GAY PARIS!

We enjoyed our first week in "Gay Paris," our apartment right in the Latin Quarter near the universities, Sorbonne, etc. where we could walk (indeed we did) to the Musee (museum) d'Orsy which housed most all of my favorite impressionist artist's works, displayed in all their splendor. They don't have guards in every room like in our Cincinnati Art Museum, and occasionally I would gently touch the paint on a Van Gogh I'd loved forever (like "The Midday Nap") to feel this intimate connection.

Little Sketch of Paris along the Seine
Jam Packed with Tiny Cars

The same day we walked across one of the many Seine River bridges and there right smack in front of us, in her majesty, stood the immensely long Louvre Museum. At random I chose to go in one of the many doors and just happened to land in their African section and next to it, the Egyptian. Two of my favorite choices. This place still looks like the palace it was (Louis 14th's digs) and I'm still in total awe of it.

FLOCK OF NUNS

Flock of Nuns Shopping at the Louvre Museum

We saw a funny scene at the entrance of the Louvre (that building that looks like a pyramid) -- a whole flock of nuns milling around in their French sandals, swinging their handbags, ready to spend money! This same day, we then decided to walk down the gardens from the Louvre to the Arc de Triumph and we had the Arc in sight but Nature had other plans. A furious thunder storm hit, drenching us to our underwear in a few minutes. Forget the Arc de Triumph and the Champs Elise. Instead, a mad soaking dash to the Metro (subway) for the ten minute ride back to 'our place' to get hot showers took precedence.

Even Rain in Paris Makes Me Happy!