tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70765139466482741052024-03-05T02:05:06.569-05:00A Painter in Parisbmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-17638383352310050392016-05-28T19:54:00.004-04:002016-05-28T20:05:18.356-04:00A Day with Degas (Introduction)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As an artist, Degas maintains a strong hold on me and has for some time. And while many artists have inspired me at one time or another, they lacked the longevity that grew with my own artistic journey and development. Often times, as artists, we can find something in the work of an artist that addresses a question we have about our own work, or affirms an aesthetic of formal belief we hold ourselves, it can teach us about process or methodology, or simply inspires us with technique or subject matter. This longevity I speak of though, requires that an artist's work have enough complexity that it can evolve with us as our craft develops and our ideas evolve. For me, the work of Degas is one such artist.<br />
<br />
Like Manet, Degas came from a fairly affluent family and was exposed to classical music, theater and ballet. His father, a banker, Auguste de Gas, was an amateur musician and lover of music and his mother, who died when Edgar was only 13, was an amateur opera singer. A famous Spanish musician and performer, Lorenzo Pagans, would often play private musical <span class="tlf_csyntagme"><i>soirées</i></span> at the homes of wealthy Parisiennes. The de Gas home was one, the Maison Manet another. The exposure (and education) to classical music, opera and ballet, would have a profound impact on his work. It's known that Degas was a regular to the rue Le Peletier opera before it burned in 1873. This was the original opera that Garnier would replace. In later life, before Auguste's passing, Degas painted his elderly father listening intently to Pagans playing (see below).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP7v9_uMIOOeAb5YC61n2-cfw60g4_zW9DJqpcL8kPU04_-XXZOJy_a3KHgOFKI6Ce9WkUQ9ovSrvzDstlI27aCHJIMbR-M4kdcI_pSmqwjri0xV9g9XD5bhDBDtqbaqi5MNTS4jjgvY/s1600/degas-father-listening-to-lorenzo-pagans-edgar-degas-wikiartorg-1454202756_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzP7v9_uMIOOeAb5YC61n2-cfw60g4_zW9DJqpcL8kPU04_-XXZOJy_a3KHgOFKI6Ce9WkUQ9ovSrvzDstlI27aCHJIMbR-M4kdcI_pSmqwjri0xV9g9XD5bhDBDtqbaqi5MNTS4jjgvY/s320/degas-father-listening-to-lorenzo-pagans-edgar-degas-wikiartorg-1454202756_b.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Degas' Father Listening to Lorenzo Pagans Playing the Guitar", c 1869-72, MFA, Boston</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_kh5cojgJnHqNsUknTsShyphenhyphent07CWDUhke1d0hYcs6UtvJ-AoViC8XNyM-WQ2UNPv1sUAj15raqxium1IeEIrl9En3Pce-QbZjfdvnMVEJwWyXoRZJe4ljd-ybszPukT6IMtqYFRDsxVE/s320/Edgar_Degas_-_Lorenzo_Pagans_et_Auguste_de_Gas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="235" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lorenzo Pagans et Auguste de Gas", c1871-72, Musée d'Orsay, Paris</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In these two paintings Degas also 'recycles" subject matter and composition- repeating the image, gesture and placement of his father. Later on, he would paint "Ballerina and Woman with Umbrella", which utilizes a similar gesture on the right side (including the placement of the hands). This is also the same gesture he posed Mary Cassatt in for her seated portrait.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebAD9wfT17p5nwCu-3nIbr7ZFq_2vhUHsbA76W9DTHar9WaUWFGmCi2ai1g7axPYSZdCL-_CwfRVlN76LAip1Avj7akT23gYfyurJjmYookL7PYtwDeZGcTD_iYEkxoTKYoFTI_ZiqBA/s1600/cuisine-et-service-de-table-set-de-table-original-semi-rigide-13127807-l-039-attente-aa079-23688_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebAD9wfT17p5nwCu-3nIbr7ZFq_2vhUHsbA76W9DTHar9WaUWFGmCi2ai1g7axPYSZdCL-_CwfRVlN76LAip1Avj7akT23gYfyurJjmYookL7PYtwDeZGcTD_iYEkxoTKYoFTI_ZiqBA/s320/cuisine-et-service-de-table-set-de-table-original-semi-rigide-13127807-l-039-attente-aa079-23688_big.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"L'Attente", c 1880-82, Getty Museum- Norton Simon Museum, Los Angeles- Pasadena, CA</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQfcU5RxHSqhZa_14l1Q4rhrX0GuF5V9vklgBMaciKBudXeSCOXE6h7KCqzImX6CbPI_iBzT1DyiZw6keZMu14Ie1H8jVigzZT1wtoNMFj7MwjPxh2rq-QH5bnS00Q4QwIfRzxQYuEnY/s1600/Edgar_Degas_-_Mary_Cassatt_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQfcU5RxHSqhZa_14l1Q4rhrX0GuF5V9vklgBMaciKBudXeSCOXE6h7KCqzImX6CbPI_iBzT1DyiZw6keZMu14Ie1H8jVigzZT1wtoNMFj7MwjPxh2rq-QH5bnS00Q4QwIfRzxQYuEnY/s320/Edgar_Degas_-_Mary_Cassatt_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Portrait of Mary Cassatt", c 1879-1884, National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While I've been studying Degas for some time, it was rekindled several years ago when I attended the "Degas and the Nude" exhibition both in Boston at the MFA and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris- the only two venues the exhibition traveled. The exhibitions were slightly different (Paris had several works that were not included in Boston), and I have to say, I felt more excited seeing it Paris. Although the early work appeared to be unrelated to the late work, the ideas were very closed aligned.<br />
<br />
When I traveled to Paris several weeks ago, I wanted to retrace some of his steps and look at some of his work intimately. His earlier work (and influences) in particular are of interest to me because they display his tenacity with his research and development of ideas, and the broad technical exploration, he utilized. I am eager to share some these observations over several posts. <br />
<span id="goog_296375671"></span><span id="goog_296375672"></span><br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-69797556952260054392013-06-08T21:51:00.002-04:002013-06-10T09:40:05.479-04:00A Day with Monet (Part II) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKb0_oDD6nWqp7zOFlODp-pOkVzNoJxE5GoLHLODSpu5JM1ePwxu0DUp4PNVldhR2y3Zl1Q68zsGyWeJiMxZAE1hp_dznorY8OX8IzCpiFF4QywcCTyaeFRFp3ZpbHFi0uTb5sIhwe4s/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKb0_oDD6nWqp7zOFlODp-pOkVzNoJxE5GoLHLODSpu5JM1ePwxu0DUp4PNVldhR2y3Zl1Q68zsGyWeJiMxZAE1hp_dznorY8OX8IzCpiFF4QywcCTyaeFRFp3ZpbHFi0uTb5sIhwe4s/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I think I've been to the majority of the train stations in Paris now: Gare du Nord, Gare d'Austerlitz<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_d%27Austerlitz" title="Gare d'Austerlitz"></a> (the metro stopped here the night I took it to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital for my allergic reaction, and the same hospital that Princess Diana was taken when she was killed and the same hospital where Jacques Chirac had his pacemaker installed), Gare de l'Est, and Gare Montparnasse. Nothing compares to the chaos of Gare Saint-Lazare. I've never seen so much activity and anxiety in a public place as this. It was surreal. Imagine being on the floor of a Metallica concert in 1988 and having your luggage with you and you get an idea. I would've shot some video of it, but it was so out-of-control there that I opted to pass.<br />
<br />
Wikipedia's listing on Gare Saint-Lazare states:<br />
<br />
<i>I</i><i>t is the second busiest railway station in Europe with 100,000,000
passengers transiting every year, and also the second station in Paris,
behind the Gare du Nord. It handles 450,000 passengers each day......</i><br />
<br />
<i>The Gare Saint-Lazare has been represented in a number of artworks.
It attracted artists during the Impressionist period and many of them
lived very close to the Gare St-Lazare during the 1870s and 1880s.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Édouard Manet
lived close by, at 4 rue de Saint-Pétersbourg. Two years after moving
to the area he showed his painting "Le Chemin de Fer" at the Paris Salon
in 1874. Painted from the backyard of a friend's house on the nearby
rue de Rome, this canvas,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3"></sup> now in the National Gallery of Art
at Washington D.C., portrays a woman with a small dog and a book as she
sits facing us in front of an iron fence; a young girl to her left
views the railroad track and steam beyond it. At the time of its first
exhibition it was caricatured and the subject of ridicule.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Gustave Caillebotte also lived just a short walk away from the station. He painted </i><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7076513946648274105" title="Le Pont de l’Europe">Le Pont de l’Europe</a>
(The Bridge of Europe) in 1876 (now in the Petit Palais, Musée d’Art
Moderne in Geneva, Switzerland) and "On the Pont de l'Europe"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6">[6]</sup>
in 1876-80 (Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth). While the former picture
looks across the bridge with the ironworks diagonally crossing the
picture to the right, with a scene of partially interacting chickens on
the bridge to the left, the latter depicts the iron structure of the
bridge face-on in a strong close-up of its industrial geometry, with
three male figures to the left side of the painting all looking in
different directions (the Pont de l'Europe is a massive bridge spanning
the railyard of the newly-expanded station, which at that time had an
iron-work trellis).</i><br />
<div class="thumb tright">
<div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;">
<div class="thumbcaption">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<i>In 1877, painter Claude Monet
rented a studio near the Gare Saint Lazare. That same year he exhibited
seven paintings of the railway station in an impressionist painting
exhibition. He completed 11 paintings of this subject.</i><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-MM.26GSL_4-1"></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"></sup><br />
<br />
<br />
Once I purchased my round trip ticket, I took a grand creme and waited
for my train to be listed. The platform is quite remarkable. They've sought to preserve the look of the station over the years. The platform was busy, but much less hectic than where the metro stop and terminal met.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is what I was thinking of......</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5MwSTcnYyz2-0-FbcHpW83HrqO203vJMfb6DpFpB2Yuczyhoq7k49tNyDUuJJZH4XgGrE-XZ9lJI6rtxWpP1dmwyS_rmPwmYm5duKz_VKvMxelPVwnTq_WCgd8sv8loZjbAqPGP0lw4/s1600/monet-the-gare-saint-lazare-arrival-of-train_1877_oil%252Bon%252Bcanvas_Fogg%252BArt%252BMuseum_Cambridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5MwSTcnYyz2-0-FbcHpW83HrqO203vJMfb6DpFpB2Yuczyhoq7k49tNyDUuJJZH4XgGrE-XZ9lJI6rtxWpP1dmwyS_rmPwmYm5duKz_VKvMxelPVwnTq_WCgd8sv8loZjbAqPGP0lw4/s320/monet-the-gare-saint-lazare-arrival-of-train_1877_oil%252Bon%252Bcanvas_Fogg%252BArt%252BMuseum_Cambridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this is what I saw:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV-Jy-mKK1XGQXrJYZCSfdAwQ8WXiQkqcJt84ALiKo6EaWeZaINHKyTIp_P3cxEN8EQQ1gOKIlGWo1KGFvxENAO3WQMCMON5DR4wqozCdDJ5BFUAMrm4_s8YECuRMkruzNaqm634Yk9Q/s1600/DSCN9401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV-Jy-mKK1XGQXrJYZCSfdAwQ8WXiQkqcJt84ALiKo6EaWeZaINHKyTIp_P3cxEN8EQQ1gOKIlGWo1KGFvxENAO3WQMCMON5DR4wqozCdDJ5BFUAMrm4_s8YECuRMkruzNaqm634Yk9Q/s320/DSCN9401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhr1_fKN2Zpvam-6NASjnp6_8uaoEu6LLTzblfS_W2cA5VdnQMwLuIOYU3n7hO5EEFiXqM7tK4gk17yDx_hmvWWUQ7sNqSD2jw6Oa_rcMdBOti5_G0441sqSMINIS1TzguqDMOoD5TBM/s1600/DSCN9403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhr1_fKN2Zpvam-6NASjnp6_8uaoEu6LLTzblfS_W2cA5VdnQMwLuIOYU3n7hO5EEFiXqM7tK4gk17yDx_hmvWWUQ7sNqSD2jw6Oa_rcMdBOti5_G0441sqSMINIS1TzguqDMOoD5TBM/s320/DSCN9403.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMrLeJV529eQB02_Eb9YHOBI0t09usGnUyQEI2V5g8GTw1olmvEm6qcZtIo2goqcYRJp3k9tGLLdvexCfnoRpmr1L2Zwnyi0WdZlnYytr8qCyYohOhbjtOw5debVnyKBA7ZVXz2vyPv4/s1600/DSCN9404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMrLeJV529eQB02_Eb9YHOBI0t09usGnUyQEI2V5g8GTw1olmvEm6qcZtIo2goqcYRJp3k9tGLLdvexCfnoRpmr1L2Zwnyi0WdZlnYytr8qCyYohOhbjtOw5debVnyKBA7ZVXz2vyPv4/s320/DSCN9404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I took a bullet train out to Vernon, which is a small town of about 500-600 people along the Seine. As you take the train northwest to Vernon, you keep crossing it (I think 3 times) and each time I thought it was a new river. An elderly lady seated across from me had said good morning to me. I replied, "Bonjour Madame. Comment ca va ce matin?" I could tell she didn't speak english (and she was about to realize I couldn't speak french). I asked her, "<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">Quel</span> <span class="hps">fleuve</span> <span class="hps">est-ce?" and she replied, "C'est la Seine." The second time I asked again and she laughed said, "</span></span><span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">C'est aussi</span> <span class="hps">la Seine</span></span>." The last time we crossed I looked at her, raised my eyebrows, pointed to river, she laughed and nodded, affirmatively, without saying anything. It had become our little joke. Many interactions like that made me grin from ear to ear.<br />
<br />
I purchased a ticket with only one stop at Mantes la Jolie, and since Vernon is only 40km away, I made it in about 30 minutes. The landscape was really beautiful once we started leaving Paris. Initially it was pretty industrial with the most recognizable plant being that of Renault who had apparently moved operations elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedQ-otGi4TdEYx_CWoek_XyhSYWRKYcw0-hKJFjf_WMe6PxtptZHWBQeuOVwPFrB6r3L0EoVBUBkDqkF1O4BnwDBZVIw5vzN_PuL0cHClWMmApirNK8IgvWik2qX5t4222gqhC8RhHZU/s1600/DSCN9653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedQ-otGi4TdEYx_CWoek_XyhSYWRKYcw0-hKJFjf_WMe6PxtptZHWBQeuOVwPFrB6r3L0EoVBUBkDqkF1O4BnwDBZVIw5vzN_PuL0cHClWMmApirNK8IgvWik2qX5t4222gqhC8RhHZU/s320/DSCN9653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekcs7HNHCuFANVP918Fefryk6DkoUweXq-Hw2sb8ynpMRPCiaLZAmgVkNyaJZn5ZLYLfAHimRbDJ7Fa41bIkYN-FVGDcANMcOVZ-BsEgYlyrPYHj2fZlRKnMFOMPwP2gvMaufwSjKR50/s1600/DSCN9655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekcs7HNHCuFANVP918Fefryk6DkoUweXq-Hw2sb8ynpMRPCiaLZAmgVkNyaJZn5ZLYLfAHimRbDJ7Fa41bIkYN-FVGDcANMcOVZ-BsEgYlyrPYHj2fZlRKnMFOMPwP2gvMaufwSjKR50/s320/DSCN9655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Trains move very fast in Europe and I always love being on them. Sometimes the speed isn't that noticeable until you are just standing there watching one go by, as this one did heading to Rouen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1S7F79aALy-_dJ6gvADvyrCYJqSk2EDl9vcZlvQD9mWukuQr0cNomcKp06JRgB7Ojf-unxlcaeyrAtjrb' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
It wasn't until later that I began to realize the route that Monet had been taking all those years, and all of the paintings that he completed on this path. The train from St. Lazare ran to Le Havre and both Vernon and Rouen
(where all of the famous paintings of that cathedral were painted and
where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake) were on the way. While Monet was born in Paris, at the age of five his family moved to the coast town of Le Havre, where he would eventually study with Eugene Boudin. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwA48V3lYjmNE6knn19l3IvFDEkpKrxrls2TWdPzwMzwV6p-l-SqwqTxUsCic2w-3LfdfderqfXfzDsvnZwp9SrURjzPsxwjZzkxxtdRMOpjmV9ovKdZA9d0Bxpe_mfwMauWLd4jhW2M/s1600/Picture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwA48V3lYjmNE6knn19l3IvFDEkpKrxrls2TWdPzwMzwV6p-l-SqwqTxUsCic2w-3LfdfderqfXfzDsvnZwp9SrURjzPsxwjZzkxxtdRMOpjmV9ovKdZA9d0Bxpe_mfwMauWLd4jhW2M/s320/Picture+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Vernon is extremely small and you need to take a bus or taxi out to Giverny which is just on the other side of the river. In typical french fashion a gothic church is at, or near, the city center, standing above the smaller dwellings. I have no info on the church though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW9g8Q7dneo-jH0MyJylJAnQZtT1emFD1t9bm-iL4StNz86Nht66fq7Ilrdccwk3gvEAhqt0Yfk4uuED1udQbINTp858KFFtoy30qSWWxgEqNU4ClgDAauynkU2DFmNl8ARdHQAEVovs/s1600/DSCN9409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW9g8Q7dneo-jH0MyJylJAnQZtT1emFD1t9bm-iL4StNz86Nht66fq7Ilrdccwk3gvEAhqt0Yfk4uuED1udQbINTp858KFFtoy30qSWWxgEqNU4ClgDAauynkU2DFmNl8ARdHQAEVovs/s320/DSCN9409.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJR2QuuqYdsh99LP5mGkhP5M8jCETi5nbiwf3tcAh8TK1mnfVCrmBIyjX1fqUWLVtNw2inG2UC8GGS9fWMgDS8_Q2P8eA2sKZsuzV9dJGxB0bGcqXX9Q8q9_0AKWv04-kDM19cHJ1YdA/s1600/DSCN9659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJR2QuuqYdsh99LP5mGkhP5M8jCETi5nbiwf3tcAh8TK1mnfVCrmBIyjX1fqUWLVtNw2inG2UC8GGS9fWMgDS8_Q2P8eA2sKZsuzV9dJGxB0bGcqXX9Q8q9_0AKWv04-kDM19cHJ1YdA/s320/DSCN9659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoY9mU-WCrTgPXKJXkxbSGkCKscNs79Oy7N4P-2Jn_AXcMoInfNT6AHFeN3-E1pnwsdR9nM7v5_GGP7PZ_sJgy5c9gAR5pkqaIJEHpEEoExaxe0nz6GOftUJTh8q49uKDunMzTqZex7w/s1600/DSCN9656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoY9mU-WCrTgPXKJXkxbSGkCKscNs79Oy7N4P-2Jn_AXcMoInfNT6AHFeN3-E1pnwsdR9nM7v5_GGP7PZ_sJgy5c9gAR5pkqaIJEHpEEoExaxe0nz6GOftUJTh8q49uKDunMzTqZex7w/s320/DSCN9656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends of Monet Pizzeria :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVwxA30bdMcxUVvBCl-IXSqvdAMYhHUREdYKwYPtgMyKM23BG5GAoyCMlW9kSJ0NVK3jpJz4-iNk7Q_aKwmw6b8VA3DPVq6Kop-mVjEOBnP1MZK9hfJ0FK5BNQvDdXRPu2gxTpMglgkk/s1600/DSCN9412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVwxA30bdMcxUVvBCl-IXSqvdAMYhHUREdYKwYPtgMyKM23BG5GAoyCMlW9kSJ0NVK3jpJz4-iNk7Q_aKwmw6b8VA3DPVq6Kop-mVjEOBnP1MZK9hfJ0FK5BNQvDdXRPu2gxTpMglgkk/s320/DSCN9412.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Once I arrived in Giverny, I crossed under the road and walked down the street to the entrance to the grounds. From what I could gather, the majority of the dwellings had been converted into shops and restaurants. You walk up the rue de Claude Monet (not very creative, huh?) and as you purchase tickets to enter, you can see a layout of the gardens and his house.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI8pPEuw-codmeQGVybDXpYlBQbBCTv3zyJNqNXsMjFWIorBGEcIS1qLEM08w4j3zO92-hSxAJsaL5HzNrPvMyxyHRzZQgm4cwiaNsnTUtix_apFX6lXZM3Nu0dqH2RH62uqHoRpGv-g/s1600/DSCN9420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI8pPEuw-codmeQGVybDXpYlBQbBCTv3zyJNqNXsMjFWIorBGEcIS1qLEM08w4j3zO92-hSxAJsaL5HzNrPvMyxyHRzZQgm4cwiaNsnTUtix_apFX6lXZM3Nu0dqH2RH62uqHoRpGv-g/s320/DSCN9420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hgwz86ym3Agi0YpvlCJ5wbZH-dFL2ksoak-mkEZRrOCbBeMO7DaFJtCBGm64JMjGftldRlgvdeZQ6R1XYW8M9nTHda807dT15_eBowikzBfD2QqsKNTG4QQOIaKHI9-tnfkGczAOo-U/s1600/DSCN9419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hgwz86ym3Agi0YpvlCJ5wbZH-dFL2ksoak-mkEZRrOCbBeMO7DaFJtCBGm64JMjGftldRlgvdeZQ6R1XYW8M9nTHda807dT15_eBowikzBfD2QqsKNTG4QQOIaKHI9-tnfkGczAOo-U/s320/DSCN9419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61qaPPWJLvbtto6FbmL_YCSDcqBXIlOvIsZwg-gaBelXToVR_GQPIvMG0hXyul5vDGM9R8n2TjhMKnu4IzL_ob9GH9Sw3B2IxqGBwZ4urHZcQgEplbOZIOy3AYYFnPa3nuuEfI9EgEa4/s1600/DSCN9418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61qaPPWJLvbtto6FbmL_YCSDcqBXIlOvIsZwg-gaBelXToVR_GQPIvMG0hXyul5vDGM9R8n2TjhMKnu4IzL_ob9GH9Sw3B2IxqGBwZ4urHZcQgEplbOZIOy3AYYFnPa3nuuEfI9EgEa4/s320/DSCN9418.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDkM96TVl_vjE4eWfKDF443s7mcc2aEEMaDeNLkcDsxI8pK6Clu1eeBBY_TS_2HeG8fSigGG0LUAd6O1N8oq4YKmDuv4eiArD-WoIJfuPgIn40FxVWzdZFFYVbQkk9i7x1wopehyphenhyphenHih0/s1600/DSCN9421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDkM96TVl_vjE4eWfKDF443s7mcc2aEEMaDeNLkcDsxI8pK6Clu1eeBBY_TS_2HeG8fSigGG0LUAd6O1N8oq4YKmDuv4eiArD-WoIJfuPgIn40FxVWzdZFFYVbQkk9i7x1wopehyphenhyphenHih0/s320/DSCN9421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are a number of pics of the grounds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpQ6zGKnoQ7HgKJQGanSCP3MMVTHNIaFiv6mJnw1jngjionjzNO7O0aATUCdU9GNWrbfDkT85h9YzYomj2ZypBGkal6O2Zl03wg4gPQ_CvyaJUiopPraIm1pS5t4rBfYNmt0_nT4zGGE/s1600/DSCN9427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpQ6zGKnoQ7HgKJQGanSCP3MMVTHNIaFiv6mJnw1jngjionjzNO7O0aATUCdU9GNWrbfDkT85h9YzYomj2ZypBGkal6O2Zl03wg4gPQ_CvyaJUiopPraIm1pS5t4rBfYNmt0_nT4zGGE/s320/DSCN9427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30fYtbo7s3HBFdwCDY94lCaGpnZmJHm1OWocAKcd29W733-dT0WKVe16oPOUga4BZGdV64raQKwpSwkzcPafzZc5i1ZlTDMzxUdSigTvBvThbXfJZ23SXrmVxmVdwXgJlIEPhj2SX7fU/s1600/DSCN9429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30fYtbo7s3HBFdwCDY94lCaGpnZmJHm1OWocAKcd29W733-dT0WKVe16oPOUga4BZGdV64raQKwpSwkzcPafzZc5i1ZlTDMzxUdSigTvBvThbXfJZ23SXrmVxmVdwXgJlIEPhj2SX7fU/s320/DSCN9429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTPhKzE_90e2sBm4IVhbJPpyqEMSp5o1R8_sZdiwLcM-qYwsTqH3AUek5zNUzRzrZvLqxQMEV8pADDNGbK1mlTdc4yIh4xCCLiuUIRTsE5iUjqYUuAVE2jpKabVIuk09N2Sm4if0o8V8/s1600/DSCN9430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTPhKzE_90e2sBm4IVhbJPpyqEMSp5o1R8_sZdiwLcM-qYwsTqH3AUek5zNUzRzrZvLqxQMEV8pADDNGbK1mlTdc4yIh4xCCLiuUIRTsE5iUjqYUuAVE2jpKabVIuk09N2Sm4if0o8V8/s320/DSCN9430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO6QN3LP910Z2Q1eLeQO-BTNvTFpwcXnq7cqWRXZvkWGbPOcrYy7bTKtxZFNwgeKxljeSVny9uyzb-1OuuPBmiblJWQnLicJmmmCqezdGRJkNWBzXLGw6NleZiyZZu4azdQgL9_TZmvg/s1600/DSCN9434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqO6QN3LP910Z2Q1eLeQO-BTNvTFpwcXnq7cqWRXZvkWGbPOcrYy7bTKtxZFNwgeKxljeSVny9uyzb-1OuuPBmiblJWQnLicJmmmCqezdGRJkNWBzXLGw6NleZiyZZu4azdQgL9_TZmvg/s320/DSCN9434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi57U4p_J3U-PwnTt1GmRZ9XYKDBBSJtZeCL7mrIzuRQmpX79Fco4NUiNHyFJzqSLfIxx0jrFMR_mDLpuzS2mMBwVxYZy0aDmtyD5cZcyV0LE9dvS3f_8XzC-n7Koeket5izGsB25jK4g/s1600/DSCN9436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi57U4p_J3U-PwnTt1GmRZ9XYKDBBSJtZeCL7mrIzuRQmpX79Fco4NUiNHyFJzqSLfIxx0jrFMR_mDLpuzS2mMBwVxYZy0aDmtyD5cZcyV0LE9dvS3f_8XzC-n7Koeket5izGsB25jK4g/s320/DSCN9436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR8fhZLSAvmYdHwWWpPKiTbo8I_1Pb-yJtwbxitlMck7ibTQKgbnwucHEdV1K0fT8ZXLPykpoKB3MaYv3eSYJdJo4MHzHMvZZcsL3MW5zrtW503ZnwRIRDpqN02r7944y8phnhrHPLSk/s1600/DSCN9440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR8fhZLSAvmYdHwWWpPKiTbo8I_1Pb-yJtwbxitlMck7ibTQKgbnwucHEdV1K0fT8ZXLPykpoKB3MaYv3eSYJdJo4MHzHMvZZcsL3MW5zrtW503ZnwRIRDpqN02r7944y8phnhrHPLSk/s320/DSCN9440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDALTVryGEamDYzKplL8Vs8ZDDnL2e-igP4xlrNH7zNOH2k9xpTlJX-X60NDNimXqzdPFtJ2R_bLfWCYw_rWyNVaEzohh3ZBRnAyLwT6j50_C20PQe9k-A_ee5LWsFp9AzyaMrByKlc24/s1600/DSCN9443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDALTVryGEamDYzKplL8Vs8ZDDnL2e-igP4xlrNH7zNOH2k9xpTlJX-X60NDNimXqzdPFtJ2R_bLfWCYw_rWyNVaEzohh3ZBRnAyLwT6j50_C20PQe9k-A_ee5LWsFp9AzyaMrByKlc24/s320/DSCN9443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYjsPjeuXmfJ-acZr0jvgsk3Gu5AmBzt8vD_46IJSFqMHkFZxtgzvCWUDqbEIhlH8EvrZvO7aq-DOkdEPFVa4KXd9T9iHqEUUET8QtK2cQmTVsfhssaeODUvOLBUYEGb0tzft6Zye4DI/s1600/DSCN9445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYjsPjeuXmfJ-acZr0jvgsk3Gu5AmBzt8vD_46IJSFqMHkFZxtgzvCWUDqbEIhlH8EvrZvO7aq-DOkdEPFVa4KXd9T9iHqEUUET8QtK2cQmTVsfhssaeODUvOLBUYEGb0tzft6Zye4DI/s320/DSCN9445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HUahn4pS7dhHzpjlnick1M4dZIsS-Fw5MD5JewElDAQcvHrU9_wjsFJLGalXLsa2IHK1LvG59BEO4wZcOFszcIOhBALtrG8oqQamV11njbKZC-at6q4OJSxOlh2PBC6UulcKBnvGNiE/s1600/DSCN9449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HUahn4pS7dhHzpjlnick1M4dZIsS-Fw5MD5JewElDAQcvHrU9_wjsFJLGalXLsa2IHK1LvG59BEO4wZcOFszcIOhBALtrG8oqQamV11njbKZC-at6q4OJSxOlh2PBC6UulcKBnvGNiE/s320/DSCN9449