au revoir Paris

Well, the trip is over...images all uploaded...no what will I blog about!? Hmmm. This is my last lunch. Delicious moules from Noirmoutier at a little local cafe on rue St. Antoine within view of the Eglise St. Paul. They were the best. Our little hotel had sweet views up and down the street. We could see the sign and beyond it, rue de Rivoli. Up to the right, rue des mauvais garcons becomes rue de moussy and La Poste is right up the street. You know me and my love of post offices. It was a wonderful time, I miss Paris, le Marais, the Cite, long walks with lots to see, and am hoping for a return stay next year. In the meantime, what to blog?

Joyeux Noel Printemps style

The windows at Printemps department store were amazing. The theme was Moroccan for some reason and Moroccan music played at each window. Pots and Pans were animated as marionettes, controlled by computerized string mechanisms visible at the top of the windows. The little pots and pans had such character, it was easy to think of them as little gnomes or even, people. They were belly dancing, painting things, cooking, and more. We loved them. the colors were all pink, red, orange, gold, yellow. Each window was a different single color. The best!!

Joyeux Noel Galleries Lafayette lights

The lights on the Galleries Lafayette buildings were so beautiful. They changed colors, which was hard to catch with the camera. OOh I wished for a video camera. The buildings opposite the stores reflected the lights and the entire area was lit up by them. The reflections on the cars were beautiful, too.

Joyeux Noel Galleries Lafayette style

The tree in the center of the main Galleries Lafayette store is very impressive as is the behind the dome structure. We went up to the top most levels to see how the stained glass dome looked from behind. Wow!

Joyeux Noel BHV style

We were so happy that we were back in Paris in time to see the Noel windows in the department stores. BHV weirdly used taxidermied animals. ew! and yet, they were compelling and raised questions. Who knitted that scarf and hat set for the donkey? Who sewed the tiny cape hood for the goose? Why are the bunnies wearing Tutus?

More food in Paris

We had lunch at a cafe near Chatelet. The chairs in the non-smoking section were comfy arm chairs. Chuck had quiche with frites. What do you think? Did he get enough frites?

musee quai branly, Paris

The new museum of...what? anthropology? Ethnology? We had heard about the new museum quai branly and knew that the building itself was supposed to be interesting and one either loved it or hated it. The contents of the museum were drawn from the musee de l'homme and the old museum of Oceania and Africa that was out by the bois de Vincennes. We went there on Sunday but found the crowd to get in daunting. Instead of waiting in line, we crowded into the gift/book shop and got claustrophobic. We decided to stay outside and look at the building, the garden and the building with the gardon ON it. The latter was our favorite part of the museum. We pretty much felt that it was architecturally confusing with no clear intent. I'd like to have seen the inside to find out how they used the space. There was a nice reflection of the building on the windows of a building behind the museum, and we had good views of the Eiffel tower. I liked taking the picture of myself in the window with the reflection of the trees. Next trip, I'm going inside!