How to make time fly? - invite an artist/photographer friend who has never been to Paris, along with a friend who has been several times and 'sort of' remembers where to go - and proceed to 'do Paris'....and surrounding countryside...for a week...non-stop - Richard's job? - download 800 photos, go to patesserie each morning, go to work, pick up wine on way home from work, find piano bar for evening. He did fine ---
 |
| Notre Dame from behind - note the flying buttresses |
For anyone planning to come to Paris remember, you get in at about 9:00 a.m. so get to experience a walk across the city or 'orient' yourself. Notre Dame with it's flying buttresses are always good on a Sunday.....and when the sky looks like it did in this photo, the crowds are very limited, making it easy to saunter around inside.
 |
| Shakespeare & Co |
Sherry found Shakespeare for us. What an incredible little bookstore - full of second hand books to buy or to cozy up with in one of the half dozen tiny reading rooms upstairs - chairs, couches, day beds....or a piano, depending on the room you choose to make yours.
 |
| Mummy? or "Mesmerized at the Louvre" |
Monday was a rain day (everyday was a rain day, but initally we were hoping to take it one day at a time), so the Louvre seemed most appropriate. Shaune, being the artist, was able to give us a play by play of what and why....and when and how. Sherry drank in the ambiance and took this photo - not sure if this was her after spending a day with her grade nine students, or her next project for the students to inflict upon each other... Richard is looking for a body suit like this to disguise his office naps.
 |
| Nike |
A full day at the Louvre should be enough in itself, but, as luck would have it, we were there during an evacuation order. We were told ( in French and English) to proceed to the nearest exit immediately and wait for further instruction. This repeated for about ten minutes.....while we kept trying to find an exit....not an easy task, even with signage. We noticed some people coming, some going....and when we made it to the entrance...to exit...we asked the person at the gate what was happening. She said she knew nothing about an evacuation, so we should continue with our touring....the French sure know how to deal with a perceived crisis!
 |
| Stairs, stairs, stairs |
 |
| Sacre Coeur in Montmarte |
Tuesday was scheduled to be the least rainy day ( weather forecasts are no further advanced in Europe than at home). We headed to Montmarte in search of Sacre Coeur, interesting art, and the Montmartre graveyard to search out Degas' tomb. We found everything we were looking for and more....the Moulin Rouge appeared as we wandered down one street. Because it was raining ( assume the same for remainder of week) there were very few artists in the square, however we found a wonderful little shop on a side street where a young artist was working and displayed her paintings. Several purchases were made and we were offered un cafe ou the.
 |
| Montmartre's pas |
Somehow the 'official photographer' missed the windmill on the top of the
 |
| self explanatory |
Moulin Rouge, but it is still there... along with a million sex shops etc nearby.
The cemetery was very interesting... built on different plateaus and ranging from quite simplistic to extremely elaborate. Some were several hundreds of years old, while others recent...famous dukes, artists....
 |
| Immortalized |
It seems that this fellow did not want to leave this world.
On our walk down from Montmartre as we attempted to find the Opera Garnier ( streets are not on a grid....), which we did not find that day, we came across another tiny church. They spring up on every street corner.....
 |
| Lafayette Galleries... |
From there, we ran into the Galleries Lafayette - shopping for the affluent. This group did not have any shoppers, so no checking out the 2500euro shoes, but we did need to take a peak at the interior of the gallery itself...( 'look but don't touch' must have come from here)and, as you can see, Christmas has found it's way to Paris. Many windows are beginning to fill with Christmas/Winter displays. It promises many beautiful evening walks. Oh...and while at the Galleries...Shaune and Sherry were taped/interviewed for a movie...?
 |
| view from the Arc de Trimophe |
Nice lights on the way home....A visit to Paris requires a trip to the top of the Arc de Triomphe ( Etoile Charles de Gaulle) and a photo of the Tour Eiffel in the relative near distance.
....and
around and around and around down the stairs to the street below.
 |
| Versailles |
Wednesday was Versailles day. Thanks to Brian & Lyn (former friend's visit), we managed the trains without getting misplaced. There was relatively little rain but....Il fait froid! We toured the gardens first....for four hours, before returning to the Palace....even at this time of year, with most of the plantings removed, the gardens were incredible. Next time....and there will be a next time....it will be to spend the day in the gardens. The most interesting fountains appear everywhere. It goes on and on and on.
From what we could tell, these buildings in the Queen's village were like Vegas, or Disneyland today - and adult theme park allowing the royals to feel that they were 'one' with nature....though apparently the insides were not in keeping with the somewhat rustic exteriors. Not a bad play area just beyond the petit trianon and grande trianon palaces....down from Versailles itself.....
Only really strange thing of the day - little figurines of Marie Antoinette in the gift store....without a head....tacky? On second thought - the modern Japanese art sculptures that show up in places like the Hall of Mirrors is aalso an acquired taste....
 |
| Cathedral in Chartres |
Thursday we headed to the town of (significant city by our standards) Chartres, a 75 minute train ride from Paris. Shaune explained that she needed to see a cathedral ( see above....they are EVERYWHERE in Paris....) so we went. Richard joined the group as it was Remembrance Day - au Paris aussi - The cathedral was incredible. We climbed the bell tower as well. What a view! The strong winds and lack of 'safety' features ( Europe seems to believe that people should be responsible for their own idiocy....so assume some commonsense....) made it a little more exhilarating than expected.
Our return train was cancelled, we have no idea why, so we wandered around and saw some interesting architecture while we waited. Fortunately, trains ran every hour ( above being the exception), so we made it home by eight.
We went to the D'Orsay museum on Friday - no pictures allowed, and being Canadian, we were the people following the rules. We went out for supper in an interesting little restaurant near Saint Sulpice, and followed up with a piano bar. Rich was happy. Saturday was market day - Joan went to the food markets, Rich accompanied Sherry and Shaune to 'the' antique market. It is billed as the largest antique market in the world. It was incredibly interesting....and incredibly precious....no 'deals' to be had. Air Canada arrived this morning....the apartment is 'empty'....
 |
| Sherry, Shaune, and Joan...in a cav... |
C'est tout pour une autre semaine! Off to Sweden later this week.
November 17th - and we were off to Sweden - one of the lovely perks of research - you get to go where you never thought you might. As with any good adventure, it began with a bit of adrenalin and no shortage of probabilities. We left for CDG airport in 'lots' of time, taking the metro. First twist - the stop we were to change lines at was closed, so we backtracked. We made it to Gare du nord where we were to catch the RER (train) for the final leg to the airport - second twist - trains were delayed....and the 5 minute delay kept repeating itself. Just as we were contemplating how Air France might respond to our delemna, a train arrived. Just as we thought we would make our flight, the train stopped in the middle of nowhere, waiting for who know what....We knew we were toast - then - it slowly started moving....finally getting to the airport about 30 minutes prior to our flight leaving. Next twist - our flight was not on the departures board. We found an Air France agent who sent us in one direction where we got our tickets....only to discover our gate was at the opposite side of a very large airport. Net result? - no problem, we are used to hiking - so we made it ust as boarding was commencing.
We think Stockholm would be beautiful most of the year, but a driving wind and slush limited our view, and enthusiasm somewhat. Ah well, one can always find grogg to warm the soul. 