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0enJAwg2OQn9nnzqj6XHe1qTe0dBgag74XhstBwGog1k9digxQJFSu4BhiaI9rFir9XKWLSk028doTm6j3aTpe-8CjcFuFDHTmkURbuhaV-50VOkmlOQkirSXdfouuhPzEwQTcxFuZl0/s1600/DSCN9451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0enJAwg2OQn9nnzqj6XHe1qTe0dBgag74XhstBwGog1k9digxQJFSu4BhiaI9rFir9XKWLSk028doTm6j3aTpe-8CjcFuFDHTmkURbuhaV-50VOkmlOQkirSXdfouuhPzEwQTcxFuZl0/s320/DSCN9451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91LQ55eEKfIkAxZ7AceIeD1M7JfqvsbvvtmZa0ctv5BqjjZ6cV8VJyiB_li0vXsP7bwOp6xigGox4t8ZjfaASLH9KMaTERsjs9V3Dy7JjhkP5f0lxO9qQTwryc_tqEn_-ni0t35FT3cc/s1600/DSCN9452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91LQ55eEKfIkAxZ7AceIeD1M7JfqvsbvvtmZa0ctv5BqjjZ6cV8VJyiB_li0vXsP7bwOp6xigGox4t8ZjfaASLH9KMaTERsjs9V3Dy7JjhkP5f0lxO9qQTwryc_tqEn_-ni0t35FT3cc/s320/DSCN9452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpyZXXgsYd2LYtTgJQvIe3h9O5YX8yRHY_ski9G2ipbEOZaAwR3aR0Kg8ghN9uNa2QSld7OMkGeieiK6kKouGr-a7J0YPraeMSog1PgBZBgLfBcpD7L4LeDcHvAmjXPjTea4PeiOlGLE/s1600/DSCN9455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpyZXXgsYd2LYtTgJQvIe3h9O5YX8yRHY_ski9G2ipbEOZaAwR3aR0Kg8ghN9uNa2QSld7OMkGeieiK6kKouGr-a7J0YPraeMSog1PgBZBgLfBcpD7L4LeDcHvAmjXPjTea4PeiOlGLE/s320/DSCN9455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVn13tBFmrfVSWUl38DBeaSY4jiU_5mxYyPhvGucEraMOgBLCudu9-nZdONwY9153d4TTAoXGMNnZVc6xxZ_mGyuQj3Q9QEswQaSHSMiU7vWBKPY7wIoZ3u1eqwQ8hfmie1MXuWfNlj0/s1600/DSCN9459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVn13tBFmrfVSWUl38DBeaSY4jiU_5mxYyPhvGucEraMOgBLCudu9-nZdONwY9153d4TTAoXGMNnZVc6xxZ_mGyuQj3Q9QEswQaSHSMiU7vWBKPY7wIoZ3u1eqwQ8hfmie1MXuWfNlj0/s320/DSCN9459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlje9VJBOCFtk6XdPPspYhaS_uRLRIia3qDdhUAsv10OV_G9hZ_IY3EQGsTKI7nNDSniwVjwS_ZXCVXShniOzIuNUAJJ82ITRbmmakEnoXsXNC3bx107E2-kW86pYLxSKuSubiQKVQOo/s1600/DSCN9545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlje9VJBOCFtk6XdPPspYhaS_uRLRIia3qDdhUAsv10OV_G9hZ_IY3EQGsTKI7nNDSniwVjwS_ZXCVXShniOzIuNUAJJ82ITRbmmakEnoXsXNC3bx107E2-kW86pYLxSKuSubiQKVQOo/s320/DSCN9545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH01gg7b2g3MLKVOklj3srUs8lVOEIhVvf8KV4f1EdAEg1P-FbHfUWKePuEw-M8uwew-sqWGxQWxwECWSnHEZDQ6I9GrA5L-FSjyzvqWvBkrzUyum2ZRHGMJkEixYGMhgF2j2ZYJHlEMw/s1600/DSCN9558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH01gg7b2g3MLKVOklj3srUs8lVOEIhVvf8KV4f1EdAEg1P-FbHfUWKePuEw-M8uwew-sqWGxQWxwECWSnHEZDQ6I9GrA5L-FSjyzvqWvBkrzUyum2ZRHGMJkEixYGMhgF2j2ZYJHlEMw/s320/DSCN9558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4OJ-QYl1OGDf4j-pIZ4Mq4UfoKoP0X5Kbhj6Cq7sKQXRjWB_90f-LzdlIf90V8Hf711hCfrTzDRJr4CswRLpyVCx5MYrV6EEYlaQS2Sf_gZIrpkKvIwndn1cHJjjHXUJww4Faa5rxac/s1600/DSCN9592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4OJ-QYl1OGDf4j-pIZ4Mq4UfoKoP0X5Kbhj6Cq7sKQXRjWB_90f-LzdlIf90V8Hf711hCfrTzDRJr4CswRLpyVCx5MYrV6EEYlaQS2Sf_gZIrpkKvIwndn1cHJjjHXUJww4Faa5rxac/s320/DSCN9592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj677Nock6MfyI_7P9Vtc7L_rLObdrAeNg1DKmq76DsElIHZje2WU9cq2dRv0pXh-nTniC2JMZqEj1dP-Q084X4gJEmGm4MC4pS7PxpMvzEo3ZhFeIrFpxvcGI8mE3euPkn2FG3xF4fgow/s1600/DSCN9593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj677Nock6MfyI_7P9Vtc7L_rLObdrAeNg1DKmq76DsElIHZje2WU9cq2dRv0pXh-nTniC2JMZqEj1dP-Q084X4gJEmGm4MC4pS7PxpMvzEo3ZhFeIrFpxvcGI8mE3euPkn2FG3xF4fgow/s320/DSCN9593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpbAODEGeJTVIHipDWoxZFLAtpCRbQYmMU6ysEAXOgASVyXtp-ZQ1SGDBy2XWyIHLY96eX9lplM0Q1uq4ovZhATKnOa4Sd8JSwX0hSgJ-j8zvrHAegI4RQyhHWOaCIpUGbiKPeCeeeJA/s1600/DSCN9594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpbAODEGeJTVIHipDWoxZFLAtpCRbQYmMU6ysEAXOgASVyXtp-ZQ1SGDBy2XWyIHLY96eX9lplM0Q1uq4ovZhATKnOa4Sd8JSwX0hSgJ-j8zvrHAegI4RQyhHWOaCIpUGbiKPeCeeeJA/s320/DSCN9594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBN9Ai-77SbYmY9IN89ccH780L-RMpEoqpkDYjhU-PajkWS3GI_TMqy4JgMZWi023u9lNC3TmMYTHSd5wn_AX7nlqI_DbFbWKwBW2D_Jb8HtOblq8jrsrvvc5CYGFu1inJCvjbtIz4QA/s1600/DSCN9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBN9Ai-77SbYmY9IN89ccH780L-RMpEoqpkDYjhU-PajkWS3GI_TMqy4JgMZWi023u9lNC3TmMYTHSd5wn_AX7nlqI_DbFbWKwBW2D_Jb8HtOblq8jrsrvvc5CYGFu1inJCvjbtIz4QA/s320/DSCN9597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4MU4Y7A17rMnjWgOAHpcAA_et9xxMPGd6Df79nbF2ZVaZYpHftNKUaHSfc3gJ0b3KJtulXn_G5v4qIBD7C47fZqt7qqM3FxgTRMh-Df6Pm-X9i7korgdQbKutc3bYh7UoewILvDdG7Y/s1600/DSCN9599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4MU4Y7A17rMnjWgOAHpcAA_et9xxMPGd6Df79nbF2ZVaZYpHftNKUaHSfc3gJ0b3KJtulXn_G5v4qIBD7C47fZqt7qqM3FxgTRMh-Df6Pm-X9i7korgdQbKutc3bYh7UoewILvDdG7Y/s320/DSCN9599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41zEGlmwBwdTIGC6K47d_8smBrw1hmap5OuQNLX3iBI99xAXRyJ7TXq3lgWg9r6opMQZstbXDZiCsuty0VfZOF4W7phU1zPhrxZfZ_IP7gvoiRTKt1ep9OBSCV2IwzYoLUiTgflDmfgU/s1600/DSCN9608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41zEGlmwBwdTIGC6K47d_8smBrw1hmap5OuQNLX3iBI99xAXRyJ7TXq3lgWg9r6opMQZstbXDZiCsuty0VfZOF4W7phU1zPhrxZfZ_IP7gvoiRTKt1ep9OBSCV2IwzYoLUiTgflDmfgU/s320/DSCN9608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsecxt_fUb_QxEKWHOrllSEzppfMU5e-0Q4xbyvRh7ZajRdA68OEVPO8fBuFk19J4coqDTrLe2_MKajGfuuxQs_7ZJtlq4yi_0jkC9KknGu6kiReiQPd9MhqFlmG5UrqhhSo-z-gCvpf0/s1600/DSCN9459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsecxt_fUb_QxEKWHOrllSEzppfMU5e-0Q4xbyvRh7ZajRdA68OEVPO8fBuFk19J4coqDTrLe2_MKajGfuuxQs_7ZJtlq4yi_0jkC9KknGu6kiReiQPd9MhqFlmG5UrqhhSo-z-gCvpf0/s320/DSCN9459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Perhaps the most well-known and popular is the Japanese bridge and water lilies.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNexJk7BQEJB00QVyRxN-grxB1sBMZBpR3Qb85wH5oHXCQ0tBnNSgUISvFHjxk5omu-PzMjR6Zxy0e8HCGk8Nw4nTUHRXG_-Q5ZlsLN8onB_Pb562eeUwZRR9sxzxYqNrM_7qXSusyPbI/s1600/DSCN9543.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D0c93b139bbd9c568%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1373332575%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB33A45FF3657582E40AE06601DEFDB2B80810B51.891A8F4164383D13950BBF84EB3F24C90C5F3942%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D0c93b139bbd9c568%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1373332575%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DB33A45FF3657582E40AE06601DEFDB2B80810B51.891A8F4164383D13950BBF84EB3F24C90C5F3942%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD9QzX64tKfqlHoEEjLgRqEVUemtnVlovloXUcLlr7IM7cJ_na2LYoWewvuUSE2Ux4QiW_tyvOpHdwejiC-IMNUFQ2onniEzUG5kOrElaXKwYXSWq7mG1tGzKldV1LyvIbK631j35Y3s/s1600/DSCN9560.MOV" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D47fc3c1c222eadc4%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1373332611%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA6BF9AB11F9A69C8C371F6A629B5277E122567DC.25AB3B435B80B67EF99A3DE326B2B61775E7C080%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3D47fc3c1c222eadc4%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1373332611%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3DA6BF9AB11F9A69C8C371F6A629B5277E122567DC.25AB3B435B80B67EF99A3DE326B2B61775E7C080%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8xGAs8zweBjz1_ExitFLNOOr7TYmmG8tQQotOryZETB-Vtpci159uzT25xqeVsoMT15jTeIPEmjAggZYoXwVbTD_-dp_dhcJmdDgmW9TKYv0p8BmGUhSp_P9GlamdkRgXOu7HwsPv1A/s1600/DSCN9477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8xGAs8zweBjz1_ExitFLNOOr7TYmmG8tQQotOryZETB-Vtpci159uzT25xqeVsoMT15jTeIPEmjAggZYoXwVbTD_-dp_dhcJmdDgmW9TKYv0p8BmGUhSp_P9GlamdkRgXOu7HwsPv1A/s320/DSCN9477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkkeT-c2QjuKr3SnKZtjQuo0c_Icg8mYWQdF7HdaoTAlbUAkEo_MqBPQL5bz5BjAJ6FQfp8F9x4yN2t0eDRQEH8Pnwp54Y2-J6hzLPEEiV3KiMY-cctjQ37wOqytCUmg_KQBmM73JduE/s1600/DSCN9479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkkeT-c2QjuKr3SnKZtjQuo0c_Icg8mYWQdF7HdaoTAlbUAkEo_MqBPQL5bz5BjAJ6FQfp8F9x4yN2t0eDRQEH8Pnwp54Y2-J6hzLPEEiV3KiMY-cctjQ37wOqytCUmg_KQBmM73JduE/s320/DSCN9479.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwKRuKDm-yVC_eTiohZUrzpYEkFRGv5XbzywcRveIwYPfhLiqNHvLhkzJov7zpIzFCj7HJYOpCTzfV6-k4WvAAYjqW77YF9mJ5HW7KdNnFDMEwk4CQb7miJJXaFqtgiKF7AjRkcGfzUo/s1600/DSCN9485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwKRuKDm-yVC_eTiohZUrzpYEkFRGv5XbzywcRveIwYPfhLiqNHvLhkzJov7zpIzFCj7HJYOpCTzfV6-k4WvAAYjqW77YF9mJ5HW7KdNnFDMEwk4CQb7miJJXaFqtgiKF7AjRkcGfzUo/s320/DSCN9485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-RYJkJvQgZK77wjN4OCDKCiiuicZwIrXoibdaeko4_nerVPNyM47XZci8phtEHaTZ6AsgJmgJCS4hcr0S67eKurpwesic5cJyJvP9E3xnjF015YvU-EiDI4qiRor2a8qAXs09WMuXhE/s1600/DSCN9488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-RYJkJvQgZK77wjN4OCDKCiiuicZwIrXoibdaeko4_nerVPNyM47XZci8phtEHaTZ6AsgJmgJCS4hcr0S67eKurpwesic5cJyJvP9E3xnjF015YvU-EiDI4qiRor2a8qAXs09WMuXhE/s320/DSCN9488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RaSbU1LdIX47iPsNSgX_CMA7VA0-4OzEBNUHIYoZ8vRfq2Ty5ggD_c6Hgd80ltabQuQYxTww68K-aYIngL30qDlTqzkICuKiAE-_ZIXPoExuEx7usMuxeKAXfp3OQmaO76d186WAFw4/s1600/DSCN9491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RaSbU1LdIX47iPsNSgX_CMA7VA0-4OzEBNUHIYoZ8vRfq2Ty5ggD_c6Hgd80ltabQuQYxTww68K-aYIngL30qDlTqzkICuKiAE-_ZIXPoExuEx7usMuxeKAXfp3OQmaO76d186WAFw4/s320/DSCN9491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaO8riZndv8ybPOwaqDPp7kAbLNH8xo52SywlJQNhrcERJ6lEIhB6ALRXTVbrxOGMgbNECWDd7pEJXVUX86a-OKkNRZw_1Y85bg1RwQrxk_rdHWTYazJBlRGkpKmcOiKz0G8RzER0fOc/s1600/DSCN9504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaO8riZndv8ybPOwaqDPp7kAbLNH8xo52SywlJQNhrcERJ6lEIhB6ALRXTVbrxOGMgbNECWDd7pEJXVUX86a-OKkNRZw_1Y85bg1RwQrxk_rdHWTYazJBlRGkpKmcOiKz0G8RzER0fOc/s320/DSCN9504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHP_45E5mNF7gzw3O28c6oOEzrFsXJjBpSJi9iLdScsNtG9zIfbCsbpVQxE_eHFhrPKOa9YFL3MS38LMrdqdq8b-2kk5hY6z-IbPVzJOqiWTDKX2AdtUSlD-CXw58yqDlcLmjOOFQmho/s1600/DSCN9557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHP_45E5mNF7gzw3O28c6oOEzrFsXJjBpSJi9iLdScsNtG9zIfbCsbpVQxE_eHFhrPKOa9YFL3MS38LMrdqdq8b-2kk5hY6z-IbPVzJOqiWTDKX2AdtUSlD-CXw58yqDlcLmjOOFQmho/s320/DSCN9557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CJnXXFoKPiQgb69SMxsr_QP92fffUwj6KP7bIj8_U0r7UaOWoPwkEnPcpDvluFXwx9R1fVUPpCGsA-Qg67cL5OHJl7OlbiaDXoT8NbLjJkGJRqPG0xflZaiWkYrVEZBc1T1duPra5U4/s1600/DSCN9566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CJnXXFoKPiQgb69SMxsr_QP92fffUwj6KP7bIj8_U0r7UaOWoPwkEnPcpDvluFXwx9R1fVUPpCGsA-Qg67cL5OHJl7OlbiaDXoT8NbLjJkGJRqPG0xflZaiWkYrVEZBc1T1duPra5U4/s320/DSCN9566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The gardens were incredible, but there was a lot of traffic. Since the weather had been so awful in Paris, everyone had decided to check out the gardens on one of the first nice days. As a result, I headed back to the entrance to see his house and studio.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpMdJAO7Pved905KVA3yOuEOd1uTeVAW4zBKRpOQwXvNKAQ_dVz7Y5iP94rbIiMT4VXuLw2A41OPCtuXqqdhba3qqQZqnxVnKM0oJ6tj1IFYddTEBijBNKBlbrAaR2Wnd8Dnj66c9uA4/s1600/DSCN9596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpMdJAO7Pved905KVA3yOuEOd1uTeVAW4zBKRpOQwXvNKAQ_dVz7Y5iP94rbIiMT4VXuLw2A41OPCtuXqqdhba3qqQZqnxVnKM0oJ6tj1IFYddTEBijBNKBlbrAaR2Wnd8Dnj66c9uA4/s320/DSCN9596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiUdRTCfRFTtnazjl5ARNYoBgQqY4qH_nPOfVKXtxXQmOznfWPomQo4CdVqveb_CNjOLlu8fx40R7bfnoEi_-M98KS88pgSHsPLzIKhvp5q_x9-NgP2BeKQyt0FXuAnlDS4qdebRfUk4/s1600/DSCN9598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiUdRTCfRFTtnazjl5ARNYoBgQqY4qH_nPOfVKXtxXQmOznfWPomQo4CdVqveb_CNjOLlu8fx40R7bfnoEi_-M98KS88pgSHsPLzIKhvp5q_x9-NgP2BeKQyt0FXuAnlDS4qdebRfUk4/s320/DSCN9598.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUvIn8_DypCJDpXTDo-BZT2cqAoGa_yR-_ComFD_U7isrkGJIL6CX-uA3_V12qCKu8U83AFvODInOrH9W-J1Mk5xE5BwsAGfTtv_QMxmvn5IxRFOXNfmjasGSrBlyn4xmoX7vE69Bnn4/s1600/DSCN9601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUvIn8_DypCJDpXTDo-BZT2cqAoGa_yR-_ComFD_U7isrkGJIL6CX-uA3_V12qCKu8U83AFvODInOrH9W-J1Mk5xE5BwsAGfTtv_QMxmvn5IxRFOXNfmjasGSrBlyn4xmoX7vE69Bnn4/s320/DSCN9601.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPet5KUBZwRnzO7H_cZv-u3NwVwk5hlSaakzH6268K4H_aVXt3rvq0ZOQRbxHiLvnaDDSMj2KJgE5XZFOyxP6b_ITVZ4VuKVtSXSMwsN3-jSCuShT3Mjowt_RGEAQ-aKsikMNQOQ2Gs8/s1600/DSCN9445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPet5KUBZwRnzO7H_cZv-u3NwVwk5hlSaakzH6268K4H_aVXt3rvq0ZOQRbxHiLvnaDDSMj2KJgE5XZFOyxP6b_ITVZ4VuKVtSXSMwsN3-jSCuShT3Mjowt_RGEAQ-aKsikMNQOQ2Gs8/s320/DSCN9445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GfqcTzhX6voue0XV-lBJxSErwLOJHD8co8jsXta41cJmIzoxIIKJ0Grd4lM5fPV9TZYy3rObjAXC1vfv7dDOXJpYRIiclWq-t-BVUXq7MEV4PWRA13Ntef1PTcBhwk2hyphenhyphenIDTweIbtmY/s1600/DSCN9602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GfqcTzhX6voue0XV-lBJxSErwLOJHD8co8jsXta41cJmIzoxIIKJ0Grd4lM5fPV9TZYy3rObjAXC1vfv7dDOXJpYRIiclWq-t-BVUXq7MEV4PWRA13Ntef1PTcBhwk2hyphenhyphenIDTweIbtmY/s320/DSCN9602.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside view of Monet's studio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You're not allowed to take photographs of any sort inside, but I did manage to take a couple. Here are a couple of his studio and a room with ukiyo-e prints and ceramics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfC-CH5DegsiGDS8f7rbimbdUtCoeW4PZfGnjz66TIUY3lmiRjQXOumDgw9Oy2aiiQQjXYqlchvzZvodjBVqHY7ojlfiBW3psizM0ddoOCcEvC_agNjRC5HDu6h2853glW4dK41nRCAE/s1600/DSCN9612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfC-CH5DegsiGDS8f7rbimbdUtCoeW4PZfGnjz66TIUY3lmiRjQXOumDgw9Oy2aiiQQjXYqlchvzZvodjBVqHY7ojlfiBW3psizM0ddoOCcEvC_agNjRC5HDu6h2853glW4dK41nRCAE/s320/DSCN9612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lqCiGJO99XAbyUKqaBmTiIDbOiTcgO_HzENfIuk5Byr3R7FWEM0fjLDqQqcoBbSVIwqe9dmVCZiCmn9AkGHJh8jlvcgDaChz7wbQ6c40ZKF6LRmxhpkyGu0hF7q3YPGmjFuvT7V-HZ0/s1600/DSCN9615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lqCiGJO99XAbyUKqaBmTiIDbOiTcgO_HzENfIuk5Byr3R7FWEM0fjLDqQqcoBbSVIwqe9dmVCZiCmn9AkGHJh8jlvcgDaChz7wbQ6c40ZKF6LRmxhpkyGu0hF7q3YPGmjFuvT7V-HZ0/s320/DSCN9615.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK6j1oa7xNx0usxWtfPrDBxv_U_y1ysVcTxBsZpeojtLnKo_Ud7OsnnhPvysxtHw6p01TWdxY3wphawiMV58mWTf1Ul5X5yR_Gc6pVj8mXGEbZ0fgd95dT39AOP-sgjSLD6i7TsAoYKI/s1600/DSCN9622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK6j1oa7xNx0usxWtfPrDBxv_U_y1ysVcTxBsZpeojtLnKo_Ud7OsnnhPvysxtHw6p01TWdxY3wphawiMV58mWTf1Ul5X5yR_Gc6pVj8mXGEbZ0fgd95dT39AOP-sgjSLD6i7TsAoYKI/s320/DSCN9622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89xRrVMcBAwC0muRAxxdlmPvtrtBu5lLapBPccI54TcQ19j54wpCMYfCkmj8sZVkuoogjh2ih2CYzOeyX-UEN_VvlqS9xMcI0ZhCNOr6HpnnQTaDfZoe7_858rxfD6vZTkD_SwZPoXQo/s1600/DSCN9626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89xRrVMcBAwC0muRAxxdlmPvtrtBu5lLapBPccI54TcQ19j54wpCMYfCkmj8sZVkuoogjh2ih2CYzOeyX-UEN_VvlqS9xMcI0ZhCNOr6HpnnQTaDfZoe7_858rxfD6vZTkD_SwZPoXQo/s320/DSCN9626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The view of Monet's gardens from his studio window.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83Vy1kfUY6gnilo0m4qgqWdna61zjm5_USGNBvAWH0kDKvOQUb87GH6McNKR6cuSM4hz9KLd00T8Wy2Cj3yKOQypr5Mt2n_KYLCyECsTS4xixhw6pASlhB0_XJlqiZxFBDgwWFxXBLY8/s1600/DSCN9628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83Vy1kfUY6gnilo0m4qgqWdna61zjm5_USGNBvAWH0kDKvOQUb87GH6McNKR6cuSM4hz9KLd00T8Wy2Cj3yKOQypr5Mt2n_KYLCyECsTS4xixhw6pASlhB0_XJlqiZxFBDgwWFxXBLY8/s320/DSCN9628.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I continued on through the house which was loaded with old photographs,
reproductions of paintings and drawings by Degas, Renoir, Boudin and
some others. Upon entering and leaving the site there's a huge gallery store all things Monet. My favorite part of the store was the huge amount of publications on gardening and cooking. There's even a section that sells a variety of seeds of flowers and plants which I believe are from his garden. Here are some shots of it. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxPe9O1yZuJN6UyQzNNcHcN4Vxh1RSY6vdwsVBQsynyAHSXRgXq7oOxaMKOs3-MtbMZwqfVAw-XROJaNOQ0CM9V9lWV-zcFKgTSD-AMBWda90uCeaokdpFFEE_0gm5zcj6VY4gE9137U/s1600/DSCN9422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxPe9O1yZuJN6UyQzNNcHcN4Vxh1RSY6vdwsVBQsynyAHSXRgXq7oOxaMKOs3-MtbMZwqfVAw-XROJaNOQ0CM9V9lWV-zcFKgTSD-AMBWda90uCeaokdpFFEE_0gm5zcj6VY4gE9137U/s320/DSCN9422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEsP_wHFlO0v2geQx9PPaeQd7lwkPR9hiWVrIDEQ90RecO0CHarNkhhUoa3DyO0fz2dhIyPAD4lL53vaBMKtW4HJcyzurP8-KmihjE30ZzxQaHQ3O0F4b2nAFoi6Ph5i1ckphVO0H1II/s1600/DSCN9423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEsP_wHFlO0v2geQx9PPaeQd7lwkPR9hiWVrIDEQ90RecO0CHarNkhhUoa3DyO0fz2dhIyPAD4lL53vaBMKtW4HJcyzurP8-KmihjE30ZzxQaHQ3O0F4b2nAFoi6Ph5i1ckphVO0H1II/s320/DSCN9423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV6tb1RuWF6YsuWtYAFHDj307dLkIYw-M8pwHXPbVNWyoZxk2yRA0-mouGC_pI769uhzxIoo3MXz3UCvyjfeJuAekYToQ3nk7ACtzg6a1MaHovgoYY1H4O_Q2ZnWGCewbc5oVS7rJZAE/s1600/DSCN9424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV6tb1RuWF6YsuWtYAFHDj307dLkIYw-M8pwHXPbVNWyoZxk2yRA0-mouGC_pI769uhzxIoo3MXz3UCvyjfeJuAekYToQ3nk7ACtzg6a1MaHovgoYY1H4O_Q2ZnWGCewbc5oVS7rJZAE/s320/DSCN9424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'll post another entry on Giverny in the next day or so. Until then you may want to check out Stephanie Colwell's book. In addition, NPR did a
wonderful article him a couple of years ago. This and others are all
downloaded on my iPhone for listening while in Paris. If you haven't
heard it, it can be found here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128221023" target="_blank">NPR's: Monet in Normandy: The Making of Impressionism</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
<span dir="auto"><br /></span></h1>
bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-65848437879901858232013-06-08T16:31:00.002-04:002013-06-08T19:50:57.213-04:00A Day with Monet (Part I)Spending time in Paris every year cannot help but affect you, infect
you. Though the Paris that I have in mind (or that I long to visit each
year) is long gone (as close French friend of mine always corrects
me,"Montmartre is not the real Paris, you know"), you can still find
the remnants and perhaps, that is what I am doing. The sheer amount of
history of the city- its art, its political history, its revolution(s)
are completely overwhelming and to know all of that is a life-long
quest. Each year, the veil of this American in Paris projection becomes a
little more transparent and my relationship to it continues to grow.<br />
<br />
Though as undergraduate art history students, we learned more about the Impressionists and Post-impressionists, it was the Baroque that initially consumed me. Like many of my overly intense (and uninformed) classmates, I
gravitated toward the dark art of the Baroque- Caravaggio, Rembrandt,
etc. early on. I was exposed to the Naturalist movement (which ran parallel to the Impressionist Movement) by an amazing art historian specializing in Scandinavian Art of the 19th century and she remains a wealth of information for me. I was also reading Emile Zola in undergraduate school and his tie to their work (and the content) made a huge impact on me. My art centered around many of the socio-political issues that their work raised such Leon Lhermitte's "La paye des moissonneurs" (below). I was always upset that the Naturalists were rarely mentioned in Art History classes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EFWMpRGk0L-FUQP6vVDMHzoRhck-yyQb0eyXkWA2MmsEU1iHrD7_hvQkrWH1xvTnkRRFLjuotlKCWe59Wd9WUUmLDouBBnWpwghwTGiJFACl8Ziq68OriO-_ycy-5sioQ4H-R3L9dhA/s1600/llermitte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EFWMpRGk0L-FUQP6vVDMHzoRhck-yyQb0eyXkWA2MmsEU1iHrD7_hvQkrWH1xvTnkRRFLjuotlKCWe59Wd9WUUmLDouBBnWpwghwTGiJFACl8Ziq68OriO-_ycy-5sioQ4H-R3L9dhA/s320/llermitte.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, as I grow older, the artistic heroes of my youth often wane in terms of what they provide for my real-time inspiration now and artists that I found little in common with back then, finally seem to be revealed to me in ways that are surprising, rewarding and inspiring. Monet (and many of the Impressionists) is in this latter category.<br />
<br />
I must say that I've never been any sort of Monet devotee. Like La
Joconde is to Da Vinci, many of Monet's paintings (mostly the Water Lilies) have been
reproduced, appropriated and marketed on every type of object, from calendars
to umbrellas, and coffee mugs to greeting cards, silk scarves
and canvas bags (below). It's hard to experience the work without thinking of some of these items. There's nothing wrong with this, I fully understand the motivation to provide it and why museum-goers purchase it. But as a young art
student, the fluff of pink, violet, purple and lemon yellow used to
paint flowers and picnics did little to stimulate me either visually or
intellectually.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVdkQypyXtjQslSNIcBzpKMLQ-nn-z66aGzFl91P3Cs9e0WuBUJISoRQUtL88_7V3vgLyMQwhZcttek1TJzgT1sMdPi9eupyutZpzi_sYcYna3BzrWvzSwfPI_gZXKLjk9sctzH2Cmus/s1600/80013683_01_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVdkQypyXtjQslSNIcBzpKMLQ-nn-z66aGzFl91P3Cs9e0WuBUJISoRQUtL88_7V3vgLyMQwhZcttek1TJzgT1sMdPi9eupyutZpzi_sYcYna3BzrWvzSwfPI_gZXKLjk9sctzH2Cmus/s320/80013683_01_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Make no mistake, the paintings always gave me a joy and they had ease about them that was very pleasing for me. However, the idea of how they were made was what I began thinking of. There was something about painting outside, on location, and 'chasing the light' that appealed to me, though I'm not interested in painting the landscape much. Having read of Monet's devotion to the site, the amount of time spent he would spent there, and only when the weather and time of day were exact as the previous visits when the painting had been started, one couldn't help, but pick up on that uniqueness and specificity that he (and countless other plein art painters) was going for. Though many of the colors were outlandishly garish, bordering on fauvism, and unlike any lighting conditions I'd ever seen, I couldn't help but see the light that was created by these acidic color relationships. The role of optics and the novelty of this awareness (of colors mixing in one's brain was more intense than mixing the colors together on a palette then applying that mixture to canvas) was clearly evident. Seeing many of the paintings <i>in</i> the Musee d'Orsay <i>in</i> Paris, almost demanded a new consideration of the work.<br />
<br />
In lecturing about his work in the Musee l"Orangerie and the d"Orsay, it was easy to fall for the lush color, vertical handling of space inspired by his love of ukiyo-e prints and the prophetic abstraction that would influence many artists a couple of decades later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKrWY3bNQKz0rYTDbQLnTDGldp2Bb9WVHYvJzDKhtcN-sYXvUDcqF7n0YgpQkT9Kag4MC8QoBR3gErCt0Hr2Hr1kXHltrtak0JpykyAjoTro7jzlnvuq26SU3YANvajS-KWwu5L852FY/s1600/aDSCN6005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKrWY3bNQKz0rYTDbQLnTDGldp2Bb9WVHYvJzDKhtcN-sYXvUDcqF7n0YgpQkT9Kag4MC8QoBR3gErCt0Hr2Hr1kXHltrtak0JpykyAjoTro7jzlnvuq26SU3YANvajS-KWwu5L852FY/s320/aDSCN6005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since returning last summer, I read a number of books pertaining to Paris. One of the books I picked up was <u><b>Claude and Camille: A novel of Monet</b></u> by Stephanie Cowell. Its a wonderfully entertaining account of Monet's life starting with his studying with Boudin, financial struggles through his life, the Franco-Prussian War, his relations with Frederic Bazille and all of the other notables, and finally ending in with his time at Giverny.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZUv3rcFoElow3XLgscnR52DPm51qvQMAn593JA97JSTdnB5z7kmD_bagk4hiAJKLVCuQgRcJQDk2Tz95SMI_CVRz51cn1kw3L1UtU2quF4DaX5ao23Y7Sh8AmcMos00hMVjhsuioXHM/s1600/55276344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZUv3rcFoElow3XLgscnR52DPm51qvQMAn593JA97JSTdnB5z7kmD_bagk4hiAJKLVCuQgRcJQDk2Tz95SMI_CVRz51cn1kw3L1UtU2quF4DaX5ao23Y7Sh8AmcMos00hMVjhsuioXHM/s320/55276344.JPG" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
