Bernie’s Cousins Arrive by Train
Bonjour mes amis,
As my daughter was getting into a taxi for the airport to go back to Alabama, Bernie’s cousins were arriving by train at the Gare de Lyon. Oh, the memories we’ve had with them over the years. Two of his other cousins have passed away, and we remembered them with fondness in our discussions. Two other American cousins live in Macon, Georgia, and we so wish they were with us.
Since some of you are new to the blog, I’ll quickly recount the background. Pierre and Laurie Verdier live in the Alsace region of France near the Rhine river which off and on has been part of Germany. Their small town is Soultz and is not too far from Strasbourg, France and Basil, Switzerland. It’s beautiful wine country and they have a lovely home there which we have visited many times. But as Laurie said, “we have been in prison here with Corona and would like to come to Paris this year.”
Bernie’s mother sent Bernie and his sister to Strasbourg during WWII since it was then part of Germany. Bernie was just a small tyke when he played with his cousins. He didn’t see them again until over 20 years ago when Pierre found Bernie through ancestry.com. It’s been a touching experience to reconnect. They look alike, talk alike, and are both hard of hearing so I fondly say that “now we have two deaf guys.”
Pierre lost his first wife (whose name was Laurie) in a mountain climbing accident and met present-day Laurie in Norway where she was an anesthesiologist for many years. Pierre worked as a geologist for Elf Oil. They are both so very special to us and since the beginning, we have “clicked” like hand in glove. It’s a pleasure to have them if only for a few days.
Yesterday was somewhere around 105 F. Very tough. Pierre and Laurie are staying at Le Pavillon de la Reine in La Place des Vosges which is air conditioned, thank goodness for them. We may camp out in their lobby! We dropped off their suitcases as check-in was not until 3pm and made our way for a lunch reservation at the Café Lapérouse in the Musée de la Marine which opened last year.
At that same location, we had tickets for a special exhibit which included masterpieces from Calousta Gulbenkian’s Museum in London called Al Thani Collection. Here’s a screen shot of explanation from the web site:
Here are some of the beautiful pieces with a few explanations (some of which are blurred, sorry.)
Forgive that some of this is out of order, but I think you get the general idea. It was most enjoyable.
Circulating around in the intense heat was not pleasant so we parted ways about 4pm and each took a break, then met up again for dinner on the island at one of our favorite little restaurants called SORZA. It’s air-conditioned and the Patrone Esther knows us and always makes us feel so welcome. She flooded us with cold water!!
Tomorrow we are off to the new Dior store on Avenue Montaigne.
Thanks again for your comments!! They keep me going. AND as I am writing this, it is raining a bit in Paris and cooling down. Can we all say “Hallelujah!”
L & B
July 20, 2022 @ 9:50 am
Those museum pictures are gorgeous! You keep finding new places to take “us” to! I see the heat should leave today. May you enjoy cooler days ahead!
July 20, 2022 @ 10:14 am
Bravo navigating in the extreme heat! I hope it cools off a bit for you today. Thank you for sharing the exhibit photos!
July 20, 2022 @ 10:50 am
Hallelujah!
The art collection looked fantastic. We’re going to Wichita next week and will see the Lalique collection at their art museum. While we’re there, we will think of you and our great trip together, pre-Covid.
July 20, 2022 @ 11:35 am
How nice that you were once again able to get together with Bernie’s cousin and his wife. The art pieces are interesting and lovely, many very intricate and ornate. It seems the focus of the trip is air conditioning and who can blame you!
July 20, 2022 @ 11:42 am
I am so enjoying your posts. Do you choose summer for most of your stays? We saw the restaurant at Hotel de la marine in March and the decor was awesome. How was the meal?
July 20, 2022 @ 2:40 pm
The meal was excellent but expensive. They have a very expensive restaurant at night for dinner which we have not tried.
July 20, 2022 @ 11:54 am
PTL for rain, however slight. We had a lot yesterday, but alas, facing a full week of horrid heat.
Amazing artifacts- you represented the exhibit well.
July 20, 2022 @ 12:52 pm
Thanks Linda! As always…beautiful and very informative.
July 20, 2022 @ 1:39 pm
Linda, I don’t know if I mentioned it, but Rachel is in a hospital in Lyons for testing. She says it’s 95F in her room, which is next to the helipad. She says it’s very active, since there are 1200 doctors based in the hospital, which is a center for rare diseases…
July 20, 2022 @ 2:39 pm
That is terrible! I am so sorry and hope for her swift recovery!!
July 20, 2022 @ 2:04 pm
More pictures of Pierre and Laurie *please*
Glad to see you are hiding from the heat. Let’s all double down on climate warming solutions.
July 20, 2022 @ 2:19 pm
Thank you for a glimpse of the stunning collection of Gulbenkian!
I am certainly enjoying my “traveling” with you and Bernie this summer!
Jemalee
July 20, 2022 @ 2:28 pm
I am enjoyed seeing Paris again through your eyes and pictures.
I hope the heat gets better. I have added more shorts to my suitcase!
I leave on my journey next Thursday the 29th. I have even thought about making a collection of pictures like you do.
We’ll see how it turns out.
Can’t wait to share my trip with you after we both return!
Love to both,
JILL
July 20, 2022 @ 2:41 pm
We share you sentiments on the heat. Record breaking temps here too. We probably have more/ better air conditioning though
Favorite way to start my day reading our blog!
July 20, 2022 @ 9:05 pm
We were worried when we didn’t have an email waiting when we got up this morning. So glad all is going so well and it is cooling. You are troopers but there are huge rewards, obviously!
July 20, 2022 @ 9:07 pm
Exquisite
July 21, 2022 @ 1:58 am
I remember that heat. It’s hard to recover when you can’t get an AC reprieve anywhere. Other than the heat, these look like beautiful memories!
July 21, 2022 @ 1:59 am
Buddy and I think you two are wired up to some NASA energy-producing experiment! The exhibit is fabulous!!!
Keep cool and keep it coming!
July 21, 2022 @ 3:11 am
Great photos, as always!
Love experiencing Paris through your eyes!
July 21, 2022 @ 5:25 pm
You are giving us an entire list of new restaurants to try in our brief visit to Paris this year! The art collection photos are fascinating. Thanks so much!