jerry and jean

jerry and jean

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hello Paris! The Louve and Chartes Cathedral

This morning got up and packed and hit the train to Paris.  Jerry took some photos of the trains before we left.






Took a taxi from Gare Montparsse to Don Drapeau's apartment on the other side of the river.  Traffic was bad because turns out the Chinese President is here.  Lots of streets blocked off, etc. but we made it.

Donald's apartment is in a quiet neighborhood in the 16th Arr.  We have stayed here before, and we just love it!  It really feels like home and it was fun to come back.  Here are some pictures, for those of you who haven't seen previous ones.
living room


kitchen - dishwasher, washing machine, 2 burners

beautiful bathroom

Bedroom with big window

looking out the bedroom window to the living room window


It is small by any standards, what the French call a "pied a terre" which is a working apartment for during the week, and then they might live outside the city with their family.  It is perfect for us!!!!! And it is a "French" neighborhood, so there is a bakery, meat shop, fruit & veg. store, etc.

Our mission was to go out to find internet for the apartment since Donald no longer keeps one going.  After a few tries and fails we found a company called SFR which had something called a "web trotter" which you plug in the wall and you get internet.  Magic!  So we are set up for blogging and trip advisor, which we cannot live without.

Next:  Wine and a sandwich at a cafe.

Then to the stores...remember there are several....to get, pate, bread, wine, strawberries, and chocolate.  Back to apartment for eat in dinner.  Wow.

 Thursday about noon, we took off from the apartment, walked 4 blocks and got onto the Metro headed for the Louvre.  It is sort of a MUST see right away if you're in Paris, and although it was beastly crowded and we have been there 4 times before, it never disappoints.

The pyramid entrance



Lines to get in can be avoided by buying tickets at the Tabac before you go in

Spring break....so lots of people


We overheard an English tour guide say:  "If you look at every thing in the Louvre for 2 seconds, it would take you 2 1/2 weeks to go through it".  Needless to say, you cannot see everything, and almost everyone starts in the Denon wing which houses the crown jewels of the Louvre.
Mona

You have to fight your way up to the front, but a Japanese woman took our picture

wrestling match with Angels

Napoleon in his famous pose

Delacroix - Liberte

Can't remember the name of this one but it is great

Lady Venus d Milo

Hermaphrodite

Dying slave by Michelangelo

Psyche and Cupid by Canova
 Then you just wander.  The Louvre was a palace and the building itself is just beautiful.  Of course one of the great things is you get to wander right up to the beautiful paintings and sculptures.
Raphel

red haired woman



ceilings are fabulous

The three nymphs


Even cuticles on the statues...how do they do that in marble?

We saw this last year at the Uffitzi.  





Mercury

Bernini

so gorgeous!

Ok. Enough of that.  Tired, hot, exhausted and filled up with art, we came back to the neighborhood and had a pichet of wine (50 cl) and chips at the corner, then came home to rest.
Walk through the Tulleries

Everyone is out enjoying the day


The Arc du Triomphe....just up the street from our apartment

The Chinese President is here, so the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

He was in the area so the Champs Elysee was closed for a few minutes 


Normally this could never happen with the 6 lanes of traffic




 About 9:00 we went out for dinner.  We went to an old favorite around the corner, Belinis.  Which is actually an Italian place.  Hasn't changed a bit since 2005.  I had Languostine Rissoto, and Jerry had the house special pasta that they prepare at the table.  And Chianti Classico, of course, Italian wine.

M. Belini. n this huge wheel of Parmesan he pours lit Cognac to melt some of the cheese

Then he adds the hot pasta and stirs it up

Adds black pepper and Voila!

It was a good meal.  We finished with sorbet and Lemonchello.  Fun night!

Friday we took a train out 50 miles to Chartes, France. Which only has one claim to fame that we know about....the famous Chartes Cathedral.  Built in the early days, burned in 1157, rebuilt in Gothic times within 60 years (not 400 like so many) so the architecture is very cohesive.  And it is gorgeous.

Jerry and the "guys" at the Brasserie we ate lunch at


Chartes Cathedral

So pretty

The left spire was built in 1257, the right one survived the fire so it is much earlier

I'm just going to show the pictures because it speaks for itself.

These are 12th century stain glass windows that were removed during the war and kept safe, then re-leaded and put back in


There are 4 rose windows

This is at the back of the church.  If you could lay it down it would fit in ......

this, which is called the labyrinth.  It is a puzzle that people walk on to say prayers.
We of course, just walked over it because we are so stupid.

The choir which looks like wood carving but it is stone


Our lady of the Pillar



each section tells a different Bible story



Piece of Mary's veil

Pillars are HUGE

The blue Mary


18th century altar piece of the assumption




Jerry lights another candle








Really amazing.  Went to catch the train back but had to wait a little.
Just enough time for a Kir

This is for Doug and Sara.....Sauterne

Had reservations at a new place in the neighborhood.  La Gazette.  Amazing service and food.    Really nice food, the people were so nice to us. We would definitely eat there again.


Smoked salmon, lentils and a poached egg.  Delish!  Who dreams up this stuff?

My plat was one of the specials, Pork with some amazing sauce, and great mashed potatoes.

Roast chicken with a wine/mushroom sauce.  Also Amazing

Berry Sorbet/ coffee/ Port wine
Such a fun night.  We were right next to the kitchen window, so we could watch them cook.  A well oiled machine for sure.










2 comments:

  1. Hello! What arrondissement is your apartment in? Do you know the name of the picture with the young woman floating in the water, or the artist? Very beautiful and arresting. We think eating at Belinis looks fabulous! Your pictures of your dinner look scrumptious. When you return home, you are more then welcome to fix us pasta in a cheese wheel! Have a great night! :-D

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    Replies
    1. We are right on the edge of the sixteenth and seventeenth. Jerry says you buy the big wheel of parmesan and we'll bring the pasta. Let me find the name and artist and I'll get back to you! Au revoir.

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