Emma woke feeling much better today. We enjoyed a slow morning and then had a picnic lunch in a park. Next we went to the Musee L'Orangerie. It was named this because it was built in an orange grove. The highlight of the museum is two oval rooms set together like an infinity sign with enormous canvases of Monet's water lilies series. It was spectacular. They also had works by Picasso, Renoir, Soutine and many more. We spent hours just soaking in all the splendor. We were delighted to find that we both adored Soutine's work in particular. Neither one of us was familiar with his work before today, but something about it really spoke to us. Perhaps it was the satirical slant he used on all his subjects?
Next we took a cruise on the Seine. The boat journeyed from just east of Notre Dame to a kilometer west of the Eiffel Tower. It was a pleasant, warm afternoon and seeing the sights from this new perspective was great fun. I took almost two hours to complete the journey.
Afterwards we went to a restaraunt near the Opera. We spent hours eating, talking and laughing. Emma had an amazing vegetable soup and some pasta fromage. I had a salad with roast vegetables and then the lamb with sautéed harticort verts. I also had numerous glasses of lovely wine. Emma had a warm chocolate cake served with vanilla creme glacee, while I finished with a fritte des pommes. I could go on and on about the food...like how the green beans were crisp and mixed in with sautéed with onions, fresh tomatoes and olive oil and vinegar that meshed together in perfect harmony without overpowering the fresh beans. Emma's soup was a thick, creamy mixture of tons of vegetables and the perfect amount of white pepper and we both dipped the fresh, hot bread into it and could have fainted of sheer happiness. However, this is not a food blog, so I won't go on and on(anymore).
After dinner we took a leisurely walk to go see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Paris on a Friday night is like a big party. People are everywhere- in the cafes, picnicking in the parks, playing music on the street. There is chatter and laughter everywhere. The fastest way back to the apartment for us was through the courtyard of the Louvre, which was lively and crowded, even at 10pm (the Louvre stays open late on Friday and Wednesday nights). It was great fun just to stroll while enjoying the sights and sounds.
Beth,
ReplyDeleteYou have been so lucky with the food in Paris. I read this entry with a lot of jealousy. I've been to Paris at least a half a dozen times and never got so lucky. I think I piss them off when I say vegetarian and then they boil a plate of veggies to death and call it an entree. Once I was at a restaurant that specialized in omelets-dozens of them so I got out my little French dictionary and started translating only to find so many internal organs I lost my appetite for a week. There are certain parts of an animal you really don't need to eat. I'm not looking forward to your adventures with sweet breads. The French are the masters of the sauce because they have to cover up what's underneath it. I do love their cheeses and breads and pastries-which is pretty much what I live on when in Paris. Try to remember some of these great restaurants your going to so you can pass on the info to me for my next trip. i'm looking forward to your gastronomic adventures in Italy. Now there's a people who know how to cook. Yummy.
Susan