Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Still Touristing in Paris

We have been so lucky with the weather. No rain so far (knock on wood) and mostly blue skies. Me and my aunt Janet standing in the middle of traffic in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

Morey:

Good thing there wasn't much traffic or we might have been taken out. We were actually at a stopping point between the lanes of traffic - French streets are often crossed in stages.

Morey's photo of the spiral staircase at the Arc. I have to say it was the best staircase we took (there's a center to look down and it's wider than those in the Sacre Couer, Catacombs, or Notre Dame, and only 266 steps compared to Notre Dame's 400-some).

Next stop, the Eiffel Tower. A photo taken very strategically to hide the enormous rugby ball-shaped air balloon and the wide screen tv showing rugby highlites.

The other side of the tower, with the rugby air balloon in the middle of the tower and the giant rugby balloon at the bottom celebrating (advertising?) the World Rugby Cup in New Zealand in 2012.

Janet and Morey:

We then trooped over to Napoleon's Tomb and then the Rodin Museum. It was a looong day.

Yesterday Morey and I took the metro (all back to normal, woohoo) to the Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum. We were too early so we wandered around a bit. My favorite bit of art in the nearby fountain, a skull very appropriate for Halloween.

Nearby St Merri's had some great gargoyles. These are my uncle's photos. I love his camera with the 12x zoom.

Oh no!
Middle Age's Mick Jagger:

We did go into the Pompidou and then Morey went wandering on by himself to take photos of buildings and churches. Meanwhile I went with Janet and my sweetie to the Museum of the Middle Ages, aka the Cluny.

These objects are Halloweeny to me, although they were deadly serious back when created. A stained glass window originally in St Chapelle's:

And part of a tapestry. I don't know why these demons were trying to capsize the boat:

Anyway, that's the quick overview. My bad knee is really acting up after all this walking and climbing so I'm taking the morning off to rest and my sweetie to cook, which he really enjoys when he has the time. Janet and Morey are off to the Orsay Museum and then hopefully back home to regain their strength for our outing tonight to see the Eiffel Tower lit up at night.

18 comments:

Lily Mulholland said...

Sounds like a lot of fun! Hope your knee improves :)

And I wonder if Mick Jagger has seen that gargoyle! LOL it does look like him!

Quilting Pirate said...

I'm sure you are an excellent tour guide!

Leaves aren't turning there yet either? Ours finally turned this past weekend!

I bet Paris is beautiful with fall colors!

Joyce said...

We spent days and days in front of the Pompidou when DH and daughters were doing portraits there. Are there still lots of artists? THe police used to come and make everyone leave once in awhile. I love that fountain too. Apparently, there is a park somewhere in US, I think maybe Atlanta (someone blogged about it) with lots and lots of her sculptures. I was glad to know that Nikki St Phalle (however you spell it) is a woman.

comicbooklady said...

I love that photo of the spiral staircase even the blur of people going up the stairs.You know I think there is an art quilt in there somewhere.

Mama Spark said...

I was just a fascinated bu all the gargoyles and downspouts as you are. Maybe you should design a gargoyle/downspout quilt?? We cant be the only 2 who love them?? Gargoyles in Paris anyone? = )

Carol E. said...

What a fun vicarious trip through Paris! Thanks for all the beautiful photos, and I'm enjoying the gorgeous weather along with you.

Anonymous said...

love the jagger reference....

Anonymous said...

All that medieval stuff is very Halloween-esque! I found this round-up of Halloween crafts and thought of you:

http://whipup.net/2007/10/23/halloween-tutorial-roundup/

Happy touring!

Cher said...

love the photo of the spiral staircase looking down in the Arc-I hated climbing those stairs! I think we took a different set as they were dark and more narrow. Fabulous photos and of course, it sounds like the best of visits. Hope the kneed responds to some rest-remember ice is your friend!

Anonymous said...

It really looks like Mick Jagger!!!
:-0 !!!! How curious!
Bye,

Laura said...

It all looks so wonderful, how fun to have your family with you! And that is definately Mick!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Wow! What gorgeous weather your having. My only complaint? That it isn't me standing there by you!

sewprimitive karen said...

Wow, what a blue sky. Love the photo with the two snake-y gargoyles, what a picture. Hope your knee lets you enjoy the nightish excursion.

Candy Schultz said...

That sure does look like Mick Jagger. I am waiting for a couple more Krinkles to come in the mail. After I got to the site I had to order a couple more. I will put up a photo when they arrive. Hopefully that will be before Halloween.

Anonymous said...

Lucky me!! Here I am in the France with Ton. With all the quilts hanging in the apartment (Halloween quilts of course) I'm inspired to go home and try the letters again. I think I'll finish the bug jar quilt. Janet

ann said...

hard to picky my favorite photo; so great to see J & M, loved the one of you with Janet, but Mick is right up there!
kudos to your quilting friend - may have to try it.

Anonymous said...

fantastic site the cakes, quilts amazing...and thenthe gargoyle made me laugh out loud!

Susan said...

Love the stairwell, aka seashell!