My favorite painting of Monet's has always been "La Gare St. Lazare" (below) in the Musee d'Orsay (though "Saint-Lazare Station: Arrival of a train"<i> </i>in the<i> </i>Fogg Art Museum and another in the National Gallery in London are nearly as amazing) since first seeing it in Art History at Edinboro. I'm still not sure as to why the painting has resonated with me, and for so long. Perhaps, it was the idealized color of the smoke of the train, again not like real life, which was sooty and colorless, but almost like cotton candy, that took me. There seems to be a lot of action going on in the painting and I was eager to experience some of these places first hand. This trip I would make it a point to see it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqQRnRTpcM9iouUiAGMY4aXNjOACms7l4Lq110mnht-04zOCRazZdcpU2d_SYSFZKN4yem3UNOnl_vDvkaWscpOj3MgVcaw85lN4aW6tLlJa-fNRiysXnclvRvvVgP_ZIWuoKvfUly6Y/s1600/monet-the-gare-saint-lazare-arrival-of-train_1877_oil+on+canvas_Fogg+Art+Museum_Cambridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqQRnRTpcM9iouUiAGMY4aXNjOACms7l4Lq110mnht-04zOCRazZdcpU2d_SYSFZKN4yem3UNOnl_vDvkaWscpOj3MgVcaw85lN4aW6tLlJa-fNRiysXnclvRvvVgP_ZIWuoKvfUly6Y/s320/monet-the-gare-saint-lazare-arrival-of-train_1877_oil+on+canvas_Fogg+Art+Museum_Cambridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-52282800262035897492013-05-31T17:26:00.002-04:002013-05-31T18:24:40.865-04:00Le Sacre du Printemps (The Centennial)Between the stays in Paris, I 'tailgate' for eleven months by reading different things about Paris, looking at artists I am less familiar with that I want to find here, and planning on things I want to see or do when I arrive. Many of these things will become additional blog entries, so I don't want to reveal them all here, in this entry. One of these interests centered around Stravinsky and the affair he had in the 1920's with Coco Chanel. The centennial of the debut of Le Sacre du Printemps was two days ago and was all through the art and music online news, including at the Stravinsky Facebook fan sites and classical music stations.<br />
<br />
I remember coming across Stravinsky hearing "Petrushka" one late night on the Erie public radio station while I worked all night with some grad students in the studio at Edinboro. While I love that piece on its own merits, it, too, has emotional and psychological attachments because of that memory. I minored in classical guitar performance while at Edinboro, in an attempt to understand the complexity of the guitar, which can always dish out more than I can eat. Some music majors sensed my curiosity (and lack of musical awareness) and turned me on to "The Firebird" and others. A grad student in painting who had studied with Meredith Monk told me that Stravinsky was arrested in Boston for an arrangement he composed of "The Star-Spangled Banner". I had a hard time 'hearing' Stravinsky, but later developed an appreciation for him past "Petrushka".<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzCEOGDbiiB6lkkpczD61PGD4Px12tMgPr5IusdAYKb-F5F3rPQXp2DGw-cUtMT_Tf18gR5qqdlP3YbQXbqecncBGepoNby8GNwr7rG3BXM4LWpQUT21z77nFjtt1KHm1YD9grZz648/s1600/stravinsky.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdzCEOGDbiiB6lkkpczD61PGD4Px12tMgPr5IusdAYKb-F5F3rPQXp2DGw-cUtMT_Tf18gR5qqdlP3YbQXbqecncBGepoNby8GNwr7rG3BXM4LWpQUT21z77nFjtt1KHm1YD9grZz648/s320/stravinsky.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Igor Stravinsky in the 1920's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had watched a documentary on Coco Chanel last summer in one of these 'tailgating' sessions and remembered they had had an affair. I had already watched (and loved) "Coco before Chanel" because of my love for Audrey Tautou and purchased "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky". Here's the trailer if you haven't seen it yet:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax58yPFj0ac" target="_blank">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
Stravinsky would spend time each year in Switzerland and then return to Russia. Due to the Russian Revolution that was no longer possible and the family moved to Brittany. Money was tight despite his early success of "The Firebird". Chanel heard of Stravinsky's financial difficulties and extended an offer to him to move into her chateau, "Bel Respiro", in a suburb called Garches, here in Paris. I had hoped to get to see it, but it won't happen this trip. Stravinsky accepts, the family moves in, and shortly thereafter the affair begins.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB9vLJQhRgg%20" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB9vLJQhRgg </a><br />
<br />
Before all of that begins, the movie recreates the famous rioting that occurred at Le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in 1913- supposedly when Chanel first encounters his work. Le Sacre du Printemps' sheer volume of the orchestra (which apparently was massive), as well as the extreme unorthodox composition, both of music and dance, led to yelling and heckling, and then rioting, resulting in the police being summoned to get the crowd under control. Its surreal to think of this happening today. As I walked passed the Le Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (15 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris<span style="font-weight: bolder; margin-right: 4px;">)</span><span style="margin-right: 4px;">today,</span><span style="margin-right: 4px;">I couldn't help but think of the riot.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grFJDynzvzo" target="_blank">The Riot (around 3:00)</a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bolder; margin-right: 4px;"><br /></span>
Apparently, Chanel was at the infamous debut of Le Sacre du Printemps, and in the movie, she seems to understand his genius in a way that the mainstream cannot, or is not ready to. Perhaps, she identifies with him being ahead of his time, the way her designs were ahead of other clothing designers. I would also love to believe that No.5 is created in Grasse during their affair. I'm not sure how much of this is accurate. Regardless, the fire that ignites between these two intensely creative people is enormous.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITmAuiECJNfhpLbDUdHCKdgvlNZNfKgEPA-4DpPUo1O5wtP9cKQ0gtrHfCkya2Ic4P_TvTsqYgGilp4D0POfUllT_Jst9xI3iL5p-QAjWvYI8I-llFmboe5kJi7IwUZVkFyDN1g4BaCg/s1600/Coco-Chanel-9244165-2-402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITmAuiECJNfhpLbDUdHCKdgvlNZNfKgEPA-4DpPUo1O5wtP9cKQ0gtrHfCkya2Ic4P_TvTsqYgGilp4D0POfUllT_Jst9xI3iL5p-QAjWvYI8I-llFmboe5kJi7IwUZVkFyDN1g4BaCg/s320/Coco-Chanel-9244165-2-402.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coco Chanel in the 1920's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The movie follows them in to old age, long after they part ways. Apparently, they never see one another, speak or correspond again, but they are portrayed as still thinking of one another. It's an incredible movie, one of my favs. Check it out, particularly if you've seen "Coco before Chanel".<br />
<br />
I was shopping in the Marais the other day and came across, Place de Stravinsky, and it got me thinking about the movie. Here are some pics of the pool and commissioned works based on Stravinsky's pieces.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPKpmkcsUQLmBfbx6n-4VuLTBpPthw4e3N6kkObSDhMtspqIYLGpolcoPUhGI-7dYxUl0JrquZtKvLnrBy2lcMGoaLC7BgRrtOx7RhtGN1DqO5g_kNPZfccTDI8d4IvUVIJ9T2CiGL-g/s1600/DSCN9274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPKpmkcsUQLmBfbx6n-4VuLTBpPthw4e3N6kkObSDhMtspqIYLGpolcoPUhGI-7dYxUl0JrquZtKvLnrBy2lcMGoaLC7BgRrtOx7RhtGN1DqO5g_kNPZfccTDI8d4IvUVIJ9T2CiGL-g/s320/DSCN9274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiaqSWY746gEft4tgzVbvUZTKLnZ-y0MpG93KhhXqboFF6B9V50I0_EGF5Dgn4K-LKkO07dQv675NbTtpURUhyMKUCq4BKn-Qanyk_EpQL4igtqvu7B7gb4K_JL2634BqnjtIsfA3HiA/s1600/DSCN9275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiaqSWY746gEft4tgzVbvUZTKLnZ-y0MpG93KhhXqboFF6B9V50I0_EGF5Dgn4K-LKkO07dQv675NbTtpURUhyMKUCq4BKn-Qanyk_EpQL4igtqvu7B7gb4K_JL2634BqnjtIsfA3HiA/s320/DSCN9275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXPdhxZqPmDcWCbYr_3uZnwCsg09rwV7l3BdbY6Rx3GjCVsBShrUcz4cCah8Za4O5BQRtfPAGMU6yeSdD9hMLO_CVU7dkbmaysxxaKzpOvK6OwnkpznwXejkVtP-d8cWEp3LtmidvR4/s1600/DSCN9277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZXPdhxZqPmDcWCbYr_3uZnwCsg09rwV7l3BdbY6Rx3GjCVsBShrUcz4cCah8Za4O5BQRtfPAGMU6yeSdD9hMLO_CVU7dkbmaysxxaKzpOvK6OwnkpznwXejkVtP-d8cWEp3LtmidvR4/s320/DSCN9277.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-6450172097769422262013-05-27T16:10:00.001-04:002013-05-28T03:31:24.427-04:00Port de Vanves- Marche de puceI love hitting the flea market when I return each year. The more I go, the more I pick up on the patterns of what is interesting and unique. When I first went, everything caught my eye and seemed unique, but that has changed. Certain items are staples and they tend to be there, in various types and amounts, each visit. However, I am always surprised to see some of the unique things that turn up. Here are some pics from the last one I went to, and a link to a previous post telling the history of the markets.<br />
<br />
http://apainterinparis.blogspot.fr/2012/05/marche-aux-puces.html<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSz3Tlxgn3rNWWKhPCI3PRjmv-aRiIgaBui-AWY1E2bZLWVDgXos9JNd0IOoNwIOkM9UAmC3A7oceIO6GOaZt7cxgXAriIiSP-QbqHTdCCq5bp19GvvDkSp9Uoz27jzDOFDXfeVFeTco/s1600/DSCN8969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSz3Tlxgn3rNWWKhPCI3PRjmv-aRiIgaBui-AWY1E2bZLWVDgXos9JNd0IOoNwIOkM9UAmC3A7oceIO6GOaZt7cxgXAriIiSP-QbqHTdCCq5bp19GvvDkSp9Uoz27jzDOFDXfeVFeTco/s320/DSCN8969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteGNiiiY8W37q4gVHY3QwEAZ3eE8uH3fJip4Go4CopCVvsgvZ9ncXQly_oISSvq-bl6fT1OfqwNQn2bhsSkbAIxrdFt43g9vxxh1CHsxs62c2wIwr0GRIalb_PU1XZs6LkWuQBrTVCI/s1600/DSCN8970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnteGNiiiY8W37q4gVHY3QwEAZ3eE8uH3fJip4Go4CopCVvsgvZ9ncXQly_oISSvq-bl6fT1OfqwNQn2bhsSkbAIxrdFt43g9vxxh1CHsxs62c2wIwr0GRIalb_PU1XZs6LkWuQBrTVCI/s320/DSCN8970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvCNj5P5OhP_WWYL4W0QhjfWxpG51Yy38vtdpgNQ3-o8YDV7HsOdCvafuF_ge8JbvxHc-RI4kYG0jh_5IVi1rVRnFWNz0D97PUPhmdaoJRHrFMuBVmupjHPrk0vk_oWu3UUfnWGFW1M/s1600/DSCN8971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMvCNj5P5OhP_WWYL4W0QhjfWxpG51Yy38vtdpgNQ3-o8YDV7HsOdCvafuF_ge8JbvxHc-RI4kYG0jh_5IVi1rVRnFWNz0D97PUPhmdaoJRHrFMuBVmupjHPrk0vk_oWu3UUfnWGFW1M/s320/DSCN8971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJqMrfetXPBngpjBIuGHtfc05rtatSyCehBnzDuFa0IwsjQSvFUIAWHjtxSg6mhHl2W9ATmMTQifRX7TwWmb5VFU2Wk1u2YuPYVL8daRF8Wd5r-TFxWFnL6YmE1Mq8d4ASg-nWMoBh9c/s1600/DSCN8972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJqMrfetXPBngpjBIuGHtfc05rtatSyCehBnzDuFa0IwsjQSvFUIAWHjtxSg6mhHl2W9ATmMTQifRX7TwWmb5VFU2Wk1u2YuPYVL8daRF8Wd5r-TFxWFnL6YmE1Mq8d4ASg-nWMoBh9c/s320/DSCN8972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2fzXdmTux7pnb3uYMB4o8e3ZjIm_gnf9-v3an8P5gLycIxXVo4cldZaZIYnkhE9IG5sNd6mTK4TtABCbQmU7OVdJw-5KsrAHVfmj6HCK_0KOGZsfr4_u957hG-aGfGyGPoD_VZqUB2U/s1600/DSCN8973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2fzXdmTux7pnb3uYMB4o8e3ZjIm_gnf9-v3an8P5gLycIxXVo4cldZaZIYnkhE9IG5sNd6mTK4TtABCbQmU7OVdJw-5KsrAHVfmj6HCK_0KOGZsfr4_u957hG-aGfGyGPoD_VZqUB2U/s320/DSCN8973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0hXl4vVAWo2TM-9sR500scanR9qS6F6slpAPRTtgvSRmQI9mqMqpnHcCWYQdPM0P5r-G9n1i89nOXDSs4IHsdT6QocqtoHC0OnsA62jfeeVuAkUkhOrCysYzVjeXrdXwDxRYbU28jcY/s1600/DSCN8974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0hXl4vVAWo2TM-9sR500scanR9qS6F6slpAPRTtgvSRmQI9mqMqpnHcCWYQdPM0P5r-G9n1i89nOXDSs4IHsdT6QocqtoHC0OnsA62jfeeVuAkUkhOrCysYzVjeXrdXwDxRYbU28jcY/s320/DSCN8974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7a-THN5nHHqwgy3IBWIwpsy7FwSu7OV1SoBSKdB4UoSaShrk9q2xpeo6U6YXtVmpHscj7medLjDUmiqP0vIFDWg6mV11qs_r9OGHGJkmY9I5kM9D1BvYM3kP8fi51RGNGei1qPmviZo/s1600/DSCN8975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7a-THN5nHHqwgy3IBWIwpsy7FwSu7OV1SoBSKdB4UoSaShrk9q2xpeo6U6YXtVmpHscj7medLjDUmiqP0vIFDWg6mV11qs_r9OGHGJkmY9I5kM9D1BvYM3kP8fi51RGNGei1qPmviZo/s320/DSCN8975.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-iof2YckQP3j-7u4VexRvXnFODhjDv-vmLGm5tw_aoepI2iClPi-F2ekZY38_Dafcn54niM8Uz5LaZ7Oodp12oVGG9kXgzqByPjS_Dtzzw7kYW5VceMZGnZGLK6-z2FkGMzkxQzNAxU/s1600/DSCN8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-iof2YckQP3j-7u4VexRvXnFODhjDv-vmLGm5tw_aoepI2iClPi-F2ekZY38_Dafcn54niM8Uz5LaZ7Oodp12oVGG9kXgzqByPjS_Dtzzw7kYW5VceMZGnZGLK6-z2FkGMzkxQzNAxU/s320/DSCN8976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpyyOyNsF0W1uSLnaLVtTURyOIdz978h4fflvynFJuRRx4CGB9TnDDa5J_lPLXeMfhkGsSiRWRyitHC7QQjb-NlVLtw9qgGUuYZnbaCzi7FM_PQJro1CW84ay_vwnzS7-OBYDWXbfoJY/s1600/DSCN8977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpyyOyNsF0W1uSLnaLVtTURyOIdz978h4fflvynFJuRRx4CGB9TnDDa5J_lPLXeMfhkGsSiRWRyitHC7QQjb-NlVLtw9qgGUuYZnbaCzi7FM_PQJro1CW84ay_vwnzS7-OBYDWXbfoJY/s320/DSCN8977.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9252Ggeph0wqYjZQ6uk4prxcKSletwxs_HtjCWQjnjReZKoUUOMbe9hDwx2ADOVHV5ve0eFOVElDKYNP3jO0mmwAzgGgKhEggujeo0j_6S45O0_J0HzKLQxCrxwbZl-BDVl8S3yUm8M/s1600/DSCN8978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9252Ggeph0wqYjZQ6uk4prxcKSletwxs_HtjCWQjnjReZKoUUOMbe9hDwx2ADOVHV5ve0eFOVElDKYNP3jO0mmwAzgGgKhEggujeo0j_6S45O0_J0HzKLQxCrxwbZl-BDVl8S3yUm8M/s320/DSCN8978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLfDyy_jR-1Nuw81L7t2M_cnd32uUWVkxpLJoncCvYLLY1fh-sTfBOjYzK9rRQ-xpO8Q8VrLwN_KZ1pu6H83cxkb1h1fdujrigWH2qR8zknXHyArpaypny9D86-TYo6eZsBZyFBnZPT8/s1600/DSCN8981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLfDyy_jR-1Nuw81L7t2M_cnd32uUWVkxpLJoncCvYLLY1fh-sTfBOjYzK9rRQ-xpO8Q8VrLwN_KZ1pu6H83cxkb1h1fdujrigWH2qR8zknXHyArpaypny9D86-TYo6eZsBZyFBnZPT8/s320/DSCN8981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-z9g5LjZHViwWq8_PSjNAazB8OVd184lurBkS8JM5Kyd834nN0xlUMIuzvYrjKkM5OdzudsiiTgw3JQqkpwFeKKdrSvUMdC8hnQQF0pwbkWYsMr0Qaof7jViadKakdFDJC4X-4R9Cws/s1600/DSCN8982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-z9g5LjZHViwWq8_PSjNAazB8OVd184lurBkS8JM5Kyd834nN0xlUMIuzvYrjKkM5OdzudsiiTgw3JQqkpwFeKKdrSvUMdC8hnQQF0pwbkWYsMr0Qaof7jViadKakdFDJC4X-4R9Cws/s320/DSCN8982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG1mOU_V3l3SgLRaYpwrkaDdzGdKitK5pxaVxP67AxklhDoAqWkda1xPrqw_8vMv-bH3Nci4Bcz3fUuq8hrjuYlfr07jPUXlPwQULK3FmKlAszcRZuMLJI-UVy3N4AEwoFo3mWpWwlMQ/s1600/DSCN8983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG1mOU_V3l3SgLRaYpwrkaDdzGdKitK5pxaVxP67AxklhDoAqWkda1xPrqw_8vMv-bH3Nci4Bcz3fUuq8hrjuYlfr07jPUXlPwQULK3FmKlAszcRZuMLJI-UVy3N4AEwoFo3mWpWwlMQ/s320/DSCN8983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1_uDRU7m9wpt5SwKVYlrvlnFMY3QR_DYvoE8hWbUHzB9fsvN6dshdWenzXYWYkVEg4mgmz21066Zi36UZ88cs-DseeEOraNcEaUV9Hji_intUtwvNf3-yh4hJFDrqZ44sjyGJeQeInk/s1600/DSCN8984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1_uDRU7m9wpt5SwKVYlrvlnFMY3QR_DYvoE8hWbUHzB9fsvN6dshdWenzXYWYkVEg4mgmz21066Zi36UZ88cs-DseeEOraNcEaUV9Hji_intUtwvNf3-yh4hJFDrqZ44sjyGJeQeInk/s320/DSCN8984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize_CKhpAHyxDeb3hHiinM-za5gahM5A8HyofsyiF5WIKtFQ_rarlZM4aVfTctMtqmqGSmqJeqUdIS0hjzdGJftsM0Wup6mx_9Qru3cd5DtWHUkodbAHdWAJLxCLWX5lx9Nt_agYlk9DY/s1600/DSCN8985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize_CKhpAHyxDeb3hHiinM-za5gahM5A8HyofsyiF5WIKtFQ_rarlZM4aVfTctMtqmqGSmqJeqUdIS0hjzdGJftsM0Wup6mx_9Qru3cd5DtWHUkodbAHdWAJLxCLWX5lx9Nt_agYlk9DY/s320/DSCN8985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Uk8e4Yk6DOAaJIwHxPAaDydRv8-b6idXeEKnyXtXUd7-1nr6sR6wFvoKlvX0-BxQiMvDXrVyBNqt2wGc1wbybwD1qWBflUMUN3BPZzrX0BiSg3dgyNdFDu9Qw-x6av360VQ421eUiM/s1600/DSCN8986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Uk8e4Yk6DOAaJIwHxPAaDydRv8-b6idXeEKnyXtXUd7-1nr6sR6wFvoKlvX0-BxQiMvDXrVyBNqt2wGc1wbybwD1qWBflUMUN3BPZzrX0BiSg3dgyNdFDu9Qw-x6av360VQ421eUiM/s320/DSCN8986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJaUsAYQvtNBZd53x4eouaAGotVzEqSI1kldVFD_9uao3Usq5KQ3qw7vPG-P3XYyHpVoThrm0Pq2rtV71Db3P_IYbv8anGw0WP4EZhrfHo-MD-JLQYrEIMawDLUSlLWOWrJ87BUHNeOM/s1600/DSCN8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJaUsAYQvtNBZd53x4eouaAGotVzEqSI1kldVFD_9uao3Usq5KQ3qw7vPG-P3XYyHpVoThrm0Pq2rtV71Db3P_IYbv8anGw0WP4EZhrfHo-MD-JLQYrEIMawDLUSlLWOWrJ87BUHNeOM/s320/DSCN8988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6BaEDqOcmgw4AajkgXAjfH3IrSE1w7zGyMZ3hBMLxIrcZBozdVKBMLcOlPgtYJQDvLXOsKLpcffAxM5DjR-iDt4D5fgF6BWcicrEoluZ8wTlvj6SlEasCCF5Y2yad6saJrF9cq-1Ypk/s1600/DSCN8979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6BaEDqOcmgw4AajkgXAjfH3IrSE1w7zGyMZ3hBMLxIrcZBozdVKBMLcOlPgtYJQDvLXOsKLpcffAxM5DjR-iDt4D5fgF6BWcicrEoluZ8wTlvj6SlEasCCF5Y2yad6saJrF9cq-1Ypk/s320/DSCN8979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDg7pjYmEw101_5n-gx8yyqUdMVRkV2NCaCcGQQXy6XOlZEYN-Kzwh1fwZl_Ru7oB1iD7gyXsPAIm0xM46kXibJyvU68pkmnbP-vxVZfhPQ_KUjLa5f4_Vpb1eX5FgTOM-h9UMb9i36M/s1600/DSCN8980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDg7pjYmEw101_5n-gx8yyqUdMVRkV2NCaCcGQQXy6XOlZEYN-Kzwh1fwZl_Ru7oB1iD7gyXsPAIm0xM46kXibJyvU68pkmnbP-vxVZfhPQ_KUjLa5f4_Vpb1eX5FgTOM-h9UMb9i36M/s320/DSCN8980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-60631738836635546512013-05-26T03:46:00.001-04:002013-05-26T03:48:43.740-04:00Breath-taking St. ChapelleMy favorite architecture has always been Gothic and St. Chapelle is an amazing example of rayonnant gothic architecture. When I stayed in Italy as grad student and later as professor, I visited many churches. There's no denying how impressive the scale of St. Peter's in Rome is. In addition, many Italian churches are impressive with their art holdings only from Bernini, Bellini, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.<br />
<br />
I really enjoy all of Ross King's books and I've read <b><u>Brunelleschi's Dome</u></b> four or five times now- the first time in Florence in 2002. Its great anecdote of all of the inventions that had to take place to be able to complete the Duomo. One of the knock that Italians have always had with Gothic architecture is that the structural elements (flying buttresses) are visible whereas with the Duomo the structure is inside the walls of the dome, between roof and ceiling, invisible to the viewer. I personally like the aesthetic of the buttress myself as it compliments the dynamic and amount of the details found on the finials, bar tracery, etc. The real payoff for me though is the interior. The nave is so narrow
resulting in a huge vertical thrust, and due to the buttressing the
walls are nearly non-existent. The walls actually appear like bar
tracery rather than structural walls. There is so much glass and its is
completely stunning. <br />
<br />
St. Chapelle was commissioned by King Louis IX as his private chapel and as part of his collection was the relic of the Crown of Thorns. Apparently, the relic is no longer kept there. It is kept in Notre Dame. While much of the church underwent restoration in the 19th century after being damage during the French Revolution, two thirds of the stained glass is original, making it one of the most precious examples in Europe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M085rwd3lG37IQcuLEKZYJ3YspWzhnyCVBKe9Q8smzIQ8g5TRqnxcVy43EBErhIdjHqHA1hp182BXDjTynqSJOEeAS7EQI3173z5mHwMuBKgsh2UNPRh_qYWmazH_agv7R6DVVYyYX0/s1600/aDSCN8816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M085rwd3lG37IQcuLEKZYJ3YspWzhnyCVBKe9Q8smzIQ8g5TRqnxcVy43EBErhIdjHqHA1hp182BXDjTynqSJOEeAS7EQI3173z5mHwMuBKgsh2UNPRh_qYWmazH_agv7R6DVVYyYX0/s320/aDSCN8816.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWod8RiXya576nuwICLSZ9bI9VK_tDfFUbKfgQkiSj4Sgc3p8WWF57muYjz-TPNPLx1ErnZtaeN1qDTNUed0_BXWCvj4zETBsdtDcll-35XBBsNZrVnvynEOpssU0JTY6qigZZJ4U9nQM/s1600/aDSCN8817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWod8RiXya576nuwICLSZ9bI9VK_tDfFUbKfgQkiSj4Sgc3p8WWF57muYjz-TPNPLx1ErnZtaeN1qDTNUed0_BXWCvj4zETBsdtDcll-35XBBsNZrVnvynEOpssU0JTY6qigZZJ4U9nQM/s320/aDSCN8817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVNNzzh1DH7LuMlitryvehYVvNKOOAfuCsL6br5NjO_pJw4AyqkJWip3i-6s4QLVkYXbbmvnx3lJLdxevp5AwQiQZZxYAyYz9tSlAutuG2JLWg-9_qE-F-bBUs0eIdEs1WXMCFuEifLU/s1600/aDSCN8818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVNNzzh1DH7LuMlitryvehYVvNKOOAfuCsL6br5NjO_pJw4AyqkJWip3i-6s4QLVkYXbbmvnx3lJLdxevp5AwQiQZZxYAyYz9tSlAutuG2JLWg-9_qE-F-bBUs0eIdEs1WXMCFuEifLU/s320/aDSCN8818.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Several nights ago I had the pleasure of returning to St. Chapelle for a performance by Orchestre les Solistes Francais. I love them. They had a guest soprano, the amazing Mme. Marie-Pierre Wattiez, for a number of pieces, including two pieces by Bach (Jesu, The Joy of Man's Desiring and Ave Maria) that they closed the performance with. I had goosebumps on my neck and welled-up with tears as I was overcome with the space and music.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx_5mH4zN4jAt0ftSdu01ztAcb_upNFdvxukg_A5qB9M_hFEHQJnEDB_ztwO96eDh-l3F44WatHhrKLQmVn' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-37444432771374636302013-05-21T05:32:00.001-04:002013-05-21T05:32:20.356-04:00Chez Papa and Canal St. MartinEvery year I visit Paris, I return to a small restaurant in the 10th called Chez Papa (Papa's place). The restaurant, a chain like Paul- the famous patisserie, can be found around Paris. They're all independently managed and though I haven't been to another, I understand that they vary slightly from one to another.<br />
<br />
One of the main attractions near the resto is the famous Canal St. Martin. Long before I had visited Paris, I remember seeing the canal in the famous movie, Amelie, from the early 2000's. Here, the stunning Audrey Tautou is shown skipping stones at one of the locks as one of her "les petits plaisirs."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-kY7JEGrNI" target="_blank">Amelie skipping stones (around 0:13)</a><br />
<br />
The canal was commissioned by Napoleon around 1800 as a way of supply a growing Parisian population with a fresh water source. From Wikipedia:<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaspard_de_Chabrol" title="Gaspard de Chabrol">Gaspard de Chabrol</a>, prefect of Paris, proposed building a canal from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ourcq" title="Ourcq">Ourcq</a>
River (starting 100 km northeast of Paris). The canal was dug from 1802
to 1825, funded by a new tax on wine. The canal was also used to supply
Paris with food (grain), building materials, and other goods, carried
on canal boats. Two ports were created in Paris on the canal to unload
the boats: the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_de_l%27Arsenal" title="Port de l'Arsenal">Port de l'Arsenal</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassin_de_la_Villette" title="Bassin de la Villette">Bassin de la Villette</a>.</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
