitely better in my opinion. In short, the butter is better.

-A

 

 

Dinner at La Rotisserie du Beaujolais

This evening we had dinner at La Rotisserie du Beaujolais, which took some planning ahead of time (because the menu was in French) so we didn’t accidentally order calf’s head with mayonnaise (Tete de veau sauce gribiche) or rabbit JAM with mashed eggplant (cul de lapin confit tapenade et puree). When we arived they took our coats and we sat down at a table near the window.

The late owner of the restaurant also owned the prestigious La Tour d’Argent which is just across the street. We were able to see it from our table.

Once diner was finished we walked back to the apartment and were able to see Notre Dame at night time.

-A

Enseignes

This is the building at the end of our street that housed a sign writer (Enseignes) in the 19th century. On the third floor you can see the images used in some of the signs. since only the educated could read, it was the sign writer’s job to write the name of the business and to paint an image that would reveal the meaning of the sign to all observers.

It reminds me of a building in our neighborhood that has a mural of cows painted in the styles of different schools of art. Like the sign writer’s image, the mural has persisted even though Fratelli’s dairy has been gone for years.

-B

More rollerblading

It’s Sunday and the rollerbladers are out. This time we saw them where the Quai de Montebello turns into the Quai de la Tournelle on the Left Bank, at the edge of the Seine. This is where our apartment’s short street meets the river.

-B

Sledding

Near the Hotel de Ville is this large ice skating rink set up for the winter time. When we walked past it today there was an artificial sledding hill where little kids could sled down, it looked like fun. I think if there was a MUCH steeper hill that I would have to go down it.

-A