A Day of Food, Art, and History with the Tysons
Bonjour,
Yesterday was beautiful and delightfully cooler as we started our day with eating, of course. Miss Manon is our beloved little patisserie at the corner of rue St. Paul and is just across the street from John and Sharon’s hotel. We are still hauling it back and forth on the bus, but yesterday it was empty, quick, and no waiting time because nothing much moves in Paris before 10am! We saw a first for us at the patisserie, a chocolate croissant with pistachio nuts. This was not a pain au chocolate.
Our goal is to maintain a fun day but not at a frantic pace. We started our day at the very famous Les Halles area which was the former city-wide market. I’ve written about it many times and would encourage you to Google it. I had the privilege of seeing the old fruit stalls before they were all torn down and replaced with a modern structure which I deplore but you’re not surprised. This public area is much like a park now and abuts the massive St. Eustache church in the 1st arrondissement, built between 1532 and 1632, the present building that is. It is Gothic in style and they have been cleaning it as long as we’ve been coming to Paris.
Just around the corner is rue Montorgueil which as I told Johnny took us three or four years to learn to pronounce! It’s a very fun pedestrian street and a great place to people watch. Yesterday, as we had lunch we watched workmen try to lift heavy sets of new curtains up to the pent house on the 6th floor using ropes. At the very end, they hit a protruding sign of a fish from the shop at street level and knocked off part of the neon lighting. It was free entertainment. 
In the afternoon, we showed them where Bernie was born and the church where he was baptized, St. Ambrose. Always a tender moment for Bernie.
Many of you have had the multi-media art experience in America which started right here in Bernie’s neighborhood at L’Artelier des Lumières. This year’s presentation featured Cezanne who painted mainly scenes from Provence, also stills and portraits. It’s total immersion with exquisite music. Almost hard to describe unless you experience it. We’ve seen everyone starting with Klimpt, then Van Gogh, Gaudi and Dali last year and now this lovely exhibit. The photos are hard to edit and part of their charm is to see the spectators.
Our evening concluded with a nice dinner at Carette, slow and easy with great conversation about the universe and the James Webb telescope. Johnny waxed poetic and philosophical!
Today we’re off to Giverny. Please forgive typos as I’m in a rush trying to do this, get myself presentable and make reservations, etc. Pretty crazy and they call this vacation!!!
L & B
August 2, 2022 @ 10:58 am
That initial photo– spectacular! Have you read Kati Marton’s book, Paris, A Love Story? I just finished it and thought of you both on every page, for many reasons.
August 2, 2022 @ 7:55 pm
No, haven’t read it but will check it out if there’s ever time. Right now, things are busy!
August 2, 2022 @ 11:46 am
What a great day! I checked Amazon–We can’t get Mason Drucker chairs here in the US, even from Amazon! Go figure. Loved the pictures of the Cezanne Exhibit–we so loved the one on Van Gogh that we saw a few years ago and wish we could see more. I’m really looking forward to pictures from Giverny. A photography teacher I have worked with has a special arrangement at the Monet gardens to take classes there for photography when no one else is there. I have marveled at the pictures they are able to get. Oh, I did a basic internet search for Maison Drucker chairs and we can get them here–found one on sale for about $350, regularly around $650–set of 6 for $5600. We must get some for our patio. Best to you guys and glad the weather has improved.
August 2, 2022 @ 7:56 pm
Charles, sure a set of 6 for only $5600 would be great! Ha!
August 2, 2022 @ 12:23 pm
I love the churches in Paris! Thanks for sharing the photos of the multi media art. We experienced our first with you and Bernie during our trip to Paris. Desserts are enticing! The chairs are always fun to see.
August 2, 2022 @ 7:56 pm
Great memories!
August 2, 2022 @ 12:28 pm
love the illuminations! we have only seen the Van Gogh (only one to come to Minnesota to my knowledge). The Cezanne looks so fun; hope it will come here!
August 2, 2022 @ 1:34 pm
The exhibit was a feast for the eyes. Thank you! You may be on vacation but you are also a dedicated tour guide!
August 2, 2022 @ 2:45 pm
Ah Carette – a favorite of mine. I like to combine it with an afternoon sit in Place Des Vosges. Their desserts are the best. I’m so enjoying your daily notes and pictures to us. I feel like I’m there with you. II look forward to each day’s adventures. You are busy with visitors – will that slow down as your time there comes closer to an end?
August 2, 2022 @ 3:19 pm
Today the photos elicit such emotion! The Cezanne exhibit is breathtaking. Merci beaucoup! The food looks delicious, and such lovely presentation. Why don’t our restaurants make more effort to do the same? The cafe’ chairs are unusually attractive in today’s posting. Enjoy this time! And thank you for letting us enjoy it as well. Safe travels.
August 2, 2022 @ 6:13 pm
You are so blessed to be able to see all the various art lumieres. I felt so fortunate to see the Van Gogh in Arles. I think I’ve found my favorite chairs! Anxiously anticipating Giverny. Wish I could have gone there.
August 2, 2022 @ 9:28 pm
I really enjoyed the Cezanne lumieres. The Van Gogh event was a real treat last year in Birmingham and I’d love seeing the others too. I am looking
forward to going with you vicariously to Giverny. Thanks for the fun blog and great pictures!
August 3, 2022 @ 11:29 am
I couldn’t figure out the “reply” button, so I may have a couple of aborted tries somewhere. There’s no rush to read that book. You can enjoy it over the winter or some much slower time!