The canal was nearly closed in the 1960s when other means of shipping completely took over the same goods that used to be transported on the river. One proposal was to even convert the canal into a highway. Thankfully, for the romantic, this never happened. Like many public spaces in and around Paris, its common to see people congregating here. The park called Villemin is adjacent.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXquwIhyphenhyphenlqiCVdxmph1DnxMBX50-jVNBm_siP-1Nb7Sd4Suc6G_v-0zfIRq76P93wJ9oC_KbDnpFm4x7f82cvj6R76QLvB7uqQrwOA0hsha4MgGqP27y1WhNirqmaBwKPOUoBs9m9Kzb4/s1600/DSCN3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXquwIhyphenhyphenlqiCVdxmph1DnxMBX50-jVNBm_siP-1Nb7Sd4Suc6G_v-0zfIRq76P93wJ9oC_KbDnpFm4x7f82cvj6R76QLvB7uqQrwOA0hsha4MgGqP27y1WhNirqmaBwKPOUoBs9m9Kzb4/s320/DSCN3449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaaoHbk8T-XPJWPVZWgF3YL0aJuTaznOmeqVd9D9W80j1tE3-EDZ4Fgi9S3TZlgx1yfJBj9FDxVdzDfh0QFiyCPk3zxk0skYO5DTb1dNSFfCepqZqWdEyQkbSCs5GtRufIidA70xV6L4/s1600/DSCN3450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpaaoHbk8T-XPJWPVZWgF3YL0aJuTaznOmeqVd9D9W80j1tE3-EDZ4Fgi9S3TZlgx1yfJBj9FDxVdzDfh0QFiyCPk3zxk0skYO5DTb1dNSFfCepqZqWdEyQkbSCs5GtRufIidA70xV6L4/s320/DSCN3450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6bj73Q7ALGwBHwKv7yQm_cfWwNlF8kxrRxPVyzk7ZOSK3PWeZI7CalbniYJcHw4hSHlCcfCuuPeqrzcxEMxqfxmf660WgWyBCYX753s3QG_2NXu4NCbFXQaV0kOJVNdSD1LY0IIvA3Y/s1600/DSCN3445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6bj73Q7ALGwBHwKv7yQm_cfWwNlF8kxrRxPVyzk7ZOSK3PWeZI7CalbniYJcHw4hSHlCcfCuuPeqrzcxEMxqfxmf660WgWyBCYX753s3QG_2NXu4NCbFXQaV0kOJVNdSD1LY0IIvA3Y/s320/DSCN3445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Aside from the history and pop cultural associations with the canal, its visually stunning. And so, I've started<i> </i>two paintings of the canal both along the Quai de Valmy. Here are both views of the paintings, and a several others of the canal and lock in the movie:<br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg05z2Z-gC6khNvO3mDHUBIHpvH_bp96zHyga2N7iKd-1ts6FyD6fVAA11pAYWFcl4c2ZJKY6GlokBilpAuLOcRNm2Okm49kmvcFfkR5syR-GNuA_dtv2lrNVskosje_OXehCyAjEXhko/s1600/a_a_DSCN3458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg05z2Z-gC6khNvO3mDHUBIHpvH_bp96zHyga2N7iKd-1ts6FyD6fVAA11pAYWFcl4c2ZJKY6GlokBilpAuLOcRNm2Okm49kmvcFfkR5syR-GNuA_dtv2lrNVskosje_OXehCyAjEXhko/s320/a_a_DSCN3458.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLnMq8oZNVjaDGMOb_Qpab7p3gkWp0MO4ZPCx4CIjMZnf7gVtQtItN3aozUYSNLBJ-rf7Jdv0Z0eBfmdJWcvhBDdbGdSOH4NpRRnTo3PCT7NMap2I6ygRH16MHIki64Pp9xhFmmt0ApE/s1600/a_a_DSCN3456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLnMq8oZNVjaDGMOb_Qpab7p3gkWp0MO4ZPCx4CIjMZnf7gVtQtItN3aozUYSNLBJ-rf7Jdv0Z0eBfmdJWcvhBDdbGdSOH4NpRRnTo3PCT7NMap2I6ygRH16MHIki64Pp9xhFmmt0ApE/s320/a_a_DSCN3456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE1fNKhwIxvIKz3YRdqJCMZTsQnGzixtwPFoWCXKQjPsDxvs7jhTaHBLvt5ONyhJMEokDAWkqp504B-e962uIwnKOTxoQIjUjv4yZHS4f0epYlvVxsGcZhNJLTBZwDC9ASPOv_ejYBzI/s1600/a_a_DSCN3474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE1fNKhwIxvIKz3YRdqJCMZTsQnGzixtwPFoWCXKQjPsDxvs7jhTaHBLvt5ONyhJMEokDAWkqp504B-e962uIwnKOTxoQIjUjv4yZHS4f0epYlvVxsGcZhNJLTBZwDC9ASPOv_ejYBzI/s320/a_a_DSCN3474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GtpDTx8zvR8hImExS0hHo9uzw5HRUZG5o9Jae0l4B9zJIQ38KXUaWndYjhQVKIUcS9PyNe9uSATUI2egKsAcdtF5-mHuj-Gz7_llX1fMlIO2LI5Pw8nBrmHEcNC8aegqGA5hU_deA1s/s1600/DSCN3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GtpDTx8zvR8hImExS0hHo9uzw5HRUZG5o9Jae0l4B9zJIQ38KXUaWndYjhQVKIUcS9PyNe9uSATUI2egKsAcdtF5-mHuj-Gz7_llX1fMlIO2LI5Pw8nBrmHEcNC8aegqGA5hU_deA1s/s320/DSCN3468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMYVxmlDfGeYuVeSa7GKWHUyhTM9UsfS98_MBuyfT5U1eNOpOrmf-JoBRE69boxGSe144Xh-IWNP6mE1iCFV03erLXmgSUYSKqOGEiVuffAkygi2ZCQEqCA4V50smelOVVCEYbMW9334/s1600/DSCN3475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMYVxmlDfGeYuVeSa7GKWHUyhTM9UsfS98_MBuyfT5U1eNOpOrmf-JoBRE69boxGSe144Xh-IWNP6mE1iCFV03erLXmgSUYSKqOGEiVuffAkygi2ZCQEqCA4V50smelOVVCEYbMW9334/s320/DSCN3475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
The resto is on rue de Lafayette, about two blocks from the canal, and is frequented by many locals. In the several times that I have been there during a weeknight, it has always been busy. The outside of the resto is quite inviting and similar to cafes and bistros.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSvTCuHCFIjQBwGwTElwqA3SZv8DsIHt5Pl1su-ia_4vPnkU_K_07YufcyzRxv6lnCms-m07rTpS8xag6WAhz-chOvQBLLKmQ6ox0LZSVwG2lIQzHy3VtiWT4zewAMweNRNOwXiE8KgY/s1600/DSCN8805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSvTCuHCFIjQBwGwTElwqA3SZv8DsIHt5Pl1su-ia_4vPnkU_K_07YufcyzRxv6lnCms-m07rTpS8xag6WAhz-chOvQBLLKmQ6ox0LZSVwG2lIQzHy3VtiWT4zewAMweNRNOwXiE8KgY/s320/DSCN8805.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU4yhPQPZK35XLbewGboCvT86V8bQsRU9deQp0i_pUsewyygGOfS0rGRrJySfGXvljCdHcq6UjK_rDXtEFxCdGdPMaEpuZkE0zcb-flTBgFiijDTuzR4EiA3iD-lP9uuxROCP8wFVlMA/s1600/DSCN8807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOU4yhPQPZK35XLbewGboCvT86V8bQsRU9deQp0i_pUsewyygGOfS0rGRrJySfGXvljCdHcq6UjK_rDXtEFxCdGdPMaEpuZkE0zcb-flTBgFiijDTuzR4EiA3iD-lP9uuxROCP8wFVlMA/s320/DSCN8807.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This resto's specialty is canard (duck) prepared in the basque style. The menu claims that Papa is l'Aubergiste du Sud-Ouest (Landlord of the Southwest). :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHTLpV8ytHVK7slRvq7uqttYhyphenhyphenZYTL5fwzhyphenhyphenKGyCjkilc8CTILAsYS6QCVi5ahGS6yvKJTH8r1ARKJKKaDyYOWv5algpZcYiohG0N3CBFem6p0rJPOQZzKT3LuKJhdLbiCpjAvU5x354/s1600/DSCN8794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHTLpV8ytHVK7slRvq7uqttYhyphenhyphenZYTL5fwzhyphenhyphenKGyCjkilc8CTILAsYS6QCVi5ahGS6yvKJTH8r1ARKJKKaDyYOWv5algpZcYiohG0N3CBFem6p0rJPOQZzKT3LuKJhdLbiCpjAvU5x354/s320/DSCN8794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Typically, the wine has been from the Loire Valley region, usually Chinon, but as anywhere, you can order wines from all over. While you wait, homemade toasted bread (doubling as croutons for a salad) is also common.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzaxIMvSdw11KwQE9k6ObssmyJv83p76VntxeFU0fW6P4mN6mqlXb-8PSmSOXaQ1bgYJldwkMGMjsEVm4iIZqCA1w_bsLUKW9yqNgqWjZIJA5T52F8mpFATHr2AGRo2TyocAjEysRqXk/s1600/DSCN3491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzaxIMvSdw11KwQE9k6ObssmyJv83p76VntxeFU0fW6P4mN6mqlXb-8PSmSOXaQ1bgYJldwkMGMjsEVm4iIZqCA1w_bsLUKW9yqNgqWjZIJA5T52F8mpFATHr2AGRo2TyocAjEysRqXk/s320/DSCN3491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4b-qF3SRkskjqR1pG2sBNlOg4649oeEjr0rKj8lx2de7o4AEJQ3crxXN9aZNjpabgcqAy8bR3ObHmef531wD1EK49NNA5Ytjlm-zbx1xMnsHdOz8GdD6bGNMPxRqiCihQskD6LMmWo4/s1600/DSCN3493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4b-qF3SRkskjqR1pG2sBNlOg4649oeEjr0rKj8lx2de7o4AEJQ3crxXN9aZNjpabgcqAy8bR3ObHmef531wD1EK49NNA5Ytjlm-zbx1xMnsHdOz8GdD6bGNMPxRqiCihQskD6LMmWo4/s320/DSCN3493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In the past, I've always ordered the canard, though its the only time in my life I ever have. The last time I order medallions with a potato and leek salad with potatoes, which was heavenly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lp1ujCaz5Oig0hoM_P8xw9pV-mWFFfClEbGRj3fZT_35Izg-MZh5sUdakGgQ7b7N1Hv-Gw2zJBjuj-tkEMeHEfembTzI8uKrbxMeB_xqevjlERAaUIgfMfdvtaN2k6RL99TQ09Z5hak/s1600/a_a_DSCN3494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lp1ujCaz5Oig0hoM_P8xw9pV-mWFFfClEbGRj3fZT_35Izg-MZh5sUdakGgQ7b7N1Hv-Gw2zJBjuj-tkEMeHEfembTzI8uKrbxMeB_xqevjlERAaUIgfMfdvtaN2k6RL99TQ09Z5hak/s320/a_a_DSCN3494.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This time I went all out and ordered my favorite, their specialty: aigulilettes de canard ave a la creme de pesche (duck breasts with peach cream). It is the most wonderful thing I have ever tasted. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD962nESOiodFMShElsIk8_w8YO6WdMXXEsC1J6GC5t856XNAzUQV2-7OC5z9jNYDM4_sctLrMKcstdbC5YIl6F9YuBeAP4OoZJg_UtO1NhvcyYzJOyUSqML8oUP08MgApJSyqnnVQYN0/s1600/DSCN8796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD962nESOiodFMShElsIk8_w8YO6WdMXXEsC1J6GC5t856XNAzUQV2-7OC5z9jNYDM4_sctLrMKcstdbC5YIl6F9YuBeAP4OoZJg_UtO1NhvcyYzJOyUSqML8oUP08MgApJSyqnnVQYN0/s320/DSCN8796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-31544535473347733662013-05-18T18:14:00.002-04:002013-05-18T18:14:17.740-04:00A visit to Notre Dame and BerthillonThe one thing I enjoy about traveling is seeing the work that I love in person. You just can't replace all of the empirical responses you have to the work that are lost in translation of the reproduction. The sheer scale of Notre Dame is quite remarkable, and more so, when you consider the time it was built. The history of the flying buttress is a remarkable engineering development that altered the amount of light that could be emitted into the interior of the church. Making thinner walls, as well as buttressing the weight of the walls, allowed there to be more glass. It took over 160 years to build the church, and you can see the moment in the build where the clerestory (the third floor windows) looses the wheel window and moves to a complete vertical stained glass window (see highlighted circle in photo).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjiQijligYSu-YycDgODcYPQS6LJMQb09tpnPm7Bx0pv0Oj0zor98LuTM1fvNOvJpLDK75SYpalD2mTfsQ7uRoVpxz8K8H4srqRD43nvu-8eYwtyK8SXRpjHEGivfxy_tPzKDiTLDdrk/s1600/DSCN6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjiQijligYSu-YycDgODcYPQS6LJMQb09tpnPm7Bx0pv0Oj0zor98LuTM1fvNOvJpLDK75SYpalD2mTfsQ7uRoVpxz8K8H4srqRD43nvu-8eYwtyK8SXRpjHEGivfxy_tPzKDiTLDdrk/s320/DSCN6121.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The nave is flanked by hanging chandeliers that add additional light to the side aisles mixing two light sources which is seen below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xTc4CiOiwZRkVWKakeHM6-NqxWJyyvvNLsCSwYG4EAJ65m2Vx2g9qks-RE0U1AKnvcIS2A3mKmcZoTsUCRUFcpbti6oP04qKe6A-x3KSG4rshHKFXX_qNmhO4xcEv65UWfVVue1zEBA/s1600/DSCN6115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xTc4CiOiwZRkVWKakeHM6-NqxWJyyvvNLsCSwYG4EAJ65m2Vx2g9qks-RE0U1AKnvcIS2A3mKmcZoTsUCRUFcpbti6oP04qKe6A-x3KSG4rshHKFXX_qNmhO4xcEv65UWfVVue1zEBA/s320/DSCN6115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Two of my favorite things about Notre Dame, and other churches that I seen (mostly in Italy), are the acoustics and seeing the outside, up close. This is a great example of the acoustics and a stunning shot of the south rose window:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw8eoGbyDi76CYxJ75PkgcYOsY7-LFF9OXUVufzks2ldNmq0n1H7tZg6rw8R7tSoaGwIa4RxEVoyPDQayAAZQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
The outside of Notre Dame is exquisite and I think its imperative to walk the 380+ steps and tour the top. The views of Paris are amazing and seeing the church up close gives you an appreciation for the height theses stones were lifted and their pure mass (pun intended). My first visit to the top reminded me of the famous 1853 Charles Negre photograph of Henri Le Secq seen below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgemNulVBHWhW1dTb3aVeCe6typ83amo7zm1vn9yue34_4hFbpGIhzTNMatpDsWnf_IzWPT2KqGWJNKrLowe3mwVxuxg2Q9uVYp42VH8Ru6_PlCX82FKCPmI56WTAr9Gj7zaC91Tz6pA/s1600/Henri_Le_Secq_near_a_Gargoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgemNulVBHWhW1dTb3aVeCe6typ83amo7zm1vn9yue34_4hFbpGIhzTNMatpDsWnf_IzWPT2KqGWJNKrLowe3mwVxuxg2Q9uVYp42VH8Ru6_PlCX82FKCPmI56WTAr9Gj7zaC91Tz6pA/s320/Henri_Le_Secq_near_a_Gargoyle.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
Here are some photos from the top from a previous trip when it was sunny.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQm4sX6kSMJLxieQM8LLMu_ATsQgAADIJiorAP9v05lCP4lBUaDwV2bN9oDbFFi9VgCs3ter8QvFher1xCk6-LZ6oPseMlwt_iQzERoJN4xw9ninOLFblgtxOciNzXLv2YWIMRE8OiQk/s1600/aa_DSCN4035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQm4sX6kSMJLxieQM8LLMu_ATsQgAADIJiorAP9v05lCP4lBUaDwV2bN9oDbFFi9VgCs3ter8QvFher1xCk6-LZ6oPseMlwt_iQzERoJN4xw9ninOLFblgtxOciNzXLv2YWIMRE8OiQk/s320/aa_DSCN4035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GXN7q_O2tb9GuouWm8NgbnLNLh3DlhZKuzFIZcARy9glIoYSGH2PtjskkzVD2XqJbI6UlS6-7HQ29hUJrFozFulUZ80S_wWq3b8quYmoH474Fd6ECcQ418-Rj6IEyeWSZUfbGO28VAo/s1600/aa_DSCN4038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GXN7q_O2tb9GuouWm8NgbnLNLh3DlhZKuzFIZcARy9glIoYSGH2PtjskkzVD2XqJbI6UlS6-7HQ29hUJrFozFulUZ80S_wWq3b8quYmoH474Fd6ECcQ418-Rj6IEyeWSZUfbGO28VAo/s320/aa_DSCN4038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tfcguf5RiivCtI8Qmd0HkqklkQWoO2RbaJamei1ekenyBET4BveS94vy8SDgk27bEt334m9Ij8v247A_7hHw1SZtjaBFu3TDCmQBt51JFtRhfRELI05cF3IpjKKIsve8BbUM9KKf40k/s1600/aa_DSCN4043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Tfcguf5RiivCtI8Qmd0HkqklkQWoO2RbaJamei1ekenyBET4BveS94vy8SDgk27bEt334m9Ij8v247A_7hHw1SZtjaBFu3TDCmQBt51JFtRhfRELI05cF3IpjKKIsve8BbUM9KKf40k/s320/aa_DSCN4043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9VLLQCU184x_10LDETe-gaf7Y021uEckIl5eX8m4N1iFO5NGd1sBO4gPTsiWZ_KzlqBCZbLICTokQdlRfi9ugPaV-0HlbFqYy069l-gAlVJHwEpkncJqk130HwIUgutg_irJvaXeLhc/s1600/aa_DSCN4049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9VLLQCU184x_10LDETe-gaf7Y021uEckIl5eX8m4N1iFO5NGd1sBO4gPTsiWZ_KzlqBCZbLICTokQdlRfi9ugPaV-0HlbFqYy069l-gAlVJHwEpkncJqk130HwIUgutg_irJvaXeLhc/s320/aa_DSCN4049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTu-VIA5qUTV5y0_3bw4PPqa-wabCrnfV9cKzDQ8Im_h-kZzDtoCoKcke_IFEttFdKgbx0_THtvIePiYc7iJE4JcIunLjHWn7Jy9fcZ4tJvi3uyDdUp05zGPOp6CMzSS1ppwv7ajYZw0/s1600/aa_DSCN4050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTu-VIA5qUTV5y0_3bw4PPqa-wabCrnfV9cKzDQ8Im_h-kZzDtoCoKcke_IFEttFdKgbx0_THtvIePiYc7iJE4JcIunLjHWn7Jy9fcZ4tJvi3uyDdUp05zGPOp6CMzSS1ppwv7ajYZw0/s320/aa_DSCN4050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws7EqEY7H2DXBLfMBvnmK2DuxqK8eGUuMDhvFsCqb1liX4pFEllsPqVx9Y3JCFcSPlKV99M-KJpNPCWKbTTaakSZ7wOT7kkpixBERbDnjiUeihVk86L0LOcWD_8HGCiLlA-eOiaLvUJk/s1600/aa_DSCN4051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws7EqEY7H2DXBLfMBvnmK2DuxqK8eGUuMDhvFsCqb1liX4pFEllsPqVx9Y3JCFcSPlKV99M-KJpNPCWKbTTaakSZ7wOT7kkpixBERbDnjiUeihVk86L0LOcWD_8HGCiLlA-eOiaLvUJk/s320/aa_DSCN4051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxnZZ4WkMjolCg6fYQqDFUpXHyu2OPHF1L9fWBETcV5KNWVdz4jL1G0iG-318mcWRfe0fEXauu-PeI-p_Ona6YNe6w9HE9mGmZ7Ac0xdOrLUlSzFJURn6A30VIBRs8C6ft5mWV70L-rc/s1600/aa_DSCN4056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxnZZ4WkMjolCg6fYQqDFUpXHyu2OPHF1L9fWBETcV5KNWVdz4jL1G0iG-318mcWRfe0fEXauu-PeI-p_Ona6YNe6w9HE9mGmZ7Ac0xdOrLUlSzFJURn6A30VIBRs8C6ft5mWV70L-rc/s320/aa_DSCN4056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kpjir64kNMFjlMWo-dDD_N6FIGCOJ3Zim5LfUZwHh4mD-Kgbah-0OD9qyH649rFaIS5T-pS5ZwxJCdwjzMoZ3eAbNKqYiyDko9ZtCJfnDZIf4k8-zS7d1Y6ktgBiqH76GQ8X2e0RFgA/s1600/aa_DSCN4057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kpjir64kNMFjlMWo-dDD_N6FIGCOJ3Zim5LfUZwHh4mD-Kgbah-0OD9qyH649rFaIS5T-pS5ZwxJCdwjzMoZ3eAbNKqYiyDko9ZtCJfnDZIf4k8-zS7d1Y6ktgBiqH76GQ8X2e0RFgA/s320/aa_DSCN4057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9_BkU593R0ox53aW_n2V74eBYBPh0cWwcEGrQbtok5g-Bl1ZlAzv2hpmyNo2B5ZtD7gdVsN00C3r5th2qY5X4PEvq858W2F3RCNVIwDYCKuInHiCcCmw4v712mpZwj90HZtcXUQepmM/s1600/aa_DSCN4065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9_BkU593R0ox53aW_n2V74eBYBPh0cWwcEGrQbtok5g-Bl1ZlAzv2hpmyNo2B5ZtD7gdVsN00C3r5th2qY5X4PEvq858W2F3RCNVIwDYCKuInHiCcCmw4v712mpZwj90HZtcXUQepmM/s320/aa_DSCN4065.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex8UiDrkTSKm5exsZ0PryxFc25snF1sVdm61f3IAkI7lSKX0_XXl4OdbOKP3bxPWarsDMTlEWZ9PRJgV2LicWHm6S5AIEjkRvh72tMI5eY3Av7g9fOdCpDvdZeP8L7olVfWa59XaeeP4/s1600/aa_DSCN4078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex8UiDrkTSKm5exsZ0PryxFc25snF1sVdm61f3IAkI7lSKX0_XXl4OdbOKP3bxPWarsDMTlEWZ9PRJgV2LicWHm6S5AIEjkRvh72tMI5eY3Av7g9fOdCpDvdZeP8L7olVfWa59XaeeP4/s320/aa_DSCN4078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIWqmbVZXMAc2iU_6rBwyXvfuZdnFPOJYbXacWMgMlqjgBDxzXW0kx0gUZRVshgkNTmtYcHNnqnxwctaCI-3KZzrG8pByDOOVh30r0eYLNh3UYFLcGDFpKN8jkfBjKfQn3AXBMDsVbz8/s1600/aa_DSCN4079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIWqmbVZXMAc2iU_6rBwyXvfuZdnFPOJYbXacWMgMlqjgBDxzXW0kx0gUZRVshgkNTmtYcHNnqnxwctaCI-3KZzrG8pByDOOVh30r0eYLNh3UYFLcGDFpKN8jkfBjKfQn3AXBMDsVbz8/s320/aa_DSCN4079.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf18GWAesp3LA1QF4o9W-82hi00BwQsc_YUgvuJEOKapCQfUyIauYbFg-fKzbdEg9x1O3ksp2wL1wnV9cNNSjyP_wQRQ1lsBWpdxRQUzwDmQHA-A6PQ6Ri3kvimUp0BtfqAlFncSXBdQ/s1600/aa_DSCN4080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf18GWAesp3LA1QF4o9W-82hi00BwQsc_YUgvuJEOKapCQfUyIauYbFg-fKzbdEg9x1O3ksp2wL1wnV9cNNSjyP_wQRQ1lsBWpdxRQUzwDmQHA-A6PQ6Ri3kvimUp0BtfqAlFncSXBdQ/s320/aa_DSCN4080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IvIe2wnt5MnMfEd3ZsqiABY18QTZqg7flcZkPdijoYKdY6npcUsEAGg1dDRY6gjUHdfGkLOCj_gk7VyWpiXm4dR5maHWxnQ-vf0YZQ7uhtgBWFFqC5iOda2PhgibU2YgQjDrcvfChGI/s1600/aa_DSCN4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IvIe2wnt5MnMfEd3ZsqiABY18QTZqg7flcZkPdijoYKdY6npcUsEAGg1dDRY6gjUHdfGkLOCj_gk7VyWpiXm4dR5maHWxnQ-vf0YZQ7uhtgBWFFqC5iOda2PhgibU2YgQjDrcvfChGI/s320/aa_DSCN4083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PyuE9oIc3XgRcsV6B8PyE9_LUa6ed4e_Zedoi6QrZK0k7PSvhUZ_xop6_GqBEI5zcgiF6GbzRkhsA0ZKIdyHV89pcIVrU6nt-fj6jS9VySnNKWgNqAxKR3jwBwX2QypVBL7fbNLr9CI/s1600/aa_DSCN4086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PyuE9oIc3XgRcsV6B8PyE9_LUa6ed4e_Zedoi6QrZK0k7PSvhUZ_xop6_GqBEI5zcgiF6GbzRkhsA0ZKIdyHV89pcIVrU6nt-fj6jS9VySnNKWgNqAxKR3jwBwX2QypVBL7fbNLr9CI/s320/aa_DSCN4086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh640EslqhmFc0ztiAZpXjgg_lqsvOjgiNyrvZa0-AtSxd4TVwqvqLlgbmCKQ8lPYkwXGS_hbnxEBR86Jc9ljPJvbS2RFqPsO8fvEfJJ9K3bMSmKQn6xkTy_fKYWXSAY5jY45wsGPG0AJ8/s1600/aa_DSCN4089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh640EslqhmFc0ztiAZpXjgg_lqsvOjgiNyrvZa0-AtSxd4TVwqvqLlgbmCKQ8lPYkwXGS_hbnxEBR86Jc9ljPJvbS2RFqPsO8fvEfJJ9K3bMSmKQn6xkTy_fKYWXSAY5jY45wsGPG0AJ8/s320/aa_DSCN4089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Afterward, I made my way over the Pont St. Louis and saw a wonderful couple dancing and shot this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxU3ye6qwwEW6z_Ogo-MxMSvSS3Zxcfw9slxEYn79MtJl-YYAiQX80Z4alRfddSpFZUiNRS2Ah4WwvYWlJ4Gw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
You must hit Berthillon when you're in Paris. I went for the pear and pink grapefruit which was really good choice to end the day! A close up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji59hJ2Nfdn_1bM5d4SL1k2zg6_bNYZ8EBKrxKppt8EY79nqeipF-szaO7n1xfnTSVM2o9tT6xruU_qcKphqm2QLGdnTznOFjj0wSS5v1P7eWuS7dcTfxHJ9YGuSe1fLaAA5JVKhIw8zI/s1600/DSCN8788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji59hJ2Nfdn_1bM5d4SL1k2zg6_bNYZ8EBKrxKppt8EY79nqeipF-szaO7n1xfnTSVM2o9tT6xruU_qcKphqm2QLGdnTznOFjj0wSS5v1P7eWuS7dcTfxHJ9YGuSe1fLaAA5JVKhIw8zI/s320/DSCN8788.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJZfwpBdrB1F_iwUj30vS1CBcF5qbNL1dfuONFa9lQlsyTUzslmFeHHxB42P_B5AhxFF51q08caERORRZOWwFgyYHK6YVRjtdbAuHOiIDw07qjKtSCRQl3hGVaJTiqMoIOiCn7wz3M0g/s1600/DSCN8788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-12027449302036301952013-05-17T18:33:00.001-04:002013-05-17T18:33:41.348-04:00A painter in....a Paris hospitalJust when I arrive here, ready to blog, I started getting sick, or feeling strange. I was on the end of an antibiotic before leaving and had one more day to go. I started feeling strange during my lecture at the Musee d'Orsay and then it hit me.<br />
<br />
I was on fire and steadily growing flaming red hives all over me. My fever sky-rocketed. I called a doctor who arrived at my apartment and instructed me to immediately stop the sulfate antibiotic I was on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PehDFxwf9_lRYjJlnTy6BuE6ElJ1AmC5IeYuyr-e7LEg9Y__5oCO_LqAECoBN7QV2fTnRV0z61RN9eJ6XBsjzG3lo2rJkvCgHxNF1M2dteMJPY6VcPE16r2ZFOVZDU3vJUwUspt35ag/s1600/photo%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PehDFxwf9_lRYjJlnTy6BuE6ElJ1AmC5IeYuyr-e7LEg9Y__5oCO_LqAECoBN7QV2fTnRV0z61RN9eJ6XBsjzG3lo2rJkvCgHxNF1M2dteMJPY6VcPE16r2ZFOVZDU3vJUwUspt35ag/s200/photo%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Delirious and miserable I went and lectured at the Musee l'Orangerie thinking the doctor's visit and new antibiotic, etc. would resolve the issue. Later that evening it grew even worse. I called the doctor again who was now off duty. When the new doctor arrived he told me, "You must go to the hospital immediately- this is very serious. I want you to go <span class="pp-place-title"><span>Groupe hospitalier de la Pitié-Salpétrière</span></span>. They specialize in infection and infectious diseases." He wrote me a three page letter of what was going on and with my friend, John, hopped the train to the hospital around 10pm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCOXsbwSXGFujewFGuLp7RdckGV5KCAYiRN5AuEbSEw__tdL4F9yrLUkO7_R0JaxiX2fp8ry3OkOZntu5la05rLqgZJvbY0pxWblrhqDkBtx4BZz9O6dBugJuxVjYPHO5Z-FPWpnPXxc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCOXsbwSXGFujewFGuLp7RdckGV5KCAYiRN5AuEbSEw__tdL4F9yrLUkO7_R0JaxiX2fp8ry3OkOZntu5la05rLqgZJvbY0pxWblrhqDkBtx4BZz9O6dBugJuxVjYPHO5Z-FPWpnPXxc/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl2_fzyfW0gdodQ9ZShd69N07wtNukwagKb1ItAVf0r-4mx7XC_9BXshwOyTJ817sQXvw900UncNNST5ENZXC_jGu7x36NxftfO56L3hIEJne93vgOjAeGYtDI4zGyQiAXXogcMZI6TQ/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl2_fzyfW0gdodQ9ZShd69N07wtNukwagKb1ItAVf0r-4mx7XC_9BXshwOyTJ817sQXvw900UncNNST5ENZXC_jGu7x36NxftfO56L3hIEJne93vgOjAeGYtDI4zGyQiAXXogcMZI6TQ/s200/photo(2).JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Arriving at the metro station at Gare d'Austerlitz was simple and literally put you on the steps of the hospital- literally. I was registered and place in a room. They started an IV on me, drew blood, urinalysis- the whole nine yards. Later was taken into x-ray to check if my earlier respiratory situation in the US had gotten worse or had cleared. By 3AM, I was feeling pretty exhausted. Tests were coming back negative. and finally I was cleared that it was only an allergic reaction and apparently to my sulfate antibiotic. A long night at the hospital was finally over.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0sP-fAQvCTZkgaxPpIVEvM3fs471fgjKMfHKF7lNtlucg2P6cJfGIsg-PqcVzUR4UeLhYh_F0PCxeca-kbumlFUR1NlWwxqWzN_G9c07tSmUJz2D4n_YgMGDm-WRzkdOlHQ8ENNlS0k/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0sP-fAQvCTZkgaxPpIVEvM3fs471fgjKMfHKF7lNtlucg2P6cJfGIsg-PqcVzUR4UeLhYh_F0PCxeca-kbumlFUR1NlWwxqWzN_G9c07tSmUJz2D4n_YgMGDm-WRzkdOlHQ8ENNlS0k/s200/photo(3).JPG" width="149" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br />I slept for about 11 hours once I got back to my apartment. I slept like the dead. I'm feeling much better now and was able to check out a concert tonight. I have many excursions and things to share and will be posting them as I experienced them.</div>
bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-77706113166580020992013-05-12T12:30:00.002-04:002013-05-12T20:19:22.481-04:00Un après-midi dans les jardins du LuxembourgOne of the first places I love to hit when I arrive in Saint Germain, is the Luxembourg Gardens. It's easily my favorite park that I've visited here, and the second largest in Paris. The park and chateau were designed for Marie de Medici by Salomon de Brosse to recreate her home away from home, namely the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Having spent significant time in Florence, and lived in Oltrano, the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens remain my favorite part of those memories I have of Italy. I used to paint there, going into the gardens on viale della Meridiana, with some blood oranges, boar sausage and a brick of parmesan, and spend the day. Its remarkable the similarities between the two chateaus. Last year, I painted here and it was a wonderful moment to bring the two experiences, overalapping in many ways, together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsjpXZ_NkDCdNJ4dSDifs10uysSew5hk2fW8g3oXH8Ecmw1XvKKb8L_I_pC6i8V-I3VO8nGIdm3D2blqgE07OrAqSkyc7nNTnk4fvHwIE-03ZizL6EofVi1unYc0Kgo6RRl3lRCINbos/s1600/aDSCN5965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsjpXZ_NkDCdNJ4dSDifs10uysSew5hk2fW8g3oXH8Ecmw1XvKKb8L_I_pC6i8V-I3VO8nGIdm3D2blqgE07OrAqSkyc7nNTnk4fvHwIE-03ZizL6EofVi1unYc0Kgo6RRl3lRCINbos/s400/aDSCN5965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One of my favorite images is Sargent's wonderful painting of the gardens at dusk. The octagonal-shaped pond is seen on the right of his painting and seems to be one of the main attraction inside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kbIBee-e1TImX4s-KphV3CVOETckyEOse4rGIF9XbCmOq7ANzOeOAgxXGxb4z-FD0Yi_cFVZsKWoB5hiDjYt_zyJ0Y27Nf5OrfrlZpCVBNuZXNBs6yrRDHK8ou2BbLWAVwCv7Iq1yNk/s1600/In_the_Luxembourg_Gardens_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kbIBee-e1TImX4s-KphV3CVOETckyEOse4rGIF9XbCmOq7ANzOeOAgxXGxb4z-FD0Yi_cFVZsKWoB5hiDjYt_zyJ0Y27Nf5OrfrlZpCVBNuZXNBs6yrRDHK8ou2BbLWAVwCv7Iq1yNk/s400/In_the_Luxembourg_Gardens_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When I was there today, as is often the case, people of all ages were there, sunning themselves, playing with their children (many of them rent wooden sailboats which are painted in the national colors of different countries with the flags of the countries on the masts), reading, talking and just enjoying being outside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS0Dsw2CRVou7jChTJ9PhhZ7rx8mEXpbYM2EuzJg6nF1QF-7V_PDEOkRiPfOi4sT2LyISqI_tZCVKiOXzgdMiBwMMMiTUyt0eQFO2wNvQc7xFrWT6SPcB1XI1bJc0rXU8I96MS1ASoOo/s1600/aDSCN8719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS0Dsw2CRVou7jChTJ9PhhZ7rx8mEXpbYM2EuzJg6nF1QF-7V_PDEOkRiPfOi4sT2LyISqI_tZCVKiOXzgdMiBwMMMiTUyt0eQFO2wNvQc7xFrWT6SPcB1XI1bJc0rXU8I96MS1ASoOo/s400/aDSCN8719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOJ8r2D80mbpXQikSwy6YzFSEgOH_8Rsu3xDP_Puab3dkjrW6ICXx8oHCZxkiu_EgMjSKvbjVA8hS6F-CvHADGUw9YD6qpPKjNzhQk_Ak4mjjpcHQlLh7zsWDzL_tnBJiSDPr7aoC1a8/s1600/aDSCN8723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOJ8r2D80mbpXQikSwy6YzFSEgOH_8Rsu3xDP_Puab3dkjrW6ICXx8oHCZxkiu_EgMjSKvbjVA8hS6F-CvHADGUw9YD6qpPKjNzhQk_Ak4mjjpcHQlLh7zsWDzL_tnBJiSDPr7aoC1a8/s400/aDSCN8723.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-jBEso9uSFXhq9yPz6nVkSRCLoAr1xok8R0QsJj1NDmEnIsjgh-S1AajxRKcDssGkGsY8L1K7C1mOoD_U5Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Another really interesting thing that is here, is Bartoli's bronze maquette of the Statue of Liberty, given to the USA in the 1880's. There's a placard below the bronze discussing more specifically the details of the gift.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQyuIpBj3AUqyswukSV6NNaQlBiYPy1Emi-zpxm8NY_elpUzbhxdKdQlfHm0tvri1F6CklATLGIw_-r_ihuQcBh-H1M2o9yWz8ztPg5fXxWOJLgGNGoIKEtQtOsxDiacGHYQcpbtxuW0/s1600/DSCN8741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQyuIpBj3AUqyswukSV6NNaQlBiYPy1Emi-zpxm8NY_elpUzbhxdKdQlfHm0tvri1F6CklATLGIw_-r_ihuQcBh-H1M2o9yWz8ztPg5fXxWOJLgGNGoIKEtQtOsxDiacGHYQcpbtxuW0/s400/DSCN8741.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
My favorite anecdote today though was something my colleague, Steve, shared with me. A poem which I was completely unaware of, regarding the carousel inside the gardens. Poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was Rodin's secretary and apparently was so inspired by the approach Rodin had to some of his work, that he began writing observational poetry. There's a wooden carousel that was installed in the park in
the early 1900's. Rilke wrote:<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Under its canopy, in the shade it casts,<br />
turns a world with painted horses,<br />
all from a land that lingers a while<br />
before it disappears.<br />
Some, it's true, are harnessed to a wagon,<br />
but all have valor in their eyes.<br />
A fierce red lion leaps among them,<br />
and here comes 'round a snow-white elephant.<br />
<br />
Even a stag appears, straight from the forest,<br />
except for the saddle he wears, and,<br />
buckled on it, a small boy in blue.<br />
<br />
And a boy in white rides the lion,<br />
gripping it with small clenched hands,<br />
while the lion flashes teeth and tongue.<br />
<br />
And here comes 'round a snow-white elephant.<br />
<br />
And riding past on charging horses come girls,<br />
bright-eyed, almost too old now for this children's play.<br />
With the horses rising under them,<br />
they are looking up and off to what awaits.<br />
<br />
And here comes 'round a snow-white elephant.</i><br />
<br />
Children are still riding the carousel today, trying to get a gold ring on their sticks as they pass by<i>.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxFjLKBB0vwQ-rSUCVxJdX98KAtqXltMlERxB-4-Luf6TFlYFfzLjocI2Bz1cARO2wzYBG10CQJIvH8acQP' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
After several hours (and several espressos), I walked back to get ready for dinner.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YH8Jg26Kv9cVNIldEBWC9RJFTrFfm41CaLQdJXqxZzUmSQyuEO-KKOxiGJvUROq3w-KnjXdkZksa_VxFfp3ed4IQR1xS2H4NU_mUW2XatYdPA6YlIIRutl7OXdl25CR2UVo1S2Pfgkg/s1600/DSCN8746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YH8Jg26Kv9cVNIldEBWC9RJFTrFfm41CaLQdJXqxZzUmSQyuEO-KKOxiGJvUROq3w-KnjXdkZksa_VxFfp3ed4IQR1xS2H4NU_mUW2XatYdPA6YlIIRutl7OXdl25CR2UVo1S2Pfgkg/s400/DSCN8746.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-4594079195423146602013-05-12T05:56:00.002-04:002013-05-12T20:20:23.617-04:00ArrivalGorgeous, yet brisk morning here as I landed around 7AM. Surprisingly, I feel quite refreshed with no sleep. I spent the last couple of nights staying up quite late, at least for me, in anticipation that would help me get a jump on the lag. It has.<br />
<br />
The first thing I noticed upon arriving is how much remodeling St. John's has done. The entire courtyard has been repaved and new trellises have been installed. It looks really quite wonderful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aPzG8dJVDS8yixTjbwLQMaxPTjP7vML1oXDnVERe55Yyr5sNxAccLwfIk_VOLZfly_S6osfqAvn3O-a6yRboc51C1Yni52NcjwJutpbV8RUSA6j9c6FjcbjLGSxXnBNakxws4fu794A/s1600/aDSCN8705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aPzG8dJVDS8yixTjbwLQMaxPTjP7vML1oXDnVERe55Yyr5sNxAccLwfIk_VOLZfly_S6osfqAvn3O-a6yRboc51C1Yni52NcjwJutpbV8RUSA6j9c6FjcbjLGSxXnBNakxws4fu794A/s320/aDSCN8705.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcg1w-vR2ueqYa7KqnIXJUtO-USwnRJhE98O239SrBbL0LunlUIhNChcyIl8lXU3Brj9lCsSjmQh_C_uWuPDCgwOS8GBCUwzMUZYidbjuIdbbcQSLctNelV5rlXN3JkZyHoP3fw8gmNM/s1600/aDSCN8708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcg1w-vR2ueqYa7KqnIXJUtO-USwnRJhE98O239SrBbL0LunlUIhNChcyIl8lXU3Brj9lCsSjmQh_C_uWuPDCgwOS8GBCUwzMUZYidbjuIdbbcQSLctNelV5rlXN3JkZyHoP3fw8gmNM/s320/aDSCN8708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So, I'm heading out to get some espresso and over to Luxembourg Gardens. Its nice and sunny here so I'll be sure to take some pics and update a little bit later this evening. Here's a pic of the Grand Palais I took this morning on my way into Saint Germaines de Pres this morning. Its from the Pont de la Concorde.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0TaT_Z9H7rZwcxFwnxwmB9IPFnedvwY0bAPFVOFUTs28zX8JETO_zLMHBpW7guxnjLGKxRxcs-2qYBENr4uk3CfQICsVmUALwcpApSKtrgJIdAV_JwNscAowy_l3H3senArK5ScneCc/s1600/aDSCN8704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0TaT_Z9H7rZwcxFwnxwmB9IPFnedvwY0bAPFVOFUTs28zX8JETO_zLMHBpW7guxnjLGKxRxcs-2qYBENr4uk3CfQICsVmUALwcpApSKtrgJIdAV_JwNscAowy_l3H3senArK5ScneCc/s320/aDSCN8704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-26503138535646240932013-05-11T13:01:00.002-04:002013-05-11T13:01:35.037-04:00Au revoir Cincinnati, Bonjour Paris!It's that lovely time of year again. As I head to Paris this evening, I'm excited about many new things I will be trying and seeing this year, as well as, the many places, works of art, sites, french friends and hangouts I will be seeing soon. A friend of mine tells me its really cold there currently so I'll need my Florio espresso <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps alt-edited">doublé to get me started.</span></span><br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps alt-edited"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lq8morBW-7-b6t7nv2OoOXFBjCKd7HHOFOD1vbiycjHU40VAUGGbg4A-A-5OEC9FTUJMepgQHxUCoCl__MQviYZ8aRM1Mv2ntSkh4XK3SOysYApH1RopxKU8Q2S6S9fcAuFzIi1lW8g/s1600/c1_DSCN2891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lq8morBW-7-b6t7nv2OoOXFBjCKd7HHOFOD1vbiycjHU40VAUGGbg4A-A-5OEC9FTUJMepgQHxUCoCl__MQviYZ8aRM1Mv2ntSkh4XK3SOysYApH1RopxKU8Q2S6S9fcAuFzIi1lW8g/s320/c1_DSCN2891.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps alt-edited"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps alt-edited"><br /></span></span>
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">Check back soon for updates. Take care....ummm. I mean.......Revenez bientôt</span><span class="">!</span> <span class="hps">au revoir</span></span><br />
bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-22983443228614488282012-05-14T03:49:00.001-04:002013-05-27T15:27:04.364-04:00Marche aux PucesParis is amazing on so many levels, one can spend weeks blogging about certain areas of interest. This is my sixth visit to Paris and this past spring was thinking about the hundreds of things I've never seen or experienced here. One of which, was the Marche de Puce, or flea market. One anecdote of the word origin comes from the flea bites young girls who worked in the markets received when they shopped for second hand clothes in Le Porte de Vanves. Literally: shopping in a market where the goods were filled with fleas. A second I just read comes from the poor vendors who were evicted from their store during the Haussman development in the 19th century. These vendors were forced to <i>flee</i> and move to the streets to sell their wares.<br />
<br />
Many items are purchased to bring back a symbol of the travel experience in the form of a souvenir. One of my favorite books of all time is Susan Stewart's <u><b>On Longing: Narratives on the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Collection and the Souvenir</b></u>. The chapter on the souvenir is an absolute must read. <br />
<br />
The notion of the souvenir often conjures up the Eiffel Tower keychain, the bag with C'est la Vie printed on it, etc. On the other hand, the high end <i>souvenir</i>: the antique, represents the opposite side of the spectrum. And the amazing amount of high quality, expensive art objects is really astounding. Priced for a small percentage of people, these works are jaw-dropping in their monetary worth and cultural significance. Many of these galleries carry major works that range from antiquity to the Third Empire.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN35d5a5xHaxJ_i75VxnfYxectztwJjPnsSM7d7p-V58NO8TpucfC_6v0BV7KOE52GD-BQQo4FvkB9NtpB_TOpXtn8ICchb_UQwJDNVuGRam6o5teptDxMjqp5Ls-3fv73JPw0CtyLZGU/s1600/DSCN5913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN35d5a5xHaxJ_i75VxnfYxectztwJjPnsSM7d7p-V58NO8TpucfC_6v0BV7KOE52GD-BQQo4FvkB9NtpB_TOpXtn8ICchb_UQwJDNVuGRam6o5teptDxMjqp5Ls-3fv73JPw0CtyLZGU/s320/DSCN5913.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqB12d_QyfCKRl-sXIOJLQ_BxWyJgxN9bObUzmu_a1nSb_LMU_8xHy9cynoZTWV6SmQD7Wbg3NZLe3db8wC9mWEeawfW1K_9gfKFwcyuww7qt6WFKTY28HkDOq9HZURkeTsp73EwEP40/s1600/DSCN5917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqB12d_QyfCKRl-sXIOJLQ_BxWyJgxN9bObUzmu_a1nSb_LMU_8xHy9cynoZTWV6SmQD7Wbg3NZLe3db8wC9mWEeawfW1K_9gfKFwcyuww7qt6WFKTY28HkDOq9HZURkeTsp73EwEP40/s320/DSCN5917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkdNLHIcx9MhR-fzSqFoj_ichBaDiQrwr1VTvYTf9KP9cp81LVpLiz7GLw1qdnkR8F1HIpl9BVSK94OY7xKxEQrQgcKvWRZ9Rkox7hWww687j14eZDaJka63f_dKOzPczneeq485c5hc/s1600/DSCN5918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkdNLHIcx9MhR-fzSqFoj_ichBaDiQrwr1VTvYTf9KP9cp81LVpLiz7GLw1qdnkR8F1HIpl9BVSK94OY7xKxEQrQgcKvWRZ9Rkox7hWww687j14eZDaJka63f_dKOzPczneeq485c5hc/s320/DSCN5918.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfU7rqf4Op-bgabGVW-Qy9ji7j1Bdj0bLCVKSbK-enQOItZrLdCQbatWfhUGhX3o6fCa_O2xFE7zqbnRXJw4fU_Y2Ynf9rG7OA3Ov4A-AjOqE4nL3PXOuKGANVaNsz2m-XkvBx55OVNI/s1600/DSCN5914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfU7rqf4Op-bgabGVW-Qy9ji7j1Bdj0bLCVKSbK-enQOItZrLdCQbatWfhUGhX3o6fCa_O2xFE7zqbnRXJw4fU_Y2Ynf9rG7OA3Ov4A-AjOqE4nL3PXOuKGANVaNsz2m-XkvBx55OVNI/s320/DSCN5914.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQGTOGEDkKnpZbESyngGG3OiSBKnqwGLKVLZCkk-ogysDmigsNxt6czcqBGkRhXhRef-o-Q2rIZUSwzQaO9wYo5bHgXQGrC-y4tjizpboSGAmh4lPn8bxv1FJrMAdh0pfk3koETpA50w/s1600/DSCN5915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQGTOGEDkKnpZbESyngGG3OiSBKnqwGLKVLZCkk-ogysDmigsNxt6czcqBGkRhXhRef-o-Q2rIZUSwzQaO9wYo5bHgXQGrC-y4tjizpboSGAmh4lPn8bxv1FJrMAdh0pfk3koETpA50w/s320/DSCN5915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of things I had hoped to do this trip to Paris was to visit a flea market. I hadn’t had much luck asking people I knew who had visited Paris, but went searching online and found that there are a number of them. I didn’t really have anything particular in mind. I had some items that I was looking for for some close friends, but that proved to be difficult. The exciting part of visiting a marche de puce is the not-knowing-what-you’ll find part. The problem can be that you may not find what you’re looking for, or if you do, that it is overpriced. I actually found many nice things, as well as things that were of particular interest (while not valuable in the “Antique Road Show” way), but would be difficult to bring home or would need to be shipped. There were plenty of pocket knives, watches, jewelry, china and dinnerware. The items range from expensive antiques to junk, but were all very interesting.<br />
<br />
I arrived shortly after 9am, and by then the marche was bustling. It was actually pretty difficult to see the vendor's wares without fighting for a space at a table. I am new to this, but believe many of the serious antique dealers would have come and gone long before I arrived. On the other hand, several of the vendor's were just getting set up and local visitors would swarm the new goods (mostly clothes) the instant they hit the table. One vendor was ready to unload a wonderful settee that was priced for 2000 Euro, which seemed a bit high given the fact that it was in the back of a dirty van uncovered. I would've loved to purchased this for the studio! The remaining attendees like myself were foreigners, and souvenir-seekers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxAFNnXDzW1U8m2crtiQQtybNxTv0J8h2oEhFPTWsdmTSLiR9zdkNJI1ZpRJO5EcO79VNcnYbCecDzn9JvT4Fyf_FddpyCOwCT6ey1Wh1nyi-I1CvkW8i30uQcrs3sYnxlqop5fsokPQ/s1600/aDSCN6556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxAFNnXDzW1U8m2crtiQQtybNxTv0J8h2oEhFPTWsdmTSLiR9zdkNJI1ZpRJO5EcO79VNcnYbCecDzn9JvT4Fyf_FddpyCOwCT6ey1Wh1nyi-I1CvkW8i30uQcrs3sYnxlqop5fsokPQ/s320/aDSCN6556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sette I would have loved to have in my studio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_UCLJ7ZAmwL1i_U1s1yjC1JoOGqjwNNjKpAvsVA7dWpBikSkcJRYs7Kgm6rCCUbYFsOACyJsjrc5FvnOmy7JlKcvBhcekpRigm6C-FBUoIZba2yzVlXI262r21Egu3MP6d6jpAxSaLc/s1600/DSCN6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_UCLJ7ZAmwL1i_U1s1yjC1JoOGqjwNNjKpAvsVA7dWpBikSkcJRYs7Kgm6rCCUbYFsOACyJsjrc5FvnOmy7JlKcvBhcekpRigm6C-FBUoIZba2yzVlXI262r21Egu3MP6d6jpAxSaLc/s320/DSCN6548.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the Marche aux Puces de Le Porte de Vanves </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqo6mmFsleLSHuNKt76CCMZTwiYqucLMe-7gc7NNWhQ3VlAj0hsWNemUQUS_OKZPqvR8ILykJT0jCyNc0c74Tb_XJFhpbRbcV00eFa23ZkmaHij11ubIIv-Xq0QSd0efocaWhaHohhvmM/s1600/DSCN6557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqo6mmFsleLSHuNKt76CCMZTwiYqucLMe-7gc7NNWhQ3VlAj0hsWNemUQUS_OKZPqvR8ILykJT0jCyNc0c74Tb_XJFhpbRbcV00eFa23ZkmaHij11ubIIv-Xq0QSd0efocaWhaHohhvmM/s320/DSCN6557.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGeGHzF9y3bGbZ1tWZteIpR3Eqor-_0NpMVmHZhTtjkHMEHJd-t1mPNtX3s15fI16yj_RfuHgIcQDW-yb0rC9slfzZQzMPDrEGeAmlUDhcu7lbZsIh5HEgpDiI8gKuIH4hkTkvlJBIUQ/s1600/DSCN6555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGeGHzF9y3bGbZ1tWZteIpR3Eqor-_0NpMVmHZhTtjkHMEHJd-t1mPNtX3s15fI16yj_RfuHgIcQDW-yb0rC9slfzZQzMPDrEGeAmlUDhcu7lbZsIh5HEgpDiI8gKuIH4hkTkvlJBIUQ/s320/DSCN6555.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There were several vendors of African Art. These seemed to be quite popular with people. These vendors were extremely vocal about not taking pictures, though I did manage to get these.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh94syy1ZurPUf6AQ8vXOTb1I4o-d-_Ru37zmkdV9VhnA4dZJI0EWnpu8K54OmrEdi3XTM_plCFEnLcPKCuH3TJJsmQz6vxLnmXZHlHpaOgc6ebxu9BVWc-yOurj6YhyphenhyphenTiW-fzUlVg19I/s1600/DSCN6552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh94syy1ZurPUf6AQ8vXOTb1I4o-d-_Ru37zmkdV9VhnA4dZJI0EWnpu8K54OmrEdi3XTM_plCFEnLcPKCuH3TJJsmQz6vxLnmXZHlHpaOgc6ebxu9BVWc-yOurj6YhyphenhyphenTiW-fzUlVg19I/s320/DSCN6552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoI2JTSJHxrnonPhG71bRo1ikKvlp_PdYwQw86WurofikWg4EdERdgFnzeBPmdSGt0dNWljtivVKYYAInH2u0Y2ve7kT98O6yylg9zs1lJE2sUyFg_Ink6mDQ6abDx9cr7g3vOEi1gwg/s1600/DSCN6553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoI2JTSJHxrnonPhG71bRo1ikKvlp_PdYwQw86WurofikWg4EdERdgFnzeBPmdSGt0dNWljtivVKYYAInH2u0Y2ve7kT98O6yylg9zs1lJE2sUyFg_Ink6mDQ6abDx9cr7g3vOEi1gwg/s320/DSCN6553.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM4Q0tajsjPBgEk0wPKzeiuI4xwIlUnEbtEno47BgrQ2Wfwdo3PpcSnGRBPjKqaZTk0ZjaV4bZ2qoyd4RoJ9pN-x9zZ7PQOmZsZcmTQOLwhCMNi7xB5EovgSyk-R64HKyc-IRUj_Bsv4/s1600/DSCN6550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM4Q0tajsjPBgEk0wPKzeiuI4xwIlUnEbtEno47BgrQ2Wfwdo3PpcSnGRBPjKqaZTk0ZjaV4bZ2qoyd4RoJ9pN-x9zZ7PQOmZsZcmTQOLwhCMNi7xB5EovgSyk-R64HKyc-IRUj_Bsv4/s320/DSCN6550.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved these bottles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One item that I really wanted was a Sennelier half box that was extremely old. It was extremely worn and was coated with lots of paint. The corners of the box had been polished with wear and had a patina like I had never seen. It would’ve needed some repair to make it more stable, but vanished after my first visit. Another item I found was a narrow lacquered box with pencils in it. The box was black and lettered french writing on it. apparently the brand name, which I had never heard of. It was 20 euro and it was gone this morning when I returned.<br />
<br />
There were a lot of postcards and old photographs. Many of which had hand-written correspondence, which looked quite beautiful. In reading some of the backs, I picked up certain words or phrases I recognized and imagined the rest. The postcards were heavily worn around the edges and encased in plastic or laminated. The images, and the writing, had faded or become discolored like the memories they contained. I found an instant connection to the sentiment behind the cards: sharing an exotic place with someone special, letting the recipient know they were not forgotten during the sender’s travels, but rather shared in an intimate way. In a strange way, it was reassuring to relate to the cards as though these were distant relatives or people representing the same experiences I was witnessing.<br />
<br />
These feelings weren’t limited to letters and postcards. In fact, the objects found here (like all the other places in the world) embody rich histories of their former owner’s lives. I couldn’t help but think of the people that owned them, where they lived, what their lives must have been like. Clearly, for me, this created a value beyond any market price.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDLiwM3w1DT_7HtIeN0_tWfVvOWQ0k4lS4o1blVQD5t_yWufkTk_QrvKbNgoyEliZWZLJWXukuZiB1q9mI7Oq0O46P892Wa9MjTws2C6YTpb6DpqFFB_6IlUR4XtfT26pNEjFkL8PHS4/s1600/aDSCN6551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDLiwM3w1DT_7HtIeN0_tWfVvOWQ0k4lS4o1blVQD5t_yWufkTk_QrvKbNgoyEliZWZLJWXukuZiB1q9mI7Oq0O46P892Wa9MjTws2C6YTpb6DpqFFB_6IlUR4XtfT26pNEjFkL8PHS4/s320/aDSCN6551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-77102922078498463452012-05-09T13:03:00.000-04:002012-05-09T13:03:54.431-04:00Sennelier VisitI was so excited to head back to Sennelier and peruse the store. There's such a wonderful history about the store that I enjoy and it feels somewhat obligatory stopping in. This time I needed to purchase both medium and solvent for painting. Of course, I have to purchase some small gifts for a person I collaborate with too. :)<br />
<br />
NPR did a wonderful story on the store several years ago, which I've listened to over and over again during this past spring, anticipating the trip. You can check it out here if you like:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5581725" target="_blank">Sennelier on All Things Considered</a><br />
<br />
The night I arrived I couldn't help, but take a stroll to the river and 'tailgate' for supplies under the wonderful gold-leafed sign.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw-ue3cSQsIzbkK7ohyphenhyphenDbhuX1ejxBeQ6lAlkUaD1B1s5FdF0pX78oRVCyXhRsW62Y4u3qlUrj61_EFkXxEHxMRZiMKd6Lg9pSIaP33e0snPevQHwARFN_HG75wOWm5ufP2Dz0i_JL9iM/s1600/DSCN5921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw-ue3cSQsIzbkK7ohyphenhyphenDbhuX1ejxBeQ6lAlkUaD1B1s5FdF0pX78oRVCyXhRsW62Y4u3qlUrj61_EFkXxEHxMRZiMKd6Lg9pSIaP33e0snPevQHwARFN_HG75wOWm5ufP2Dz0i_JL9iM/s320/DSCN5921.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jBTls6IO-cnMYA-mAKQH4btMWFGXonAXG0Veh1Hjlk0qVre5mCMKzGlPO0Y96FVVIybGbTDbjBVUHgTEfr8WvExHo_y-dZSq4F8VUb0OSYwoyFyYxsuLXuCuU68psbPMCLWRdhyxbGI/s1600/DSCN5921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Popping in this morning though I was struck by the selection of papers, paints, mediums and pigments.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaVV_pEmNYRPdTeBxFNf_n-U1Em8FHzewY2rxdwlaARpp1ySbFF9VEnnMbh14ixDA6tfFiWGgCEDgGYgklroEkTX_JgSjznJrFH77QscAZg7ea7FfIDTTuH9bDb4s3MTzSKvX78VSPQs/s1600/aa_DSCN3339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaVV_pEmNYRPdTeBxFNf_n-U1Em8FHzewY2rxdwlaARpp1ySbFF9VEnnMbh14ixDA6tfFiWGgCEDgGYgklroEkTX_JgSjznJrFH77QscAZg7ea7FfIDTTuH9bDb4s3MTzSKvX78VSPQs/s320/aa_DSCN3339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunhKEw3PM9LLm02Q5J3dqArEeNjjJUXgzSWnFR8IKdVsdqHFWRu15syaZblcqDUaVgTNXfyQI1ZnstN14EsTccflu3YlO57PaPS8oAfMIT-oIM4XJuGb43wxSRWhpYKDhoT1ldC5LHV8/s1600/aa_DSCN3340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunhKEw3PM9LLm02Q5J3dqArEeNjjJUXgzSWnFR8IKdVsdqHFWRu15syaZblcqDUaVgTNXfyQI1ZnstN14EsTccflu3YlO57PaPS8oAfMIT-oIM4XJuGb43wxSRWhpYKDhoT1ldC5LHV8/s320/aa_DSCN3340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenBEGY7d6-NZMs4CMx3r62ZrpjswCehkKuAKk21wMaFM1DCfHpShCdn5UgZw7DDgixtLaQPauAQ9fZE1fmJ7R2i1jLjHAZebHiE0Ja-7F9EgsBvgyxGpCajTVpL7L0XIKI-76MP0188k/s1600/aa_DSCN3341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenBEGY7d6-NZMs4CMx3r62ZrpjswCehkKuAKk21wMaFM1DCfHpShCdn5UgZw7DDgixtLaQPauAQ9fZE1fmJ7R2i1jLjHAZebHiE0Ja-7F9EgsBvgyxGpCajTVpL7L0XIKI-76MP0188k/s320/aa_DSCN3341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82HIk07h4V8qyV9Oj009MSRwLfBrfEFYL0lqYXwgEAytIJYo2G39RFrjHJiRqLmGGp5W-AWynHgE0BV5CA3xW4-BkzLIZIyV4B72OhUh3zN9CLrRW3walhnmDKk-0-TB48MOzbRFQIBY/s1600/aa_DSCN3342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82HIk07h4V8qyV9Oj009MSRwLfBrfEFYL0lqYXwgEAytIJYo2G39RFrjHJiRqLmGGp5W-AWynHgE0BV5CA3xW4-BkzLIZIyV4B72OhUh3zN9CLrRW3walhnmDKk-0-TB48MOzbRFQIBY/s320/aa_DSCN3342.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd63v3lmVVK562h5R8I8AQstDZCpks25RPmwDx8ukPWtO0c-ih4VnsFSr_de_Dygd0UT2AZyK0hYYDtnCAQFRdOmKzmARR7R2ScLoIL_lbAeSDbijHx174ro6Jd_aPctB0sabTW1-mAuM/s1600/aa_DSCN3347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd63v3lmVVK562h5R8I8AQstDZCpks25RPmwDx8ukPWtO0c-ih4VnsFSr_de_Dygd0UT2AZyK0hYYDtnCAQFRdOmKzmARR7R2ScLoIL_lbAeSDbijHx174ro6Jd_aPctB0sabTW1-mAuM/s320/aa_DSCN3347.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdWIyJhSobzsk2VxdEsPagULxiLMLXliflQ8NxCrlZc1G-lYP-J9mA1q_QOLqJims3BIICQiNYZQmcCV6TWwffYpRuMnDEeFGjsweqR5zlFUnehftCnCXWS6-yTl3JDxlgVX3E4y41Fw/s1600/aa_DSCN3351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdWIyJhSobzsk2VxdEsPagULxiLMLXliflQ8NxCrlZc1G-lYP-J9mA1q_QOLqJims3BIICQiNYZQmcCV6TWwffYpRuMnDEeFGjsweqR5zlFUnehftCnCXWS6-yTl3JDxlgVX3E4y41Fw/s320/aa_DSCN3351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8ZtfC54u4Ox7MEzOwu5pm9IEnWK4fIm9slPST_wp6Sr_NzhSvhKIEq2JxEONkyzIitf5AMY0dcmKbrPegky2qgRGojXHI_eGf5tv_QeYQcX8yNCzwJgxU6_nMnDwtIxQivrA8y1SZcs/s1600/aa_DSCN3354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ8ZtfC54u4Ox7MEzOwu5pm9IEnWK4fIm9slPST_wp6Sr_NzhSvhKIEq2JxEONkyzIitf5AMY0dcmKbrPegky2qgRGojXHI_eGf5tv_QeYQcX8yNCzwJgxU6_nMnDwtIxQivrA8y1SZcs/s320/aa_DSCN3354.