Vous Etes Magnifique!

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This morning I woke with a smile on my face.  Yes I thought, I really am in Paris.  Sometimes dreams do come true, and this trip is certainly a dream come true for me.  When Bob and I were in Paris several years ago I kept an art journal. I wrote in it that I wondered if I would ever be able to return to Paris and spend as much time as I wanted looking at my favourite paintings in the Louvre.  I will be able to do that and more on this trip.  It is a lovely indulgence to only think about and do those things that interest me.

Closing both windows and their curtains and pulling down the blinds all helped to muffle the street noise so I had a fairly good sleep.

I went out for a walk this afternoon and headed over to the Gare de l’Est to purchase a Navigo Card, only to discover that the booth had just closed   This card gives unlimited travel on the metro and bus lines for about 60 Euros per month.  I like the idea of being able to hop on and off the bus or metro whenever I like all for one easy price. I will do that tomorrow.

I spent the next couple of hours wandering the streets, watching children playing, skateboarders skating and people strolling everywhere.  Parisians love to enjoy their city on Sundays. The streets and green spaces were teeming with people of all ages, which offered some great people watching!

Sunday afternoon in ParisOn my trip to New Zealand I took lots of tree pictures and in Paris I think it will be lots of building and church pictures.  They are all so old and have such beautiful ornamentation.  I find them fascinating, there is so much to see here that it is hard to know where to look sometimes.  I visited  the Church of St. Laurent today.  Construction of this church began in1429 and was not completed until 1667.  By the way, if you tap or click on a photo it will load a larger version, for a closer look.

St-Laurent Church

There was a very interesting lady inside, who was dressed all in white, from head to toe.  I wondered if there was some significance to this or if she just liked the colour white!

Lady in White

On the way home, a young man passed me and  as he walked by he turned and said “Vous etes magnifique”. I didn’t say anything as the guide books I had read said not to smile at men on the street or it might be misinterpreted as an invitation to something more.  He turned and said “Vous devriez dire Merci.” (You should say thank you) so I rather sheepishly replied “Merci” and he nodded his head and walked on.  Perhaps a compliment can just be a compliment.  In any case, I walked home feeling rather special.

Belgium StrawberriesBelgium strawberries and dark chocolate for dessert.

 

I’m In Paris!

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I am in Paris and it feels as though I am exactly where I should be.  Interestingly, I never felt really excited before I left home.  I thought it was because I was so busy getting ready for the trip and still dealing with all the things that needed taking care of before I left, but even on the plane I just felt very relaxed, almost as though I were going home instead of just starting a trip.

The flights were good, almost no turbulence and three movies helped the time pass.  Iceland is part do the Schengen Co-operation and Canada is not, so we needed to go through security before being allowed to enter into the airport area with other passengers.  Going through security made the one hour connection between flights a bit tight.  There was just enough time to find a washroom and it was the  final call for boarding.

At the Charles de Gaulle Airport my suitcase was the first one to arrive on the baggage conveyor belt.  I thought that must be a good omen.  I headed for the taxi stands and was able to walk straight out and get a taxi.  My driver, Jean Paul, didn’t speak English but we had a nice conversation all the same.  I am doing quite well speaking French, even surprising myself with what I remember.

Getting into my apartment was not so easy.  I hauled my suitcases up three flight of very narrow winding stairs.  The entrance to the building, the stairs and the hallways were very old and very dirty.  This was rather discouraging.  I rather nervously waited a half hour and then a neighbour kindly let me use his phone to call my host.  Turns out he was just outside the apartment so he arrived a couple of minutes later.  The apartment looked exactly like it did in the posting on Airbnb .  Matthiew spent a few minutes  giving me an orientation and then I am on my own.

The street outside my windows is quite busy, so it is noisier than I had anticipated, but after all, I am in the heart of a city, so I guess that is to be expected.  The windows are double glazed so when they are closed it does cut out much of the traffic noise.

I went for a little walk about 7:00 pm and felt quite comfortable.  There is a grocery store right across the street and a lovely little fruit and vegetable shop right next door.  I even found a health food store just a couple blocks away but it was already closed for the day.  I will check it out on Monday.  I bought a roasted chicken for my supper and a few other groceries, and finally went to bed about 9:00, only a 29 hour day!

My first meal in Paris.

My first meal in Paris.

 

 

 

To blog or not to blog?

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Well, here I am, blogging!  It is a bit of an intimidating proposition as I am still learning my way around my Apple computer, however I have decided that it was time for an online presence and a blog seemed like the easiest way to begin.

Why blog?  In just two days I am going to Paris for a month and I want a way to share my experiences, and record my adventures.  I have rented a lovely little apartment in the 10th arrondissement near the Canal St. Martin.  My days will be filled exploring Paris, visiting museums and art galleries, attending life drawing classes, sketching whenever possible.  I am looking forward to lazy afternoons sitting at sidewalk cafés watching the world go by, living the life of an artist in Paris.