"I see a beatiful city and brillant people.."

Paris is alive and well. The streets are full. The cafes are full. People still sit outside and sip coffee. The French still cluster in groups. People do not shun non-French. There are not armed soldiers at every corner. The metro and train stations are not armed camps.

There is security. The media has it wrong. Media makes the interviews fit the agenda - higher ratings. The French and the English are living their lives and enjoying.

We begin the morning with croissants and baguette and cheese. The apartment has an old fashion metal coffee percolator. I cross my fingers and hope I remember making coffee for my mom and dad over 50 years ago.

It works but the coffee is not great. It is very strong and flavor is flat.

We have decided on our order of sightseeing. It is regulated by the four day Paris Museum Pass. The Pass allows entry into all the major museums and allows for fast entry. The lines even in spring can be extended so it is an advantage. The Pass is a great idea and recommended. But, the Pass begins at the first hour of use and ends 24,48,72 or 96 hours. You need to plan to attend the sites within the allowed time frame.

Versailles is on the list, but it is a full day excursion. The Louvre, D'Orsay, Norte Dame and multiple museums are also on the list. The good news is that we discover that we have sun light until 8:30 which gives us time. The museums are open to 18:00 (6 PM) so we can cover a lot of ground.

Tuesday is Norte Dame and the D'Orsay as the targets. Last visit to Paris, Betty and I did not go into the church. The line was long (the church is free) and we knew that we would see a ton of churches so we walked around and discovered a great little garden at the rear of the church.

This time we enter the Church. I am glad we do. It is both what I expected and more. It is a working church and you can imagine the history that has occurred. You can see the damages of riots and revolutions on the walls. Like most of the French historical monuments, you are looking at facsimiles. The furniture and paintings are reproductions. The best guess. At Norte Dame, the paintings date from 1870s.

I can understand why Norte Dame was a target. It lies on the island in the middle of Seine which was the heart of French Government. It would have been the most visible of the two headed monster that consumed their labor without contribution. The church took tithes and the state taxes.

In 1790, the towers of Norte Dame would have dominated the Paris skyline. Paris is a new city. Damaged by riots, mobs and multiple revolutions over a hundred years (1790-1871), Paris is the original urban renewal project. Wide boulevards are to allow swift movement of troops into and around the city. Frame structures were replaced with up scale housing and to reduce the city's exposure to fire.

It is about a 40 minute walk around. We leave. We avoid the line of tourists waiting in line to claim to the top of one of the bell towers.

I am confident that Betty will want to see her garden again. This time it will be spring. The park is beautiful. Flowers are planted and in bloom. The trees are in bud and some are flowering.

We cross the bridge of lovers (Pont des Arts) - the bridge that was covered with locks. Lovers have over the last few years expressed their devotion by locking these locks on the bridge.

Last year, the bridge was covered. This year the bridge is being repaired due to the damage resulting from the excise weight of hundreds of thousands of metal locks attached to the bridge.

As the day before with Caroline, Betty and I take John and Angela to Shakespeare & Co.. I do not think they see what we see. It is a small, cramped bookstore. It is crowded with tourists. I can understand, but it is still our place. I think every visitor develops an infinity for certain places. Those places become their own. In Rome, it is the Spanish Steps.

When we return to those cities, we stop for coffee or glass of wine. Regardless, that these sites are shared with thousands. It is quietly ours. It changes. But, still yours.

We take the RER to D'Orsay Museum. You can purchase a five day pass for the Paris Transportation system which includes the metro (subway) and RER (think metro train). The pass is sold by Zone 1,2,3,4 ... Almost all the tourist locations are within Zone 3. Versailles is in Zone 4. You buy a separate ticket.

It is a small paper ticket about the size of movie ticket. It is easy to loss. In London, their pass card is plastic credit card; rechargeable: excess is refundable and more universal on their transportation system.

We have lunch in the Cafe' Campana as we did last year. The food is good. The environment is excellent. The restaurant is on the same floor of the majority of the Impressionists. One of our favorite places. It is familiar and not formal. You can pay your bill and wander within feet to Monet.

We separate. I wonder off. The exhibits are crowded with school groups. There are more Monet this year I am starting to appreciate Sisley.

I am tired. I visit Van Gogh. An old friend, but he has a lot of visitors. The "flag" groups have arrived.

I venture further into the museum to non-Impressionists. Impressionism was revolutionary. A huge jump in the execution of art. It was a revolt against the existing styles. As you investigate the various halls, it is evident.

I move into the Tissot (1836-1902) exhibit. On the front wall, there is a large painting of well dressed men sitting in a garden. There is a plaque on the wall describing who the attendees of this meeting of luminaries in the French government are.

Number 7 is a far distant relative and a Baron no less. My energy levels spike. I am running around the museum to find the kids and Betty to show them the painting. They think it is cool. But, not as much, as I do.

It is late afternoon but still time to see more. John leads us in the direction of the Hotel de Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb. It is a much longer walk than we thought.


We accidently walk past Rodin's Museum. Betty has missed the museum twice over the years. It is karma. The museum will close in an hour. Betty leaves us to go

We walk about another mile. This time there are soldiers at the gates to inspect bags. The building  is baroque and therefore, gaudy. I am not a fan of Rococo ( quick, do a google search)

But, it is interesting. Napoleon is glorified in statutes and paintings. His victories are in stone. I believe I have been told that Napoleon's body is deep within seven tombs. Not only to protect the body, but also to make sure he stays where they put him.


We walk over to the military museum. It is late and closing time. John and Angela say they will return (they do). I just want to sit down and go home.

Betty calls. The Rodin Museum has closed. It is a great museum. Betty is sitting at a café waiting for us. A short walk to the Metro and we are home.