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BdW42q3mL-REzMRt0r8XrHFGbxAEfgQEcRM8jqzfji2r4xsL3dmfkkWhpsWgKyFcvZNUDdKaLTONKoJnQrdgq0MWqzwvGF2I1Q6b98n3lCmMt4q5ZXFj1OatLTwT_sUQ8ulSFsOKTAU/s1600/DSCN6184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BdW42q3mL-REzMRt0r8XrHFGbxAEfgQEcRM8jqzfji2r4xsL3dmfkkWhpsWgKyFcvZNUDdKaLTONKoJnQrdgq0MWqzwvGF2I1Q6b98n3lCmMt4q5ZXFj1OatLTwT_sUQ8ulSFsOKTAU/s320/DSCN6184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDzxok_UpU1cJTAdk4lXPpAIDaVXOifhB25CaQtPt0G1cdQhS0m4C4saPuyldNgVkZTNQzF9mRHuc22KYM2q4Uew_9K7NPQKeqv6VJUlw4JKdzTglzMATlPoLkiZ_F3M6PTvFaMpJyJY/s1600/DSCN6185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDzxok_UpU1cJTAdk4lXPpAIDaVXOifhB25CaQtPt0G1cdQhS0m4C4saPuyldNgVkZTNQzF9mRHuc22KYM2q4Uew_9K7NPQKeqv6VJUlw4JKdzTglzMATlPoLkiZ_F3M6PTvFaMpJyJY/s320/DSCN6185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbYk5rm_OBV64cMbeQ5CuY4DhOgmbcmvN9Cp2XlswA1vXP9YCuhOTkvGsNxBueo-Mf1FJAiK9IrVKp-zX93wPESUVmXYadAjOux2aSJzd_Cu1oJWQLwFTysXq_IWD-LyjpxOUhoDklmw/s1600/DSCN6186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbYk5rm_OBV64cMbeQ5CuY4DhOgmbcmvN9Cp2XlswA1vXP9YCuhOTkvGsNxBueo-Mf1FJAiK9IrVKp-zX93wPESUVmXYadAjOux2aSJzd_Cu1oJWQLwFTysXq_IWD-LyjpxOUhoDklmw/s320/DSCN6186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZieEpXh3_9yH9e4wwZu_mJquN3-McyamHVb5zFvnJp0S5aiCoN9SXtPZoq0YqA0gmwr1jYbWPI4ydJLilBSpAwEZ39MKRbYDU2mCGO5jCqpC3PeNfTP0mkCxIW1tQTMyql6rjad5Nfrw/s1600/DSCN6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZieEpXh3_9yH9e4wwZu_mJquN3-McyamHVb5zFvnJp0S5aiCoN9SXtPZoq0YqA0gmwr1jYbWPI4ydJLilBSpAwEZ39MKRbYDU2mCGO5jCqpC3PeNfTP0mkCxIW1tQTMyql6rjad5Nfrw/s320/DSCN6188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojdY_YJ_JDpIzQJu4SX9njlU50AyW0o8gxasoqptgiRMymHrFjgzaMWGn1TY8n84OhxkIPCEZR1VZL1kiZvQBLh3V1uJwoRI0FCkzqCgXBexxZHg1BFCDFp4bkU8NFx8uwIcXKPTDuiw/s1600/DSCN6193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojdY_YJ_JDpIzQJu4SX9njlU50AyW0o8gxasoqptgiRMymHrFjgzaMWGn1TY8n84OhxkIPCEZR1VZL1kiZvQBLh3V1uJwoRI0FCkzqCgXBexxZHg1BFCDFp4bkU8NFx8uwIcXKPTDuiw/s320/DSCN6193.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After scoring some medium and turp, we headed over to the Tulieries to start another painting.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbqslgEfzE6_E_RGHI7DrNz3QFe3TMguw6koJfrW3iLDG20CPtqDrKINuZszR2D92BA5qvms8bc2OZUufzObC-lTTGCXujTYZfAy8TRccuXwdsht9b5-XqwKusUgsvCBy9T0P3UQnWAw/s1600/DSCN6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbqslgEfzE6_E_RGHI7DrNz3QFe3TMguw6koJfrW3iLDG20CPtqDrKINuZszR2D92BA5qvms8bc2OZUufzObC-lTTGCXujTYZfAy8TRccuXwdsht9b5-XqwKusUgsvCBy9T0P3UQnWAw/s320/DSCN6200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICv0UfGZ6qBm8miUR9VRy-azuLjkBsB0H75tjbX1j2MTco8FTnyeTmJWJ_vy2yUAZm2a_VVMuI6NZldQQD56GrFAKDsc2l2x6gh7JYFqy8Z4ktdqFlsrMkC_723jeslUa0vDGXGuFdRk/s1600/DSCN6201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICv0UfGZ6qBm8miUR9VRy-azuLjkBsB0H75tjbX1j2MTco8FTnyeTmJWJ_vy2yUAZm2a_VVMuI6NZldQQD56GrFAKDsc2l2x6gh7JYFqy8Z4ktdqFlsrMkC_723jeslUa0vDGXGuFdRk/s320/DSCN6201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1rf-1nKdCEMTzVBSJ1w2JOF1RHUQT10pEaYuAklnIhr6Xj1k_xah-vAaRlROyhgr5HOWZLRyhGzS6i8L7ADd7OdLXfBVcesAyFRquXA7_uZNVdH0gHwcYvMSzSrT0V7yrSLXqjNI3Rs/s1600/DSCN6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1rf-1nKdCEMTzVBSJ1w2JOF1RHUQT10pEaYuAklnIhr6Xj1k_xah-vAaRlROyhgr5HOWZLRyhGzS6i8L7ADd7OdLXfBVcesAyFRquXA7_uZNVdH0gHwcYvMSzSrT0V7yrSLXqjNI3Rs/s320/DSCN6203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV9UVRPil7lfFh3ddO2-xzdkz4he4qKgL26onhZ2X03MtFrV8L_0htA-kvEhb7-N3Vn1lQ5eJuFSVyPg2VM19njmiBNqhi106xAmQseZCSMHLLCCN2ABBFd0Mlj_XiJWL-OUTpd3HKGE/s1600/DSCN6205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV9UVRPil7lfFh3ddO2-xzdkz4he4qKgL26onhZ2X03MtFrV8L_0htA-kvEhb7-N3Vn1lQ5eJuFSVyPg2VM19njmiBNqhi106xAmQseZCSMHLLCCN2ABBFd0Mlj_XiJWL-OUTpd3HKGE/s320/DSCN6205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-1813685772303234382012-05-09T03:41:00.000-04:002012-05-09T03:41:57.701-04:00Painting at Luxembourg Gardens I decided this visit I would try and paint on location. While I don't often paint en plein air, I get together with some good friends throughout the summer back home and try my hand at landscape. Its an amazing sensory experience, hearing people chatting, children playing, and all of the great sounds of nature spilling over into the work. As a studio painter I am overly aware of these stimuli working outside and understand the seduction impressionistic painters must have had working in some of these same locations. I couldn't help think of Sargent's painting "Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gJTRx4N9yVqSWlPulnX6w_UEoaCWt5zfBA3XNtxK9W9F_JXSQRT5m12Rh2VYjY3qi0iLjH7VT6sEjBuGHGeDrGXur7g3dmXfIplavFVCn47xYLwe-D3qMwYEUz0zdUJX4GSrz8fjWjo/s1600/luxembourg_gardens_twilight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gJTRx4N9yVqSWlPulnX6w_UEoaCWt5zfBA3XNtxK9W9F_JXSQRT5m12Rh2VYjY3qi0iLjH7VT6sEjBuGHGeDrGXur7g3dmXfIplavFVCn47xYLwe-D3qMwYEUz0zdUJX4GSrz8fjWjo/s320/luxembourg_gardens_twilight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I remember seeing this painting in high school when I was first exposed to a lot of his work. I was so taken with his fluidity and poetry, and the miraculous economy that was employed to capture the 'impression'. Sargent always seemed to make more <i>sense</i> to me than the other impressionists. The work had the hallmark identifiers: that it was carefully observed, yet painted quickly, but was happily devoid of the stereotypical palette and mark-making. I've always enjoyed how daring Sargent was in his approach, a seemingly ruthlessness that kept the viewer on the edge of his seat as the dance between abstraction and surface, and subject matter.<br />
<br />
After a light breakfast, we arrived and walked through. Here are some pics I shot on our way in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4bHPQHayjWpggDUGMbkoDXp3TTUC6Q31GT61MlIEnAbv09_lhdiL32Xv5ttxYnuh6hIzI0cyYGD0x4fEoc-xvhLfLL_CW9E5qwlQ1TK1qOuFZJuTZ2mha2er4AJ5manKBDm_PDM6LTc/s1600/em_DSCN2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4bHPQHayjWpggDUGMbkoDXp3TTUC6Q31GT61MlIEnAbv09_lhdiL32Xv5ttxYnuh6hIzI0cyYGD0x4fEoc-xvhLfLL_CW9E5qwlQ1TK1qOuFZJuTZ2mha2er4AJ5manKBDm_PDM6LTc/s320/em_DSCN2176.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiPQpusxP0DWw0Zsb3QPIDvGDHfJZZlHaZk_8lbMyJ-eyH5kqVB3LyPD39vvyJQEAcE0JffeZCImyu_iaDpEBJvZiQ_nV0ErJs9Tgc6sWDrorDHltjnsOOXf8NTTvIgZjdznAk9eHlL8/s1600/em_DSCN2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiPQpusxP0DWw0Zsb3QPIDvGDHfJZZlHaZk_8lbMyJ-eyH5kqVB3LyPD39vvyJQEAcE0JffeZCImyu_iaDpEBJvZiQ_nV0ErJs9Tgc6sWDrorDHltjnsOOXf8NTTvIgZjdznAk9eHlL8/s320/em_DSCN2205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnGZI7_LlAjYXjMHB2z-Bt7dd2MQGCaoVnILzfhN5uyrdpthVVUSm3K2fx1RK4bn0ebYH3imWju6h2NMTQ45htuDXSwpZdPrvc1yJq2wnihB9bXyq2wHWexHQYhT7kf_90Vv9HaYWyHs/s1600/em_DSCN2207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnGZI7_LlAjYXjMHB2z-Bt7dd2MQGCaoVnILzfhN5uyrdpthVVUSm3K2fx1RK4bn0ebYH3imWju6h2NMTQ45htuDXSwpZdPrvc1yJq2wnihB9bXyq2wHWexHQYhT7kf_90Vv9HaYWyHs/s320/em_DSCN2207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbgmCDSlmQ5jPbEWMnrb6Sv6keypXe1XITRUcHsf-kUM_kO_D6E7qO8yinqseg9YetJI36bMTNmda_Ulpo-hkVpBgfkyvlRR4Uz5GZRS0HiQHOLd2pXh86_2TM_HTuBuArESGQKiiJSo/s1600/em_DSCN2212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbgmCDSlmQ5jPbEWMnrb6Sv6keypXe1XITRUcHsf-kUM_kO_D6E7qO8yinqseg9YetJI36bMTNmda_Ulpo-hkVpBgfkyvlRR4Uz5GZRS0HiQHOLd2pXh86_2TM_HTuBuArESGQKiiJSo/s320/em_DSCN2212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
We chose a spot, near the wading where Sargent had painted "twilight". A few days before I left, Mary Beth suggested I purchase a Pochade 8" x 10" cigar box and so I ordered one and had it shipped overnight. I was surprised how light it weighs and the ease of set up. We spent the morning chasing the light.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWEe0FReCyHba_MgdsDiagcozmsIa7ZK3AHCsUHMGt2fl02EoipCkO8N7CN5Xzowq8DjlzTI3DSHSFsnOcJoWMKB47_2clGvxPgMFT71WMNwzv6nH-RdLASTaP_bvLEzqqkQmr5aj8OY/s1600/a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWEe0FReCyHba_MgdsDiagcozmsIa7ZK3AHCsUHMGt2fl02EoipCkO8N7CN5Xzowq8DjlzTI3DSHSFsnOcJoWMKB47_2clGvxPgMFT71WMNwzv6nH-RdLASTaP_bvLEzqqkQmr5aj8OY/s320/a.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBimrOtYRdcP8xB8-fIBvswtm6UhLECyw44Sm8NPNjdCnGTpvKPGL_b93azFsXgHPC2_wYR2HdLRiq12N1IgUKUPfdWzmQk56CpPD-xFax9okWauo0xm_ZLUcic-C-cpVeDAXtfTRcLmU/s1600/aDSCN5965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBimrOtYRdcP8xB8-fIBvswtm6UhLECyw44Sm8NPNjdCnGTpvKPGL_b93azFsXgHPC2_wYR2HdLRiq12N1IgUKUPfdWzmQk56CpPD-xFax9okWauo0xm_ZLUcic-C-cpVeDAXtfTRcLmU/s320/aDSCN5965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrPr50OMWTWivE9v0YVJKt5NBZkK5Am5WKu32nRq-lJMlYzcyLn6suwsOjfaWk0mFBguivdaEqkoIbG6Ng170ihJg8zPc7ZNAXg4htD-LXfAgOFG6XqtBO1GBcvK-98UddumHDnyMKHw/s1600/aDSCN5983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrPr50OMWTWivE9v0YVJKt5NBZkK5Am5WKu32nRq-lJMlYzcyLn6suwsOjfaWk0mFBguivdaEqkoIbG6Ng170ihJg8zPc7ZNAXg4htD-LXfAgOFG6XqtBO1GBcvK-98UddumHDnyMKHw/s320/aDSCN5983.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyr6ioT50kni0vGSAb3FK33axu4ZWF8gBB8JoFCi1hrZMh2e8t63mJig_Gvm2_aUNNpIT6Z9gtN4I3kxLzT8w-oto1cn2U3pTmv_yros4m4EU4h5B_UQN5ajbTRuU7_NJCAZ3Tkrj4Uc/s1600/DSCN5953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyr6ioT50kni0vGSAb3FK33axu4ZWF8gBB8JoFCi1hrZMh2e8t63mJig_Gvm2_aUNNpIT6Z9gtN4I3kxLzT8w-oto1cn2U3pTmv_yros4m4EU4h5B_UQN5ajbTRuU7_NJCAZ3Tkrj4Uc/s320/DSCN5953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixqX6uFnNQ1ggHKU3K6_LDCbH5bJAEeDpzBoITF4l0kDg1y6QwijaAKTxlO-vNSbgZegP-rtwpPxV2_viUD1oN2CbbLcJ7G1Y2PyyINw2lkwOFgn3UJDnHnaUKinVNSYqAwRO5jRmeW0/s1600/DSCN5959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixqX6uFnNQ1ggHKU3K6_LDCbH5bJAEeDpzBoITF4l0kDg1y6QwijaAKTxlO-vNSbgZegP-rtwpPxV2_viUD1oN2CbbLcJ7G1Y2PyyINw2lkwOFgn3UJDnHnaUKinVNSYqAwRO5jRmeW0/s320/DSCN5959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIWjhca0sVpRWMB0jIEIMPI9JqpeKGh07xFFutlTKFKrP3ZgCECSgTLg2xWsKID9YRsVigmJmvp2O2BN5uM9u-vh5xFZqYuB02_3x790ufMAwZAfgz_mV3kNQQMzBD8b3uu0twcty4AI/s1600/DSCN5960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIWjhca0sVpRWMB0jIEIMPI9JqpeKGh07xFFutlTKFKrP3ZgCECSgTLg2xWsKID9YRsVigmJmvp2O2BN5uM9u-vh5xFZqYuB02_3x790ufMAwZAfgz_mV3kNQQMzBD8b3uu0twcty4AI/s320/DSCN5960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-80769956314953234842012-05-08T07:15:00.001-04:002012-05-09T12:18:37.861-04:00Arrival and ElectionThings have been incredibly busy so far, but wanted to get started before time slips away. I arrived in Paris this past Sunday and as soon as I landed I was walking everywhere and trying to get situated. I scoped out a place in the Luxembourg Gardens before trying to meet up with my friend Mary Beth who is visiting this week to paint with me. After multiple attempts I found her in a crowd of about 1,000 people at the gardens. We scoped out where to paint the following morning.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most exciting event has been election night where Francois Hollande defeated Sarkozy. The Bastille, Champs-Elysees and Tuileries were so crazy. There was such chaos and excitement in a way I had never experienced before. Even through St. Germaine des Pres there were thousands of people cheering, marching and celebrating. All over the Latin Quarter, bars and cafes were televising Hollande's acceptance speech and everyone was glued to the tv.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpHztPByPROchhh5Ob5uduOQkFfFHoOaty_NbyTmkSNm3XERt8KcQpbP-9xqpR82kxQ_0Ad3Vj0XPUGEEnwvFGq_KcK4fwFFbDtG0Ue9XEgbOg_1Pn4fZS6yAHn2GrMk2FtlyExqc8ZM/s1600/DSCN5941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpHztPByPROchhh5Ob5uduOQkFfFHoOaty_NbyTmkSNm3XERt8KcQpbP-9xqpR82kxQ_0Ad3Vj0XPUGEEnwvFGq_KcK4fwFFbDtG0Ue9XEgbOg_1Pn4fZS6yAHn2GrMk2FtlyExqc8ZM/s320/DSCN5941.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3t9BcXiDprE7wuqTZFf1oTncrCkT_Z8D8rorGkyXU2qDkLeY8hIacrlVeQUYIVZ9SW8SUIib6jJ2atxzHrso_1e1fOTPDBhkPDt1Z5QtMMacI4Hq_xOjF3iBlDnDLtx1GZ_Ln8Rrp8M/s1600/DSCN5940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3t9BcXiDprE7wuqTZFf1oTncrCkT_Z8D8rorGkyXU2qDkLeY8hIacrlVeQUYIVZ9SW8SUIib6jJ2atxzHrso_1e1fOTPDBhkPDt1Z5QtMMacI4Hq_xOjF3iBlDnDLtx1GZ_Ln8Rrp8M/s320/DSCN5940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I walked around a little more that evening across the Pont Neuf, through the Latin Quarter back to St. Germaine des Pres to finally get some sleep after being up for so long.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wl_yuV-pmGXYGSw2IByisXowkm_LTwoHwYWgligMmBgrQWTFkI1NbYMg5wmStnFfHneiD2xdvdrQ-3_I7qDFzVcvBVn-DnYniJhmQ3XO6hyphenhyphenqC679Vx8o0Gvd5OwF5sfuLHTZtsYXiOQ/s1600/DSCN5944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wl_yuV-pmGXYGSw2IByisXowkm_LTwoHwYWgligMmBgrQWTFkI1NbYMg5wmStnFfHneiD2xdvdrQ-3_I7qDFzVcvBVn-DnYniJhmQ3XO6hyphenhyphenqC679Vx8o0Gvd5OwF5sfuLHTZtsYXiOQ/s320/DSCN5944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdASTMfIyy30hALCWE9q3wg68f7tXumNRXEEhxLWvfYVlIDE5CgEx9ckZWkfpxvBZOYWGTlJBkZLzZ-TTJXBWkrLKz1Z-1cV5kpK9-_u1GO_Bf4NjW9PewQxlmupnKV1aRHwCgAIibUsg/s1600/DSCN5945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdASTMfIyy30hALCWE9q3wg68f7tXumNRXEEhxLWvfYVlIDE5CgEx9ckZWkfpxvBZOYWGTlJBkZLzZ-TTJXBWkrLKz1Z-1cV5kpK9-_u1GO_Bf4NjW9PewQxlmupnKV1aRHwCgAIibUsg/s320/DSCN5945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-47669225009166649732012-05-05T07:41:00.001-04:002012-05-05T07:41:05.413-04:00I am excited to report that the wait is finally over. Flying to Paris tonight for a few weeks. I'm planning on trying to accomplish quite a lot this time including painting on location. While not much of landscape painter, I'm excited to experience Paris through painting this time around with my newly purchased pochade box and easel. Checking the weather in Paris it appears as though we will be receiving some rain. I have some areas in mind. One of which is the Luxemborg Gardens seen in some pics of mine from last year, below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrps5Kg-pZxVQf-dmVLgSAlYdV2T14fC0a1OifJUKM8KtkZMiy1DNVpUG5WVeGr38p_mn4gFG4UTPRqNo3CK_Hiv7AmRByh0adtB2Dj1veH1w55Amftm6_mCfxoH66SlqjvqYfwad4go/s1600/em_DSCN2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrps5Kg-pZxVQf-dmVLgSAlYdV2T14fC0a1OifJUKM8KtkZMiy1DNVpUG5WVeGr38p_mn4gFG4UTPRqNo3CK_Hiv7AmRByh0adtB2Dj1veH1w55Amftm6_mCfxoH66SlqjvqYfwad4go/s320/em_DSCN2176.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiYFJmWiMQgTHFsoWCkxl-s7e0cI1x65jI-kYpkAj48JEGXLfJ-mVNJ7mBTNdNC-ZTQjyFqwinAuf516CQDzrtGw07pCf7OBGQrY5jV_Wukf0cjnbLd9fvKsdhmcY2w5zodwomHDQPkM/s1600/em_DSCN2174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDiYFJmWiMQgTHFsoWCkxl-s7e0cI1x65jI-kYpkAj48JEGXLfJ-mVNJ7mBTNdNC-ZTQjyFqwinAuf516CQDzrtGw07pCf7OBGQrY5jV_Wukf0cjnbLd9fvKsdhmcY2w5zodwomHDQPkM/s320/em_DSCN2174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEt6o5HObrihp8h0YGPZk-Pv031aafBQqqjPsznKjB6d8-R9HXlEe1OoBrTdlgjlc5SSjN1uymNvNSL6lUnuPxQBpcxAVu8UzVMoFAVZ07RYxp-Q6_jt6FmZ8AW65zvIewtVlnWrI9tM/s1600/em_DSCN2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEt6o5HObrihp8h0YGPZk-Pv031aafBQqqjPsznKjB6d8-R9HXlEe1OoBrTdlgjlc5SSjN1uymNvNSL6lUnuPxQBpcxAVu8UzVMoFAVZ07RYxp-Q6_jt6FmZ8AW65zvIewtVlnWrI9tM/s320/em_DSCN2205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuvXv54ijsS7R82CgbUAn2muB-cdR1Qe5IqicodsG8OYoWaPXG3WbAx1Bj9w4n2xG27BbIaPoIMpvwOzNPkp3yUio_CEyD2EOHZJaNyw6m4ZRzLiN9FiN5wUFlGx56WIUDI8tC9fQCjM/s1600/em_DSCN2207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuvXv54ijsS7R82CgbUAn2muB-cdR1Qe5IqicodsG8OYoWaPXG3WbAx1Bj9w4n2xG27BbIaPoIMpvwOzNPkp3yUio_CEyD2EOHZJaNyw6m4ZRzLiN9FiN5wUFlGx56WIUDI8tC9fQCjM/s320/em_DSCN2207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-fbYOhs16nDDskhv6pZAjwbIlvbZNawvzdQut6aJdeAlgphRcgXmG4K3_goua4fWKOTDSa5-WX3suFbhmZM2j9OgGTcDxV_zVmian88DFpK0d9mA_42AJp6p5CB_WkHS6INydaJoJe4/s1600/em_DSCN2212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-fbYOhs16nDDskhv6pZAjwbIlvbZNawvzdQut6aJdeAlgphRcgXmG4K3_goua4fWKOTDSa5-WX3suFbhmZM2j9OgGTcDxV_zVmian88DFpK0d9mA_42AJp6p5CB_WkHS6INydaJoJe4/s320/em_DSCN2212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'll try and update daily if possible. Now, to finish final packing!<br /><br />bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-47486915785693730532011-12-18T18:25:00.004-05:002011-12-18T19:00:43.856-05:00Coping mechanisms when longing for ParisIt has been seven months since I returned from Paris and through that time I've been incredibly fortunate to remain so inspired from the French cultural transfusion. I have started nearly 50 paintings in this past calendar year and remain at a creative level I've never experienced before. Despite my drunken swooning from the experience I am <i>longing</i> to get back. So I thought I'd resurrect my posts leading up to next May and share some of my coping mechanisms.<br />
<br />
Last spring I was open to almost any type of art and how I might assimilate other art forms into my work. I love going to the museum and finding art objects from antiquity that I can place in my work. At the time a major influence was developing in my subject matter: the inclusion of Greek red and black-figured vessels. I enjoyed the narrativity as well as the formal simplicity of the pieces and started off by posing my models in ways that reiterated these art objects (or responded contrastingly to these images). I'll post some examples in another post, but wanted to share some really wonderful books I've read that went along with those ideas.<br />
<br />
I remember purchasing a used book in undergrad, <u><b>The Cambridge Introduction to Art: The Art of Greece and Rome </b></u>by Susan Woodford. There was this simple description of the bronze "Dancing Faun" that I enjoyed reading (see top image below). Years later on my own trip to Pompeii (circa 1998) I remember seeing a copy of the piece on location (bottom). Its my understanding the original that was found in the late 19th century excavation is in the Museo Nazionale in Naples. The recollection of my travels to Pompeii and the inspiration that has emerged, has happened in ways (and intensity) I never would've thought possible. That too, will be another post. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ztVuyHe9XEijXcCSxKAdEwn6HyJF9zD4Cx94Xvw_l3qi4OLlD1ym7OI3OGqAZDI3DsN2tN7REAqyuu9tH2Wa-FHbZc0WTNlgnGpkXdvc0OlnxJNU-eXme1_xiBuWAhM6aRhW2ahFUnQ/s1600/dancing+faun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ztVuyHe9XEijXcCSxKAdEwn6HyJF9zD4Cx94Xvw_l3qi4OLlD1ym7OI3OGqAZDI3DsN2tN7REAqyuu9tH2Wa-FHbZc0WTNlgnGpkXdvc0OlnxJNU-eXme1_xiBuWAhM6aRhW2ahFUnQ/s320/dancing+faun2.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwxq45la7hT04gU2rELlCfT_AZ5BM_iPij-xvxWsgs8_Iwn5vWs2RUwyt9qIf43T3Wu25wcgfeKCyYTxhVLFstyu1x9OrXreDPOvCz5FIYNht_-KxFdzEvqJjhcgCp3ekscJP-VNhCDk/s1600/dancing+faun" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwxq45la7hT04gU2rELlCfT_AZ5BM_iPij-xvxWsgs8_Iwn5vWs2RUwyt9qIf43T3Wu25wcgfeKCyYTxhVLFstyu1x9OrXreDPOvCz5FIYNht_-KxFdzEvqJjhcgCp3ekscJP-VNhCDk/s320/dancing+faun" width="241" /></a></div><br />
This summer when I was going overboard ordering used books on line I found another book by her called, <u><b>Images of Myth in Classical Antiquity</b></u> along with H. A. Shaprio's<u><b> Myth into Art: Poet and Painter in Classical Greece</b></u>. Both were of great inspiration and clarity in explaining the narratives and how they evolved. Other books that fall into this category or are simply books I found interesting on Pompeii/ Myth are: <u><b>Diana at her Bath: The Women of Rome</b></u> by Pierre Klossowski, <u><b>The Great Mysteries of Archeology: Pompeii</b></u> by Tatiana Pedrazzi, <u><b>Gods and Heroes in Pompeii</b></u> by Ernesto De Carolis, <u><b>Women and Beauty in Pompeii</b></u> by Antonio d'Ambrosio, <u><b>Eroticism in Pompeii</b></u> by Antonio Varone and <u><b>Eros in Pompeii: The Secret Rooms of the National Museum of Naples </b></u>by Michael Grant.<br />
<br />
Several other books which I've enjoyed (and to keep from being depressed by not being in Paris) are David McCullough's recent work, <u><b>The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris</b></u>, <u><b>A Key to Louvre: Memoirs of a Curator</b></u> by Michael Laclotte, <u><b>Eiffel's Tower</b></u> by Jill Jonnes and finally, one of my favs this past summer: <u><b>Antoine's Alphabet: Watteau and His World</b></u> by Jed Perl. I reread Walter Pach's bio on Ingres, which is titled after the artist. Also love Kenneth Clark's two chapters on Ingres in his book, <u><b>The Romantic Rebellion: Romantic versus Classical Art</b></u>. I also scored a wonderful book that I can't read because its all in french called, <u><b>Ingres and the Antique</b></u>. Its a wonderful collection of Ingres' studies from Greek art.<br />
<br />
One exhibition I'm really looking forward to seeing is the Degas and the Nude show. It's only visiting two venues: the MFA in Boston through Feb. and Musee d'Orsay afterward. Luckily, I get to see both shows and am so excited. This will be yet two separate posts, one for each show. There have been a number of great online reviews and a nice podcast on NPR. They can all be found here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/degas-and-nude">Degas and the Nude - Boston's MFA</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.musee-orsay.fr/index.php?id=649&L=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=30632&no_cache=1">Degas and the Nude- Musee d'Orsay</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/141760511/degas-nudes-depict-the-awkwardness-of-real-life">Degas and the Nude on NPR's Podcast</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Culture-Cafe/2011/1006/Degas-and-the-Nude-reveals-a-master-of-the-human-form">Degas and the Nude on Christian Science monitor</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://articles.boston.com/2011-10-05/ae/30249769_1_nude-paris-museum-female-form">Degas and the Nude on Boston.com</a><br />
<br />
The exhibition catalog is decent as well. I really enjoyed the interview with Lucian Freud regarding some of Degas' work, imagery and approach. The last major Degas exhibit I saw was the <b>Degas: Beyond Impressionism</b> show at the Art Institute in Chicago in 1997. Killer.<br />
<br />
In an effort to sustain myself until I fly to Boston, I've chose to try several French-themed recipes to satiate my growing need to be back in Paris. There are a number of books I have on French cooking, which I love as I try to learn to make some of these dishes. I read Kate Whiteman's <u><b>The Food Lover's Guide to the Gourmet Secrets of Paris</b></u>. Its a nice collection of both staple recipes and descriptions (and locations) of markets by arrondissements. I just found Barefoot Contessa's <u><b>Barefoot in Paris</b></u> and had already tried a recipe from it (Lentil Sausage Soup) that a close friend of mine shared with me. I am reading <u><b>The Paris Cookbook</b></u> by Patricia Wells, which I scored at Half Priced Books.<br />
<br />
There are some other cookbooks that appear to be quite popular now as well. <u><b>Picasso: Bon Vivant</b></u> by Ermine Herscher, <u><b>Monet's Table: The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet</b></u> written by his grandaughter, Claire Joyes, <u><b>Renoir's Table</b></u> and <u><b>Cezanne and the Provencal Table</b></u> both by by Jean Bernard Naudin, and finally, the one I was looking at this morning, <u><b>Celebrating the Impressionist Table</b></u> by Pamela Todd. After walking the dog, I decided it might be a good way to tailgate for the Degas Exhibits. I love football as much as art and figured they should both receive equal consideration. :) And so, perusing through Todd's book I found this pic and realized what I was making: Soupe a l'Oignon au Gratine .<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm-ipJAOtACm7QfhQixydjExrh_S3S_fzNVnydRbOjkkTLK9kJ1DJR7gkZcbYxjKOSX7DqIb_1bcarQKtpmdyob5Sp6OdsLb66auYY-tuEv0y6Tm5wNs6BCiPyvSabu01jQDUrYlBWTw/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqm-ipJAOtACm7QfhQixydjExrh_S3S_fzNVnydRbOjkkTLK9kJ1DJR7gkZcbYxjKOSX7DqIb_1bcarQKtpmdyob5Sp6OdsLb66auYY-tuEv0y6Tm5wNs6BCiPyvSabu01jQDUrYlBWTw/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />
