Day 5, Saturday, September 2, 2023

I slept in until 11:30 so it was a huge rush to eat, and get ready to go drawing at the Academie de la Grande Chaumière.  We manage to get there about 15 minutes before the session starts, and I am happy to find that today isn’t terribly busy so I got a good spot.  In fact it is the same spot that I sat in during my month in Paris in 2014!  My 5 and 10 minute sketches weren’t too bad, but the longer portraits I attempted just didn’t work.  I haven’t been drawing for almost a month and I sure can tell.

Bob goes exploring and after I am finished drawing we head towards the Jardin du Luxembourg,  When I was last here, 9 years ago,  I sat and drew these horses and took a selfie.  Here is that photo and the one Bob took today.  

We walk through the gardens and come across these young men working out and showing off just a bit.  I think I need to come back and draw them…they have such beautiful strong bodies.

The Jardin du Luxembourg is a favourite spot for young and old alike.  It is full of people today (it was +28) and we spent some time watching children play with their remote controlled toy sailboats before heading to Notre Dame.

I cried when I saw Notre Dame.  I am so very happy that I spent the better part of a day here nine years ago, when I climbed way up and walked outside between the two towers and spent time with all the amazing gargoyles.

The cathedral is boarded off so no one is allowed up close.  Apparently there were tours inside but only during July and August.  Too bad. This is one of the photos from the boards that surrounded the cathedral.  It looks like the gargoyles are looking down on the destruction.  The reconstruction is slated to be completed by 2024, but it looks like there is still so much to do.There is scaffolding everywhere!

Two of these temporary ‘hotels’ have been set up behind the cathedral for the workers.

On the way home we passed so many galleries that have shut their doors.  This gallery had been operating since 1953.  Another Covid victim?

We head home, and I am soo tired.  We are having major problems with internet, both in our apartment and with the SIM card we bought for the phone. It is so frustrating.  I keep planning on getting to bed earlier, but here it is after midnight again!