I began by shopping and getting some ingredients I did not have such as gruyere cheese. I was reading the label of the cheese and it nearly brought tears to my eyes, like the Degas plates. It reads:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>"This is the difference cave-aging makes. Raw, whole cow's milk, aged for 12-14 months produces an enormous 80lb wheel that is dense, creamy and immense in flavor. Saline, beefy, and fruity sharpness pervades the firm paste of this Swiss gem; small crunchy bits serve as evidence of careful patient aging. They are the beginnings of amino acid clusters, and offer an unexpected respite from mouthfuls of smooth, savory cow's milk." </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I started slicing the vidalia onions I purchased and put on a mix cd of French music, mostly from the turn off the century, and mostly from a cd I purchased from the Art Institute of Chicago called <b>Music, Paris and Degas</b>. I started off with Django to get me hopping since I am not overly excited with veggie prep. Not exactly what I was listening to, but close:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoIJ4W7kXiQ">A Django sampler</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The onions hit the skillet with garlic, thyme, sizzling butter (gasp!).....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSEXYB0UU4MDdBk0I_7RbVIYq9dNF9oB_a3LfgChyPXh8i-odR3Gh-5w7kfVg6EJp7Zs1ZgY7teLMNh5cL-4FSoGuvqr5jbY6wKBx-5YGKwtHKZJKLXay-BUkwxQNQac1-OBO6LOXt60/s1600/aDSCN5329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSEXYB0UU4MDdBk0I_7RbVIYq9dNF9oB_a3LfgChyPXh8i-odR3Gh-5w7kfVg6EJp7Zs1ZgY7teLMNh5cL-4FSoGuvqr5jbY6wKBx-5YGKwtHKZJKLXay-BUkwxQNQac1-OBO6LOXt60/s320/aDSCN5329.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then covered and turned them down low to simmer for 30 minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0wXRB9_a-QBe8oQ6PA75dIwfFGsUkr-2G_6DL03_56E-cyl3_GmpmzfHQ10WyUY5nabX3GfJqLFV53iugUYs6BHL0UxbyRihl2l6pWr3actV8WZSI5p6ZaBjrrarY0-KurRUkHGrDI/s1600/aDSCN5330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDE0wXRB9_a-QBe8oQ6PA75dIwfFGsUkr-2G_6DL03_56E-cyl3_GmpmzfHQ10WyUY5nabX3GfJqLFV53iugUYs6BHL0UxbyRihl2l6pWr3actV8WZSI5p6ZaBjrrarY0-KurRUkHGrDI/s320/aDSCN5330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I put on Yvette Guilbert's Le Fiacre and then Paulette Darty's Amoureuse:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_EvD1NuPEE&feature=related">Yvette Guilbert on youtube</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took the wrapping off of the gruyere cheese and it smelled heavenly- like a $15 chunk of cheese is supposed to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_csNENGt8V_hasJCfDCKs235tjXDObkyEPeLdYTkIm4-rwNE-wuIr_cO_GfjqGfE0NK7vstPenv3LB59UEgk11MbAGS6KJg-kJ3onBHbZy4UrE5detrHbqZfbpDBVsWD0hbKIU1iGg4/s1600/aDSCN5337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_csNENGt8V_hasJCfDCKs235tjXDObkyEPeLdYTkIm4-rwNE-wuIr_cO_GfjqGfE0NK7vstPenv3LB59UEgk11MbAGS6KJg-kJ3onBHbZy4UrE5detrHbqZfbpDBVsWD0hbKIU1iGg4/s320/aDSCN5337.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I grated some of the cheese, and sprinkled it on two baguettes I purchased at Panera, and threw it under the broiler until it melted and turned golden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbyhnSgm_fOVmBKlPqajS0-Mw4lXeAS0_9y9NQu9HwY3BN15nXcnDDnMuF-O6dDc-miRlkjcVcrc0xJ3Xl5VObk_lJ6och7JutTqiAJwTQVXDuja63yXyJGvHqXDZjzJZfeZ4sBPZBN4/s1600/aDSCN5331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbyhnSgm_fOVmBKlPqajS0-Mw4lXeAS0_9y9NQu9HwY3BN15nXcnDDnMuF-O6dDc-miRlkjcVcrc0xJ3Xl5VObk_lJ6och7JutTqiAJwTQVXDuja63yXyJGvHqXDZjzJZfeZ4sBPZBN4/s320/aDSCN5331.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I must say that I started sneaking chunks of the gruyere and it was absolutely stunning. I then drank about half a bottle of cabernet that I purchased for the soup during the rest of the prep. Not sure if it is an appropriate choice of wine to be paired with the cheese, but thought it would since they are both ingredients in the recipe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point Erik Satie's Gymnopedies played, along with Chopin's Mazurka in C Major, and my favorite Opus 17, no. 4- all by the amazing Rafal Blechacz, Nora Shulman's Arabesque No. 1 for Flute and Harp, and Debussy's Pagodes. Perhaps, because of the amount of wine (4 glasses...blush), it was an amazing atmosphere. The cabernet and beef stock were both added and brought to a boil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWzh0ed4s_y36aOOI4WhOGG294fkMkm_sosd2A_V-Ht24E8Zbela0_MVA5xGs0xp66htetgTThC3c5rL3K0lxg80C8EpCBuRWAYiYK9YerycEm5gT5blcZZ3zR_2zULweDt04aanKI_8/s1600/aDSCN5334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWzh0ed4s_y36aOOI4WhOGG294fkMkm_sosd2A_V-Ht24E8Zbela0_MVA5xGs0xp66htetgTThC3c5rL3K0lxg80C8EpCBuRWAYiYK9YerycEm5gT5blcZZ3zR_2zULweDt04aanKI_8/s320/aDSCN5334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O_k4R5MwI4ll7VDARwh7-OMAA2LZyP0ZWg9B2GPhFM-diHOhchhNycaUDR6bxPKJUc73Lkdle8gVJJms8_hYqBXkJVj9BqWLuXyUd7FZbMtvepu-OnRD8QLPkd97UbC-14ORlJZK-gI/s1600/aDSCN5335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O_k4R5MwI4ll7VDARwh7-OMAA2LZyP0ZWg9B2GPhFM-diHOhchhNycaUDR6bxPKJUc73Lkdle8gVJJms8_hYqBXkJVj9BqWLuXyUd7FZbMtvepu-OnRD8QLPkd97UbC-14ORlJZK-gI/s320/aDSCN5335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlh_CJpv0kzL1hOgmCmF1kIdbCcL6pt2dsedtHkmZFRvVZpv8iZuZYslH8NHSAVp8vLDPdamfF3ymujR2fa302YNYAhJEtr_rMLz0PGqwTseVj8iuacuYa2M63SaSIbvz_xOC2WeqNeY/s1600/aDSCN5336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlh_CJpv0kzL1hOgmCmF1kIdbCcL6pt2dsedtHkmZFRvVZpv8iZuZYslH8NHSAVp8vLDPdamfF3ymujR2fa302YNYAhJEtr_rMLz0PGqwTseVj8iuacuYa2M63SaSIbvz_xOC2WeqNeY/s320/aDSCN5336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The baguettes were cut up into sections and thrown in under the broiler a second time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7wtfzm0mJl3rGMTkNLQRUOZP7JwE-pIEX301POKAsSh7snVBPBxOo4jGWwoa2O1bs-eNEKh4weA0SOw3kI0CVNGtCGHNSS21NTzMJRfHMTvDa1sJFm-zyWtpBhVT2-lADmyddfv0Zac/s1600/aDSCN5339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7wtfzm0mJl3rGMTkNLQRUOZP7JwE-pIEX301POKAsSh7snVBPBxOo4jGWwoa2O1bs-eNEKh4weA0SOw3kI0CVNGtCGHNSS21NTzMJRfHMTvDa1sJFm-zyWtpBhVT2-lADmyddfv0Zac/s320/aDSCN5339.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After they were lightly toasted (crunchy, but not browned) I placed them in a pan and grated more gruyere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUcdXxYoDRaGZAwBpMi5Ry9t7pdaooVil4kq0I3yARLDEp7Brv9A73xy3y7asPZ87K3_bU8nesW2f-GeWOoAcFEsf9ym8bRAWYq7iqdov1DprG6rVqQK5jRMCjiJt5gZPmQXcnTwpxig/s1600/aDSCN5340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUcdXxYoDRaGZAwBpMi5Ry9t7pdaooVil4kq0I3yARLDEp7Brv9A73xy3y7asPZ87K3_bU8nesW2f-GeWOoAcFEsf9ym8bRAWYq7iqdov1DprG6rVqQK5jRMCjiJt5gZPmQXcnTwpxig/s320/aDSCN5340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbjz1kU3ShwyJe4jQs3LA4vjx34sI_xhKPhGXQefQVp6b1nN_Nqa7M-flpd7QuUmgvA1IPZusIoPNJ8ryKVhGLsZisvAhVwITsYptyEfCBp5ty8AG_Aa7iZOtvydp32TwCUWa0z_6hzY/s1600/aDSCN5342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbjz1kU3ShwyJe4jQs3LA4vjx34sI_xhKPhGXQefQVp6b1nN_Nqa7M-flpd7QuUmgvA1IPZusIoPNJ8ryKVhGLsZisvAhVwITsYptyEfCBp5ty8AG_Aa7iZOtvydp32TwCUWa0z_6hzY/s320/aDSCN5342.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spooned in the soup, which smelled heavenly, over top and completed two layers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgAjwbeboLnpki5Fg-OoYTxQe_ong1O4zihVPIyDCCJKPcHV5JOjI0im0LFEHDV9Jw1C0I24Y-1b9-1IXelO3IGq9j_IQ2d2cnJr_2VC_q7svsS0I8QSPr-0O2EJc3Kl4zs5IjcFZx80/s1600/aDSCN5347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgAjwbeboLnpki5Fg-OoYTxQe_ong1O4zihVPIyDCCJKPcHV5JOjI0im0LFEHDV9Jw1C0I24Y-1b9-1IXelO3IGq9j_IQ2d2cnJr_2VC_q7svsS0I8QSPr-0O2EJc3Kl4zs5IjcFZx80/s320/aDSCN5347.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zWjhBJlQmf7zMsEWQOtLDj4ZD-QoSrvXgblJYqY7jAjNuwtxVm4bLG2p-FhOstkdwkGLD07oTC7ve-iOfudq_g5nQI46qYmlfFdS58CV87IeXUW0De6MGkVMezDZmHwIEemwMsu4n8I/s1600/aDSCN5349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zWjhBJlQmf7zMsEWQOtLDj4ZD-QoSrvXgblJYqY7jAjNuwtxVm4bLG2p-FhOstkdwkGLD07oTC7ve-iOfudq_g5nQI46qYmlfFdS58CV87IeXUW0De6MGkVMezDZmHwIEemwMsu4n8I/s320/aDSCN5349.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTifCLXDgA_wrsKGY9GB75qPgNk2zmr2OB_Q2fB1VHIg8f_2qKtSCSXAw0se7JpmrS428XBjjbTWuNGO-sFxAcQX1jk0vHrrP3gkAp4u8z4HjvUJyPKJFuchWWvOqBXAbEz1hKysKk5vE/s1600/aDSCN5350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTifCLXDgA_wrsKGY9GB75qPgNk2zmr2OB_Q2fB1VHIg8f_2qKtSCSXAw0se7JpmrS428XBjjbTWuNGO-sFxAcQX1jk0vHrrP3gkAp4u8z4HjvUJyPKJFuchWWvOqBXAbEz1hKysKk5vE/s320/aDSCN5350.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After 20 minutes, the cheese had melted and I kept it under the broiler for about another 4-5 minutes to brown it up a little more. Turned out great....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoxXHPo-TSN_yQ1QxZwnyDj9cpGv2QjzQUw5bxXdQGAerNNw6leLQhendXsNKN8FqTFlWyeqo3dlBZdV4KPlZ6GOpRKII5kmjdoNvVQqLLYdkFU6BmhbrUhwZf-mZosJXBFGyO1tqocw/s1600/aDSCN5353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoxXHPo-TSN_yQ1QxZwnyDj9cpGv2QjzQUw5bxXdQGAerNNw6leLQhendXsNKN8FqTFlWyeqo3dlBZdV4KPlZ6GOpRKII5kmjdoNvVQqLLYdkFU6BmhbrUhwZf-mZosJXBFGyO1tqocw/s320/aDSCN5353.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As its cooling now I'm reading excerpts from Richard Kendall's <b><u>Degas by Himself</u></b>, (which has great letters and journal entries by Degas) at the kitchen table while my dog is whining at the smells wafting through the house by the cooling stove. I'm ready to devour this soup like I'm ready to devour those wonderful nudes in Boston and Paris.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-25460879961539834792011-05-23T21:32:00.004-04:002011-06-10T21:37:13.651-04:00Traveling to BrusselsSooner or later I knew Paris would end and we would be heading to Brussels. I've only been to Brussels twice, and both times to the airport, which I don't really think qualifies. I was most interested in going to the museum there and, on a more light-hearted note, having the original 'french' fries at Maison Antoine- and possibly with Eddy Merckx if I spotted him.<br />
<br />
After packing I left Paris on a bus and settled into doing some sketching while listening to Adele. I was really fired up on some new ideas for my figure paintings after lecturing at the Musee Rodin and wanted to commit them to paper. My lines looked like Daumier sketches riding the bus! It was good to go "inside" and start thinking about some ideas that were percolating. Looking out the window was pretty plain so no distractions there. For the most part the country side was fairly common interspersed with wind farms like this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHkFVJER-EkeaZVnTmicam-RapERRBUwnGxtG6CrwpkqzR_eVF2_5VYmkYWOgSdIYAm3fQOVKbyKPFw0oJ0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Arriving in Belgium I was happy to see cycling imagery alive and well in the city. I didn't have time to search out any cycling stores, but imagine there are many. It was nice seeing all of the Giro d'Italia updates on the tv news even though there was too much Contador for me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPA5Z3aaIWHq2ohkDy1sZ_IkkCt_7ySykVZjNEy_DU7HlGw0OzNlGwkeyA_NcLez3TJdrzgctOGIdVTmDOWMMuUBJorouM7K-LHHglqXVxC5vRAe-AMRXdppB8RdYzj-Z9WvaHQCpfqQ/s1600/aa_DSCN4121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPA5Z3aaIWHq2ohkDy1sZ_IkkCt_7ySykVZjNEy_DU7HlGw0OzNlGwkeyA_NcLez3TJdrzgctOGIdVTmDOWMMuUBJorouM7K-LHHglqXVxC5vRAe-AMRXdppB8RdYzj-Z9WvaHQCpfqQ/s320/aa_DSCN4121.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stayed in a wonderful hotel that is not advertised. Many diplomats and figures stay here on business trips due to all of the EU functions hosted here. The place was well equipped with numeric-coded locks at the main door and my room was really set up nicely with WI-FI, full bathroom (can't tell you how wonderful a 30 minute bath is after only having a shower for two weeks) and a queen sized bed with Tempur-pedic mattress. In addition they had a stocked kitchen that we were able to have full access to- free of charge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75eCL6rFN0IUja9JsxuqkL9ZUn7kC14dc4Rp2RxCG5qTEYm6QWyhIo3dL_8Kqk_6ajBnd2QZBRpVTZ0PGmYSXTMkUmKWa_bGE3_tA781b4HTICXb4H04oUaZ_zuv1klkzsL133GUX_Wc/s1600/aa_DSCN4179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75eCL6rFN0IUja9JsxuqkL9ZUn7kC14dc4Rp2RxCG5qTEYm6QWyhIo3dL_8Kqk_6ajBnd2QZBRpVTZ0PGmYSXTMkUmKWa_bGE3_tA781b4HTICXb4H04oUaZ_zuv1klkzsL133GUX_Wc/s320/aa_DSCN4179.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpCAMkIab3ulWsNyH-AAy_ZDIMtwE_vkKJ5YKhYG1cP25W-15Fa5Np3WL45YXbBe1PmLJXivvQx66oHjrKws7if7VhczUszTa-aXe2D7eBtlmOmN0KLcI4VK0-6HxGrkmCI9rzNQqdSg/s1600/aa_DSCN4180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpCAMkIab3ulWsNyH-AAy_ZDIMtwE_vkKJ5YKhYG1cP25W-15Fa5Np3WL45YXbBe1PmLJXivvQx66oHjrKws7if7VhczUszTa-aXe2D7eBtlmOmN0KLcI4VK0-6HxGrkmCI9rzNQqdSg/s320/aa_DSCN4180.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGASEqMtDxJ3AiTy2mqCKNW3zFDSgEBaUTkjhQz9meuHwL9Zxg65QvKJlL1mi6XA67JgWKvDDYVBTIBbBswDfH2m-FtJ_pHDqCsEsV25uYSWQ_T7pEQItBPyz2UD1TeKRe_0n_TK_eMxk/s1600/aa_DSCN4182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGASEqMtDxJ3AiTy2mqCKNW3zFDSgEBaUTkjhQz9meuHwL9Zxg65QvKJlL1mi6XA67JgWKvDDYVBTIBbBswDfH2m-FtJ_pHDqCsEsV25uYSWQ_T7pEQItBPyz2UD1TeKRe_0n_TK_eMxk/s320/aa_DSCN4182.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KsnjaPd9KNsJC1KqWMDMo0PEOvDUZwUYDeJemBCwy7nWhB89uCK957-0rWMw8MPNyEH2aBCxPOJGRjysO4ibpM9v6calhg1CjuPd6Ds2ieIiKJUNX3_giP2MYExXcpnr__0fzHjB5QA/s1600/aa_DSCN4183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KsnjaPd9KNsJC1KqWMDMo0PEOvDUZwUYDeJemBCwy7nWhB89uCK957-0rWMw8MPNyEH2aBCxPOJGRjysO4ibpM9v6calhg1CjuPd6Ds2ieIiKJUNX3_giP2MYExXcpnr__0fzHjB5QA/s320/aa_DSCN4183.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaROfpHpCn_RjhphbA-y08MbwwalT0NcKzUGo0_0olxCLbv6W8wiQxym_ZdMHPFpOAHTq1_cVKVDSR__0jDTi3mPzroO86sH1vZ06UWI3X33dNL067nrsEqwZjJ6I-9hLOMhTwH3vqMM/s1600/aa_DSCN4184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaROfpHpCn_RjhphbA-y08MbwwalT0NcKzUGo0_0olxCLbv6W8wiQxym_ZdMHPFpOAHTq1_cVKVDSR__0jDTi3mPzroO86sH1vZ06UWI3X33dNL067nrsEqwZjJ6I-9hLOMhTwH3vqMM/s320/aa_DSCN4184.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79jSpT8_MafutwmXSFjqUdgzQRLA9PKyYcRHY9EaF0q_sTI4OJMVy8bqJpsY34ArNk_frPm2cFH3EAIybhoSiGUmaJtJP6fUf_EgJfERJSBzFj0X1iSVPkuseJT17_blC8TFjhh8y2Ng/s1600/aa_DSCN4185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79jSpT8_MafutwmXSFjqUdgzQRLA9PKyYcRHY9EaF0q_sTI4OJMVy8bqJpsY34ArNk_frPm2cFH3EAIybhoSiGUmaJtJP6fUf_EgJfERJSBzFj0X1iSVPkuseJT17_blC8TFjhh8y2Ng/s320/aa_DSCN4185.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a window that let in a lot of light and provided a view on the enclosed courtyard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKVcJGlG1dNq1NZwcQkB22TaG4tJRxKfZq3Vo3rIWxesKcwX_QXvzO5xwoz-nr2CEXlWIzmQ8tMA_5rLXM0mNcvMqNycCymhxZUvJTU09Yb5iRPmWBNqwm9uBPQ8cUBrX1cgsBljXNgA/s1600/aa_DSCN4189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKVcJGlG1dNq1NZwcQkB22TaG4tJRxKfZq3Vo3rIWxesKcwX_QXvzO5xwoz-nr2CEXlWIzmQ8tMA_5rLXM0mNcvMqNycCymhxZUvJTU09Yb5iRPmWBNqwm9uBPQ8cUBrX1cgsBljXNgA/s320/aa_DSCN4189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First stop walking through Brussels was at the famous Maison Antoine to taste the original french fry. A close friend tells me they are twice fried. (As your close friend I can tell you they are delicious!) They came with a number of dipping sauces including curry. We each got a little basket and beers were ordered all around. I tried a cherry beer to help wash them down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsk2Yhe-zyEIWSrbUTl6CULhCAGIlI5_wDd7GkLO-tkJmMwmyMfRAXTGL_YCxkkK_-H8aPI4-YkZkpEAAwwF0cjBb1uItiwZZUJp3C3cVV0dBNdHhET83stunjXjhfhL3jwITrC77MqY/s1600/aa_DSCN4129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsk2Yhe-zyEIWSrbUTl6CULhCAGIlI5_wDd7GkLO-tkJmMwmyMfRAXTGL_YCxkkK_-H8aPI4-YkZkpEAAwwF0cjBb1uItiwZZUJp3C3cVV0dBNdHhET83stunjXjhfhL3jwITrC77MqY/s320/aa_DSCN4129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbf6IvBHg1lJyTQ22CS05Xi6R6hSSSBRLI536YRKBc3kx7BZepxVh0aReAXEnPCdIvw5gxkmY0sK21QSNJRtN-CAxdWfXVFWmPfkyzu26B_ZmOSKVuGXXEO_XyYhA45baNOYwdQFx_TQ/s1600/aa_DSCN4131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbf6IvBHg1lJyTQ22CS05Xi6R6hSSSBRLI536YRKBc3kx7BZepxVh0aReAXEnPCdIvw5gxkmY0sK21QSNJRtN-CAxdWfXVFWmPfkyzu26B_ZmOSKVuGXXEO_XyYhA45baNOYwdQFx_TQ/s320/aa_DSCN4131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went to the Grand Place that evening. It was brimming with people as we walked through many narrow streets. The cafes and restaurants were starting to fill up and had many displays like this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjgqAMDiEWtI4UliAbzia4GkfPDw2e4J-wNVxij77kWT4z6wbwiZ8WQ5WCkBZMz4iNuk9PCrRANGd9UAdybWi8_FwgKDgz1_8LUdjGKNOFpywIX3_9Jy0rQWSmoAjRQXHLDgNAVxhCh4/s1600/aa_DSCN4158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjgqAMDiEWtI4UliAbzia4GkfPDw2e4J-wNVxij77kWT4z6wbwiZ8WQ5WCkBZMz4iNuk9PCrRANGd9UAdybWi8_FwgKDgz1_8LUdjGKNOFpywIX3_9Jy0rQWSmoAjRQXHLDgNAVxhCh4/s320/aa_DSCN4158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR00fyeyqkVP3flNdqLcG3sC_YqteiBMs8-hYcVEt6XHlcJbR6qhmW0833fLwUq6keJWqqMHtO8UvUui1JRQcDuIcPHpI_dzzuMFRSHbZJ4sVoC8_GIVueJONMBG7LuCMJl5pMax6iM0/s1600/aa_DSCN4133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR00fyeyqkVP3flNdqLcG3sC_YqteiBMs8-hYcVEt6XHlcJbR6qhmW0833fLwUq6keJWqqMHtO8UvUui1JRQcDuIcPHpI_dzzuMFRSHbZJ4sVoC8_GIVueJONMBG7LuCMJl5pMax6iM0/s320/aa_DSCN4133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj783h2L7WdI8MeNfuZTJ6SJ70RAeeL90z4AGlH5aXsPNEJIX1xfKFBH6yqCu5oKezYhNvasuetI6yatMSpG0Z1lJ0Ytoupdf04cyRaLGJs8V7UrRdecQ2xIP-LiwNZrslvDHpyzjAOjuc/s1600/aa_DSCN4138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj783h2L7WdI8MeNfuZTJ6SJ70RAeeL90z4AGlH5aXsPNEJIX1xfKFBH6yqCu5oKezYhNvasuetI6yatMSpG0Z1lJ0Ytoupdf04cyRaLGJs8V7UrRdecQ2xIP-LiwNZrslvDHpyzjAOjuc/s320/aa_DSCN4138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC2otfoWK2XZvvF1ZwrhDeRGx4mMtD-tjau_3TqFxZkby76EAGOhKYvVhwUalWZkMSsyNnq3et2AB3Lvsv5wj5lP4E5eO-VzoeNd-W5x271rO6whsavd0HcKe65Di7lFgw4CPcRj1Q0w/s1600/aa_DSCN4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSC2otfoWK2XZvvF1ZwrhDeRGx4mMtD-tjau_3TqFxZkby76EAGOhKYvVhwUalWZkMSsyNnq3et2AB3Lvsv5wj5lP4E5eO-VzoeNd-W5x271rO6whsavd0HcKe65Di7lFgw4CPcRj1Q0w/s320/aa_DSCN4156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGTYFtSR1KQg__FwTpibPqyUz19z7QBvLkDKIAfmKoC4Tc91fkk1mLNAlxRX3PKws7UF0XjbQbfUOfDSCNkkQhtKAElBI7_BiNmtLCkbIRXY7xLPmcfNf0l5Wq-9jry2LjMjtqPOY2_8/s1600/aa_DSCN4155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGTYFtSR1KQg__FwTpibPqyUz19z7QBvLkDKIAfmKoC4Tc91fkk1mLNAlxRX3PKws7UF0XjbQbfUOfDSCNkkQhtKAElBI7_BiNmtLCkbIRXY7xLPmcfNf0l5Wq-9jry2LjMjtqPOY2_8/s320/aa_DSCN4155.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The first thing to know about consumption in Brussels is that beer, waffles, chocolate and mussels reign supreme. For me, I could use these as a food group strategy! They are all outstanding from what I tried. My friend had me try the belgian waffles with her at Findlay Market back in Cincinnati this spring and they were amazing as well (all of her suggestions have been great :)). However, these bad boys in Brussels were really loaded and must have weighed a half a pound!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjyf0CmenYdfK3ktwLE_ep5SQxu9SPfxY3atzM0RawdqLhLN4dl-7k5_ZvSGVvOWzs8mu6n_eiXxoP4gzIFl8QeFZTI2UlMDm_FiCHmpFBhyphenhyphenIZzWwwiPUm_WTkCIWZ_k_46lC0i0GtrU/s1600/aa_DSCN4251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjyf0CmenYdfK3ktwLE_ep5SQxu9SPfxY3atzM0RawdqLhLN4dl-7k5_ZvSGVvOWzs8mu6n_eiXxoP4gzIFl8QeFZTI2UlMDm_FiCHmpFBhyphenhyphenIZzWwwiPUm_WTkCIWZ_k_46lC0i0GtrU/s320/aa_DSCN4251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I did manage to take some photos of the Grand Place at night and it was even more stunning with the lights. Here are two pics from the many I shot in the piazza.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd05LsIj7-QF_ibObJbMwN2P2uZmeYTiXKzSlYEDTXtJN4N8XVpDAtuK9CJuZy4OnelYEX27sTouPKsdY3ilXWLZLxz_Ne9Ja-9BbtgxQW42Bn29nz3WVLZ0Q1oviZCaYIy6FVaacVgY/s1600/aa_DSCN4173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd05LsIj7-QF_ibObJbMwN2P2uZmeYTiXKzSlYEDTXtJN4N8XVpDAtuK9CJuZy4OnelYEX27sTouPKsdY3ilXWLZLxz_Ne9Ja-9BbtgxQW42Bn29nz3WVLZ0Q1oviZCaYIy6FVaacVgY/s320/aa_DSCN4173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQDWaPlVgEp1pweRbyDffg7yHbvtMGYE1QXpFFkFzzZLvAkL9d0Q2RpNpPzwRPynDS_K0-FPn7JVCqzUzSJdoYFgjRVGlGuupUVJcWTzu3K53AeMA_XYu-TBGmOre6Rp-FX_2B730YEY/s1600/aa_DSCN4174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQDWaPlVgEp1pweRbyDffg7yHbvtMGYE1QXpFFkFzzZLvAkL9d0Q2RpNpPzwRPynDS_K0-FPn7JVCqzUzSJdoYFgjRVGlGuupUVJcWTzu3K53AeMA_XYu-TBGmOre6Rp-FX_2B730YEY/s320/aa_DSCN4174.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Several of us went looking in search of the Delirium Cafe. The cafe has pink dancing elephants for its logo and over 2500 (!) in stock including 25+ on tap.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v87Wh6VNcseKUUvGBadGsUksr-PaVHCe290j6xkY_q97CgaSl-qQ97hrJFfZbrugdVFnX1ZzjkNrk5Yqly5CrZtKQIL8Ehc1PknCZ__64Tc-I4hSwwO3iw1PN4QDhvdABO3oipv__58/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v87Wh6VNcseKUUvGBadGsUksr-PaVHCe290j6xkY_q97CgaSl-qQ97hrJFfZbrugdVFnX1ZzjkNrk5Yqly5CrZtKQIL8Ehc1PknCZ__64Tc-I4hSwwO3iw1PN4QDhvdABO3oipv__58/s320/Picture+3.png" width="241" /></a></div><br />
The place was located at the end of a street and was really busy. The downstairs was so smokey and busy that many of us decided to go back upstairs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX-f8qAF9I7eRNRUbUK02_Ce6zYuLGnxtG2pg7pyCI4rW-dXBh7B2KXTFW6xSeRASXroqG8WTwJczw2Uf4FFufIh95xh7RRKRYTUOQTvH5sNoyvWKYLQDutkcnOyqH0ByHVhQ7lf8QeM/s1600/aa_DSCN4159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX-f8qAF9I7eRNRUbUK02_Ce6zYuLGnxtG2pg7pyCI4rW-dXBh7B2KXTFW6xSeRASXroqG8WTwJczw2Uf4FFufIh95xh7RRKRYTUOQTvH5sNoyvWKYLQDutkcnOyqH0ByHVhQ7lf8QeM/s320/aa_DSCN4159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1VlDKDXnCMC5YAKbUmFgsZOlrt6iHohp_a3AmFXhEWfZ_FpqjyD_7Hc32UmWCUqvS-IvZKMUc1FYRQAwr6_quGRzW3SWyOfurzU1Y3QlXnK1WgYVcxCYCITRvhkC9Cp5qvFtRQxtMNw/s1600/aa_DSCN4161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1VlDKDXnCMC5YAKbUmFgsZOlrt6iHohp_a3AmFXhEWfZ_FpqjyD_7Hc32UmWCUqvS-IvZKMUc1FYRQAwr6_quGRzW3SWyOfurzU1Y3QlXnK1WgYVcxCYCITRvhkC9Cp5qvFtRQxtMNw/s320/aa_DSCN4161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day we set out for the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium (<a href="http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/site/EN/default.asp">http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/site/EN/default.asp</a>). I had never noticed any paintings being there so I wasn't sure what to expect. I guessed they might have some Rubens, some Flemish stuff, maybe some Metsu or Maes and some filler. Wow. I underestimated the collection...BIG TIME. Look at these babies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna8PMWOy8E_Yx8JSeashJ-f4QVCjjzG5c0RIvVUXwaA_7yrbYTxsARhhVbpmJatfT-ckh0xD9kSaO5FJ14346Oh7clNe3Ij-vH-MP3VIm8-YAjt12PvutHb_ysOQjbgBpN3xzFq-KR-U/s1600/DSCN4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgna8PMWOy8E_Yx8JSeashJ-f4QVCjjzG5c0RIvVUXwaA_7yrbYTxsARhhVbpmJatfT-ckh0xD9kSaO5FJ14346Oh7clNe3Ij-vH-MP3VIm8-YAjt12PvutHb_ysOQjbgBpN3xzFq-KR-U/s320/DSCN4202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMe1BFW-NcChcr8OB51-fdsplP3ACoVIezfqeR33BSJjocSgzj_U4ipki6H35FpwEH3EHXRBuKtpJQ7YI1cpBxyxd6nNStR8DxdwugGg2X02RPeZ9Fsn7N41tnygCuBMb3RRtL1tWFGA/s1600/aa_DSCN4211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMe1BFW-NcChcr8OB51-fdsplP3ACoVIezfqeR33BSJjocSgzj_U4ipki6H35FpwEH3EHXRBuKtpJQ7YI1cpBxyxd6nNStR8DxdwugGg2X02RPeZ9Fsn7N41tnygCuBMb3RRtL1tWFGA/s320/aa_DSCN4211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDoByR-s3-1zxNOHyQOgLNJ25iz9OWlgvTdRl2ybw8v_cJJFKd47wHXiXVteYBZHTvYDdGfNqG6AuCajVSgAJnW239Fvmmo2WlvbObeve3QaOt4rfdY6SPTpSGn67BjB8ckk1kHAn31g/s1600/aa_DSCN4212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDoByR-s3-1zxNOHyQOgLNJ25iz9OWlgvTdRl2ybw8v_cJJFKd47wHXiXVteYBZHTvYDdGfNqG6AuCajVSgAJnW239Fvmmo2WlvbObeve3QaOt4rfdY6SPTpSGn67BjB8ckk1kHAn31g/s320/aa_DSCN4212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iaUm7NdLNdbHnjW1NKHCIfise_AzBtvhwazeTnw989UHP741BXWxu1jicwIzWska1o_Vw4a_63VkeZLkm_bl23_kxeauK8zDQqEh9UaF8ruiNwF1ZnUGm7kQbGtL5LwI8xN5d2RDwTU/s1600/aa_DSCN4213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iaUm7NdLNdbHnjW1NKHCIfise_AzBtvhwazeTnw989UHP741BXWxu1jicwIzWska1o_Vw4a_63VkeZLkm_bl23_kxeauK8zDQqEh9UaF8ruiNwF1ZnUGm7kQbGtL5LwI8xN5d2RDwTU/s320/aa_DSCN4213.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyGnXPHa0OnBZvJB0DOIQhe63dCUrR1Ruf3zcpOV-hx6JAxS-DVrnU_fyMMIoick7RdOqfebRrIbgo2nuTS5QsHw16h23huFeXinHkJuxmlfTZ3QtiUIgqz7Lvhg1Vumrxp86VIijxmc/s1600/aa_DSCN4225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyGnXPHa0OnBZvJB0DOIQhe63dCUrR1Ruf3zcpOV-hx6JAxS-DVrnU_fyMMIoick7RdOqfebRrIbgo2nuTS5QsHw16h23huFeXinHkJuxmlfTZ3QtiUIgqz7Lvhg1Vumrxp86VIijxmc/s320/aa_DSCN4225.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6ckGHhdGnq-IuO_buIPKEx0HQJnGe-P1FyXVI73qbugEgcon6PZSKGNr1r8MNPOG9C9PPr5nlKf3sb071_BUxXNGdGqXZb4TelSz1MuGzsYK8XwzASRWxP7yM71QGJBHHEfiVu5SuqI/s1600/aa_DSCN4232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6ckGHhdGnq-IuO_buIPKEx0HQJnGe-P1FyXVI73qbugEgcon6PZSKGNr1r8MNPOG9C9PPr5nlKf3sb071_BUxXNGdGqXZb4TelSz1MuGzsYK8XwzASRWxP7yM71QGJBHHEfiVu5SuqI/s320/aa_DSCN4232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59dVdXYEUAcmHhCik-6Yx72WitBqnp7Uq_PDikfhGMm7E3rzuJoTYQlrGCZh1MhOeJHYUDSzdMHNTUDc6PK3Q59lwMG-g7aVZLAxEZcwwIlL_Y-iVDDl0KegZdRw646IYNXo1w7kp79w/s1600/aa_DSCN4231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59dVdXYEUAcmHhCik-6Yx72WitBqnp7Uq_PDikfhGMm7E3rzuJoTYQlrGCZh1MhOeJHYUDSzdMHNTUDc6PK3Q59lwMG-g7aVZLAxEZcwwIlL_Y-iVDDl0KegZdRw646IYNXo1w7kp79w/s320/aa_DSCN4231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They had some amazing paintings that I don't have here including some huge Rubens' paintings. If I can clean some of the photos up, I might add them here later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We spent the remaining part of the day shopping for souvenirs. and managed to get clear photo of the famous "Boy peeing" sculpture. The strange subject celebrates the myth of the little boy peeing on a lit stick of dynamite to help save the city, but there are many more listed on wikipedia:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><i>There are several legends behind this statue, but the most famous is the one about Duke <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_III_of_Leuven" title="Godfrey III of Leuven">Godfrey III of Leuven</a>. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Berthouts&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Berthouts (page does not exist)">Berthouts</a>, the lords of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimbergen" title="Grimbergen">Grimbergen</a>, in Ransbeke (now <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neder-over-Heembeek" title="Neder-over-Heembeek">Neder-over-Heembeek</a>). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.</i><br />
<i> </i><i>Another legend states that in the 14th century, Brussels was under siege by a foreign power. The city had held its ground for some time, so the attackers conceived of a plan to place explosive charges at the city walls. A little boy named <span lang="nl">Julianske</span> happened to be spying on them as they were preparing. He urinated on the burning fuse and thus saved the city. There was at the time (middle of the 15th century, perhaps as early as 1388) a similar statue made of stone. The statue was stolen several times. In 1619 it was replaced by the current bronze statue, created by Franco-Flemish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque" title="Baroque">Baroque</a> sculptor <span lang="fr">Jerome Duquesnoy</span>, father of the more famous <span lang="fr"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Duquesnoy" title="François Duquesnoy">François</a></span> of the same last name.</i><br />
<i> </i><i>Another story (told often to tourists) tells of a wealthy merchant who, during a visit to the city with his family, had his beloved young son go missing. The merchant hastily formed a search party that scoured all corners of the city until the boy was found happily urinating in a small garden. The merchant, as a gift of gratitude to the locals who helped out during the search, had the fountain built.</i><br />
<i> </i><i>Another legend was that a small boy went missing from his mother when shopping in the centre of the city. The woman, panic-stricken by the loss of her child, called upon everyone she came across, including the mayor of the city. A city-wide search began and when at last the child was found, he was urinating on the corner of a small street. The story was passed down over time and the statue erected as tribute to the well known fable.</i><br />
<i> </i><i>Another legend tells of the young boy who was awoken by a fire and was able to put out the fire with his urine, in the end this helped stop the king's castle from burning down.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgw946A0CU2r-YkT_YOKz1_ssiRXlukTq1LJ2PMAex31hL9Q8pPdp3yM7qGcK5iWV4tooW6DgJLyfGvzhoPP6JzJgxpL35UTpSQhWt6qv_smMMjcAQC9ZY_B6UlUuyCqfM_YsrLE49Qs/s1600/aa_DSCN4249a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgw946A0CU2r-YkT_YOKz1_ssiRXlukTq1LJ2PMAex31hL9Q8pPdp3yM7qGcK5iWV4tooW6DgJLyfGvzhoPP6JzJgxpL35UTpSQhWt6qv_smMMjcAQC9ZY_B6UlUuyCqfM_YsrLE49Qs/s320/aa_DSCN4249a.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />
In the end Brussels was enjoyable and provided some down time, though I was already longing to go back to Paris, and dreading saying goodbye to all of the students and people I had grown so close to in sharing these experiences.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3uoUcRoGx3MriP4VU8cHAHroZ-dOHRYDDQjB67g4BhNMYBjf4E-xW1DRVaUESbmSkS8Tss8dpi2-TZC-zZvfWw_G1KPOpUlzkNa_HgmIZFwvgiz2de3QDIkLqeI1ojxBxImX7th34lE/s1600/aa_DSCN4238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3uoUcRoGx3MriP4VU8cHAHroZ-dOHRYDDQjB67g4BhNMYBjf4E-xW1DRVaUESbmSkS8Tss8dpi2-TZC-zZvfWw_G1KPOpUlzkNa_HgmIZFwvgiz2de3QDIkLqeI1ojxBxImX7th34lE/s320/aa_DSCN4238.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-79962864294744986412011-05-22T08:39:00.003-04:002011-06-10T21:40:10.603-04:00Latin Quarter and VietnameseI feel very lucky to have met such wonderful people on this trip. One of my favorites has been Varena Forcione, a former assistant curator from the Louvre's Inventory of the Department of Prints and Drawings. She worked for a number years as an assistant on northern 16th century Italian drawing. She and I had a wonderful chat over Vietnamese food last week. The conversation quickly got into Italian artists we loved and discussed our mutual love of Pontormo.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqzeCyGG6CWzbSai7U3ofKK3SkoSLjyBISzZbgMDnvVBsdr_zJ450UTWEdfVtneKd9RiDE_UEdz13OZAOT7D85WuzS9xmkAfN3_hnGeXx5nD7UcFEwD3ol-fmBpgiVZfOG0ai4R_S4pk/s1600/aa_DSCN4103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqzeCyGG6CWzbSai7U3ofKK3SkoSLjyBISzZbgMDnvVBsdr_zJ450UTWEdfVtneKd9RiDE_UEdz13OZAOT7D85WuzS9xmkAfN3_hnGeXx5nD7UcFEwD3ol-fmBpgiVZfOG0ai4R_S4pk/s320/aa_DSCN4103.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br />
I had mentioned several of the Ingres and Delaroche drawings that were at out on display during a visit to the Louvre and that I was considering copying some Ingres drawings next year. Varena suggested I determine a list of drawings that I am considering and when I arrive the box will be there with the drawings pulled. She said that its more time consuming to process individual drawings and that you are unable to just ask for an artist. Here are two pics of the drawings we were talking about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRIVDcFNi0HnYFl8HU10iSmzyA1iaZBiFAw19Ovrdto2tAFdbapcqighn3kEpInP2sYPlaQzYBpyvvKstK2v0y0zYgF0rs5lXYttoMInTw57aDyKz4x86neaf9E5ty9PxZBCrlp27rgo/s1600/aa_DSCN2998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRIVDcFNi0HnYFl8HU10iSmzyA1iaZBiFAw19Ovrdto2tAFdbapcqighn3kEpInP2sYPlaQzYBpyvvKstK2v0y0zYgF0rs5lXYttoMInTw57aDyKz4x86neaf9E5ty9PxZBCrlp27rgo/s320/aa_DSCN2998.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyTa4xvUty_ptqDeMywKmSp3fFlxpLWphpnA-qzgVh3RaiebxP95Ig8yt2NIrD5Px7LVWsx2nwMkio9w0zE6PzckhiT_f2OxqFeBPhC58uall6Q4KsFXzQ_AAcWfJjO8O3tQeLnZn5Ok/s1600/aa_DSCN2999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyTa4xvUty_ptqDeMywKmSp3fFlxpLWphpnA-qzgVh3RaiebxP95Ig8yt2NIrD5Px7LVWsx2nwMkio9w0zE6PzckhiT_f2OxqFeBPhC58uall6Q4KsFXzQ_AAcWfJjO8O3tQeLnZn5Ok/s320/aa_DSCN2999.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A number of us were out at a vietnamese restaurant, which was as wonderful as the conversation. I began with a beef salad and wonderful teriyaki/ ginger-like pork.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEtK9kNN2ZrZuvW1xWsbbrnG1ebDU0Cly2ESqDJujc4lYtPfOT2KFcdVwuwGhv9ZsdelmYjC_XD62ZKoSJFokAbU0bLhde_TAh3QdCFmskvy5cdCP2suSNTYrm2-RQgMAv4BnFtwI_pk/s1600/aa_DSCN4097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEtK9kNN2ZrZuvW1xWsbbrnG1ebDU0Cly2ESqDJujc4lYtPfOT2KFcdVwuwGhv9ZsdelmYjC_XD62ZKoSJFokAbU0bLhde_TAh3QdCFmskvy5cdCP2suSNTYrm2-RQgMAv4BnFtwI_pk/s320/aa_DSCN4097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RBRvgymJdUYikVMmS1AagyrK2cAfs9RHZoxMqrTF6Vxb7icLbNoOBx3Er59Y765f6GmZ_BSryS3T6szisoiEGFIR0sIGfDObpfgLsRms_gDogCaTLveH520YtbbNKXGxeB66Lg3slaE/s1600/aa_DSCN4099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RBRvgymJdUYikVMmS1AagyrK2cAfs9RHZoxMqrTF6Vxb7icLbNoOBx3Er59Y765f6GmZ_BSryS3T6szisoiEGFIR0sIGfDObpfgLsRms_gDogCaTLveH520YtbbNKXGxeB66Lg3slaE/s320/aa_DSCN4099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We left the restaurant and headed back walking through the Latin Quarter. The sun was setting and was throwing gold and amber all over the Pantheon. For a moment I was transported back to Florence where light like this is a common occurrence. It was yet another example of the beauty that was found there on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweMCfdwqO9hzuogPWQt9tHVnshc8sBnm1-a6cxgnwjYHZn9tj38fWlJYRaK_UAgGjuURgj4_CCT8KlxqJdwr15sVfuN5Uxe6AFkNZ9na4SDQHOEyhjJLt6Nd-Tu8MEQ8-RADelmXk_64/s1600/aa_DSCN4118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweMCfdwqO9hzuogPWQt9tHVnshc8sBnm1-a6cxgnwjYHZn9tj38fWlJYRaK_UAgGjuURgj4_CCT8KlxqJdwr15sVfuN5Uxe6AFkNZ9na4SDQHOEyhjJLt6Nd-Tu8MEQ8-RADelmXk_64/s320/aa_DSCN4118.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIdLxAQGanob7AYyqthlcCJOhVsDZVJYRIUEw8rmWVUvcmp2r8EXwqptZQkvCzHCGJSS8MLz0quJeDPEYl24-xtQVisNlhSU68aqZprQ0zhX5X823UZ1WwpBwC3JUV-oNkv-q4LEtjRs/s1600/aa_DSCN4106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIdLxAQGanob7AYyqthlcCJOhVsDZVJYRIUEw8rmWVUvcmp2r8EXwqptZQkvCzHCGJSS8MLz0quJeDPEYl24-xtQVisNlhSU68aqZprQ0zhX5X823UZ1WwpBwC3JUV-oNkv-q4LEtjRs/s320/aa_DSCN4106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48O1DN_DrwFhRe-J3N_gwUug9zCFitHRs-zMfi5byAKF_LkdOwokW1Q9DK6OtSzfp3EWHIO0zEVx96z3viSUeDA4h9JE86Jm01IFdjptYY-iQyunVZkvMoh36ez6P1Nrgv83f23hVDzk/s1600/aa_DSCN4107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48O1DN_DrwFhRe-J3N_gwUug9zCFitHRs-zMfi5byAKF_LkdOwokW1Q9DK6OtSzfp3EWHIO0zEVx96z3viSUeDA4h9JE86Jm01IFdjptYY-iQyunVZkvMoh36ez6P1Nrgv83f23hVDzk/s320/aa_DSCN4107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4Cy-pzIwYMwLLnFe8ztPcIJMP4af3tV6aWo1vk_8xPYlsF4qtpNIHdtqpIzaOpL2TSkfBa7x0IunK5xpCLoSucdtWe2dNguSO0B4aTiDV8r3_ZkcyXqKkQNA3SxajVsR-GYD8dar8hM/s1600/aa_DSCN4109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4Cy-pzIwYMwLLnFe8ztPcIJMP4af3tV6aWo1vk_8xPYlsF4qtpNIHdtqpIzaOpL2TSkfBa7x0IunK5xpCLoSucdtWe2dNguSO0B4aTiDV8r3_ZkcyXqKkQNA3SxajVsR-GYD8dar8hM/s320/aa_DSCN4109.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeiDa1xxyGZz7N0mDkuLK7ZJ7mrVZsj7EHOlj_KWK4VtuHraLIMQW42LUlmgnT8wS-aRGrSr_Dp7Nr5_laiazRFVEliLz7aL10rmOyyHvoxQ2PP4r89HYaEFq0_e3fe1ZNA4H5R7Xbq4/s1600/aa_DSCN4110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeiDa1xxyGZz7N0mDkuLK7ZJ7mrVZsj7EHOlj_KWK4VtuHraLIMQW42LUlmgnT8wS-aRGrSr_Dp7Nr5_laiazRFVEliLz7aL10rmOyyHvoxQ2PP4r89HYaEFq0_e3fe1ZNA4H5R7Xbq4/s320/aa_DSCN4110.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-faAx1IVTMtn-L0dsxGjEzOM_Sr-jfO0FlgLYD17ahs2jdxecWR_hxZNEnHEvGxF4neG6Gyf5fVUk5atHf7F3LZbeSSbuCkdNs_aPkdzfTCDYAZV3Bq16jqMI8VlNpOQofMiUpZT66M/s1600/aa_DSCN4111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-faAx1IVTMtn-L0dsxGjEzOM_Sr-jfO0FlgLYD17ahs2jdxecWR_hxZNEnHEvGxF4neG6Gyf5fVUk5atHf7F3LZbeSSbuCkdNs_aPkdzfTCDYAZV3Bq16jqMI8VlNpOQofMiUpZT66M/s320/aa_DSCN4111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlCz_Bgwrv0VRtToToOdIenVeryfVrXSbhfCyLGSUOTAcLNPIYFcu0HgxplVHPBCKQ5YGXhUnUd3jhC599Z7Z1WyKLP0B3LjftAcCh1hr8XRnjl9eoKPM-0rA4ODBmM3kG8AaM4D6cJw/s1600/aa_DSCN4112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlCz_Bgwrv0VRtToToOdIenVeryfVrXSbhfCyLGSUOTAcLNPIYFcu0HgxplVHPBCKQ5YGXhUnUd3jhC599Z7Z1WyKLP0B3LjftAcCh1hr8XRnjl9eoKPM-0rA4ODBmM3kG8AaM4D6cJw/s320/aa_DSCN4112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSsZ-IvHUdeHHBUfhq-RRyaWNy-SbG1D6GXMGKR1y5f5OPtyZMFOX6hi2c_HNnci1hu2HJZIDGaY3f-UNYuXbrvSlVC3Me4UimN7hD0zfIBYI44QS64rfjN5Hy47BiqDDBUR4X0vlOfI/s1600/aa_DSCN4113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSsZ-IvHUdeHHBUfhq-RRyaWNy-SbG1D6GXMGKR1y5f5OPtyZMFOX6hi2c_HNnci1hu2HJZIDGaY3f-UNYuXbrvSlVC3Me4UimN7hD0zfIBYI44QS64rfjN5Hy47BiqDDBUR4X0vlOfI/s320/aa_DSCN4113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-81595735479206446002011-05-20T18:47:00.003-04:002011-06-10T21:44:12.382-04:00Climbing Notre DameIts taken a few days for me to update this since I've been busy wrapping things up in Paris and traveling to Belgium, Brussels to be exact. In my last post I mentioned that I was planning on climbing Notre Dame with some intense students who were looking for more adventure.<br />
<br />
I remember taking a group of students to Florence a number of years ago for Washington University in St. Louis where I taught for a few years. The suggestion of climbing Notre Dame instantly reminded of climbing to the cupola of the Duomo. That climb is a brutal one. Consisting of over 400 stairs, the dome is tight climb and at points the stairs follow the curved structure of the dome. When returning from the top you often cannot see several steps in front of you as the stairs curve so severely you have to lean backward to avoid falling forward. I remember walking the spiral staircase, over and over again until I felt dizzy. We would often have to stop and everyone was winded and slightly claustrophobic. By the time we arrived at the top, everyone was sweating and glad to be outside seeing wonderful views of the great city.<br />
<br />
For those interested, I read a book during that trip by Ross King entitled, <b><u>Brunelleschi's Dome</u></b>. The book is an incredible read and I enjoyed it as much as his other books. King goes into great narratives describing the contest to procure commission and an array of mechanical inventions that were necessary to resolve placing the dome.<br />
<br />
I was thinking about that climb and wondering how Notre dame might compare. Several students and I got off a metro stop early and we slightly got mixed up in locating where the church was from the stop. Once there, we had to wait in line before starting the climb. Once inside, we climbed a little before reaching a bookstore/ gift shop where you could stop to buy souvenirs. Here's Annie, Andrew, Britt and Adam stopped to look and a pic of the dome inside the shop.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIvJFDhaI3ptZvCl7W9HhlYTq29H7GPyDxWxRciZzGF1nlhy50iFOYgLpfhloufJxQFFnYkI9Bd4r828DzmvHMzn-euqlwAlIzDQSyqwBXy222QFd9jzOOr5ZmAve5TlOEgd-g5A-4Ew/s1600/aa_DSCN4026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIvJFDhaI3ptZvCl7W9HhlYTq29H7GPyDxWxRciZzGF1nlhy50iFOYgLpfhloufJxQFFnYkI9Bd4r828DzmvHMzn-euqlwAlIzDQSyqwBXy222QFd9jzOOr5ZmAve5TlOEgd-g5A-4Ew/s320/aa_DSCN4026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7P8RH4-VeYHusiTWWt6oig7utnqlvl7QUGqmLwPyl3oXrUWymIPyPrXlgPPuwY0ib_Wm97Mapo4ZTohMnztp-Ym3QyEfVD5a7JCY-6J2YhvgpACt-dgykFOuxtx5yIk6ED5SrXzzJmh8/s1600/aa_DSCN4025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7P8RH4-VeYHusiTWWt6oig7utnqlvl7QUGqmLwPyl3oXrUWymIPyPrXlgPPuwY0ib_Wm97Mapo4ZTohMnztp-Ym3QyEfVD5a7JCY-6J2YhvgpACt-dgykFOuxtx5yIk6ED5SrXzzJmh8/s320/aa_DSCN4025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The climb was lots of fun, at least as stair climbing is concerned. Luckily, after climbing Montmartre, Notre Dame pales dramatically from the Duomo. You do seem to walk in a rhythmic cadence that seems to go on forever. Here's a vid of the last few climbs before coming out on the first level.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxoI1xZuItFjAT-nA-qv4ffJdwbdY1DZrMt-S8aGUAGbbtPGfTvyMr3JpSPDAXVN730LNZRHhEn9OehCPAM1g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once on top, the view was really magnificent. At first, we believed this to be it- that we had reached the highest summit we would be allowed to climb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ttIGFBnpaCCAu70lGJovJRFZmCRYIwR1epn7Z_pW7Vbzzjl4r-T13IKZYRqZ58-ZnaluCXWd4x4FDLqh0V0ZHSLfwrhnn4FWHYX5DP2B107yMNRIirmH3aiutdc3IdAjt2q6duyVZ8/s1600/aa_DSCN4029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6ttIGFBnpaCCAu70lGJovJRFZmCRYIwR1epn7Z_pW7Vbzzjl4r-T13IKZYRqZ58-ZnaluCXWd4x4FDLqh0V0ZHSLfwrhnn4FWHYX5DP2B107yMNRIirmH3aiutdc3IdAjt2q6duyVZ8/s320/aa_DSCN4029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfPCyz2KZyUywDqYrzoUIY57suM8-IXO4R_r8-mlW8fVVnTztUShjic_O39-4HHLA0qOFd4Xfqyl8UbdXZgksn0qwgllmCNDAmzO0p02-oQm5hceA5X8AXaO931UUSIvfLaAcVlvP5Xw/s1600/aa_DSCN4030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfPCyz2KZyUywDqYrzoUIY57suM8-IXO4R_r8-mlW8fVVnTztUShjic_O39-4HHLA0qOFd4Xfqyl8UbdXZgksn0qwgllmCNDAmzO0p02-oQm5hceA5X8AXaO931UUSIvfLaAcVlvP5Xw/s320/aa_DSCN4030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinybves-PpBRruEAToUDDveL4SZ3mghJkUOUgI7OkjpVmrw6EEp8XrDf7vUDjoWGcrspClLn1kzJeuknPEjrJHDqnBfmrUPe1EJvzA7hu-hl34DHVnP-GYH4xTvc-HntSKQFqSKJy0Yyo/s1600/aa_DSCN4034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinybves-PpBRruEAToUDDveL4SZ3mghJkUOUgI7OkjpVmrw6EEp8XrDf7vUDjoWGcrspClLn1kzJeuknPEjrJHDqnBfmrUPe1EJvzA7hu-hl34DHVnP-GYH4xTvc-HntSKQFqSKJy0Yyo/s320/aa_DSCN4034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It was great to Sacre Coeur's Cathedral, where we had just been, on the horizon line to the right.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT_HfljBA4CO3LM0ooJgfgtcMyXvwiFSthReGw_lAtXycVyfS16PE0LbGmEY1_PWXO0ZLsFvpNwrzMssPqYEqFCLWKlagDjspWqrZ1Nf4tRoQz7hyrDD8r5gYC3xElWIyh7ZIXG_0zW8/s1600/aa_DSCN4035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKT_HfljBA4CO3LM0ooJgfgtcMyXvwiFSthReGw_lAtXycVyfS16PE0LbGmEY1_PWXO0ZLsFvpNwrzMssPqYEqFCLWKlagDjspWqrZ1Nf4tRoQz7hyrDD8r5gYC3xElWIyh7ZIXG_0zW8/s320/aa_DSCN4035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaVqZNlKo8S6wcuMHLAk2QhVws7cvaIZHyO419YG15QbQDyCUv36M8cRWDLNffNrCohyDHZbIJs6DXUBco08zCIhjjMPajyMUwwATi4cNQhl65TTHN1AljHeWmUZb1iVQdw3eP77yhP0/s1600/aa_DSCN4038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaVqZNlKo8S6wcuMHLAk2QhVws7cvaIZHyO419YG15QbQDyCUv36M8cRWDLNffNrCohyDHZbIJs6DXUBco08zCIhjjMPajyMUwwATi4cNQhl65TTHN1AljHeWmUZb1iVQdw3eP77yhP0/s320/aa_DSCN4038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I thought it might be interesting to give a bird's eye view of the height from this level so I wrapped the cord around my wrist and held it out over the ledge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdbSb69u5CBid0dlULnosh9eURjm2-dsgb1L94bjbJURH3v6R_rYbrw4eNnFjttGEzlHF-n_DFw9pOYuO69Xr5JeMXeW-aN8KEWKk1t5kN4Lsd5XQwGRrb67hoPfZ3cVdMIi_N0SnzZA/s1600/aa_DSCN4042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdbSb69u5CBid0dlULnosh9eURjm2-dsgb1L94bjbJURH3v6R_rYbrw4eNnFjttGEzlHF-n_DFw9pOYuO69Xr5JeMXeW-aN8KEWKk1t5kN4Lsd5XQwGRrb67hoPfZ3cVdMIi_N0SnzZA/s320/aa_DSCN4042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here are some additional pics that are a little more rare. I love the fact we were able to see these views!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr_ni2db5riNiAuteHidC41ZYLddx_-4uT7XpuzcXlMRdNNic269V5cBIHrrlWWW77bMI6-RBYT-xdlZIS1ZVOENuBajW63Fwhyphenhyphen1zKIbNqnTF4CjVfmORUPZCI5vSvI3E7t4JNAbY9xs/s1600/aa_DSCN4049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr_ni2db5riNiAuteHidC41ZYLddx_-4uT7XpuzcXlMRdNNic269V5cBIHrrlWWW77bMI6-RBYT-xdlZIS1ZVOENuBajW63Fwhyphenhyphen1zKIbNqnTF4CjVfmORUPZCI5vSvI3E7t4JNAbY9xs/s320/aa_DSCN4049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG10R0jLmwr7EJb5q5MspN2VJbv4s6YalsU5H9OUDNXrL4Sbq-1XDbzJfpmgdJ7Po5LlG0x_G-vTnayA4PojFgSEBXwFOBdHm_5KfThmGQAXRII3ou0R1ZyPcaxSrjYmKN7j0jX2P2rpQ/s1600/aa_DSCN4050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG10R0jLmwr7EJb5q5MspN2VJbv4s6YalsU5H9OUDNXrL4Sbq-1XDbzJfpmgdJ7Po5LlG0x_G-vTnayA4PojFgSEBXwFOBdHm_5KfThmGQAXRII3ou0R1ZyPcaxSrjYmKN7j0jX2P2rpQ/s320/aa_DSCN4050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcIN8JoC2nfGl16UKmP1DSJTT3hwyD0LNe4Ch4dN900j8sxo6wKREwIltXp6uWKISw0Zfn1kgNhenvAOX7Dn2aqTKHOoukg3JRUNYRf3ZivilhUwcCMsD8usHbM5Hkmfjwe6EpZriBwI/s1600/aa_DSCN4051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcIN8JoC2nfGl16UKmP1DSJTT3hwyD0LNe4Ch4dN900j8sxo6wKREwIltXp6uWKISw0Zfn1kgNhenvAOX7Dn2aqTKHOoukg3JRUNYRf3ZivilhUwcCMsD8usHbM5Hkmfjwe6EpZriBwI/s320/aa_DSCN4051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzQAp8Y_s0kofy1aO-afl4ieY5mJVQLC8RdIU28IxwRM8DAH2ixg0GXvONfCkPYZ2lz6loDC-PnNnRrOto0YblycbforiS93Uv0BsUuHChl7-K6nvXmonA_z7ozg-zkwkjUcRafohpXE/s1600/aa_DSCN4052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzQAp8Y_s0kofy1aO-afl4ieY5mJVQLC8RdIU28IxwRM8DAH2ixg0GXvONfCkPYZ2lz6loDC-PnNnRrOto0YblycbforiS93Uv0BsUuHChl7-K6nvXmonA_z7ozg-zkwkjUcRafohpXE/s320/aa_DSCN4052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBv_WPU2ZboiyyPWgaXkb3VaosmohC3O9Gi1ZIGj-o0nggPI__g0fMGiPpmkd0N_72r0q0sPJr74EGUnknpiCBkUvmxjwoHsys1G55-wwhYcuHfkGTdjPCcUzctRYjwLFEWNIbjft-xY/s1600/aa_DSCN4054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBv_WPU2ZboiyyPWgaXkb3VaosmohC3O9Gi1ZIGj-o0nggPI__g0fMGiPpmkd0N_72r0q0sPJr74EGUnknpiCBkUvmxjwoHsys1G55-wwhYcuHfkGTdjPCcUzctRYjwLFEWNIbjft-xY/s320/aa_DSCN4054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5uE1tfoAEeCX3KcGwVb6o6ciYNBfX7L36BQH1ArrFEyIDhmOq2upJGAELd8b2fqvgEY6vaoOiWhZ9M4r7McA3xppsQHy-EXIn43MAeaYL-aNQd2WTfCGUb7m9HrSTHWEroFUEGwSy-4/s1600/aa_DSCN4057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5uE1tfoAEeCX3KcGwVb6o6ciYNBfX7L36BQH1ArrFEyIDhmOq2upJGAELd8b2fqvgEY6vaoOiWhZ9M4r7McA3xppsQHy-EXIn43MAeaYL-aNQd2WTfCGUb7m9HrSTHWEroFUEGwSy-4/s320/aa_DSCN4057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1rQMfMbf3oRQc2ZaOfz19cddYOdlmn9r-N_-DcbPmYQDBOQc2jsFhvQaAyNE1wz1tKMx4MF7rxk1KJ4q7XX0hczcnYTpqY2Sx8nboFnAo2Vbm77LhJMtZnK5XhpBN9cnd6_-NcRqGgo/s1600/aa_DSCN4065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1rQMfMbf3oRQc2ZaOfz19cddYOdlmn9r-N_-DcbPmYQDBOQc2jsFhvQaAyNE1wz1tKMx4MF7rxk1KJ4q7XX0hczcnYTpqY2Sx8nboFnAo2Vbm77LhJMtZnK5XhpBN9cnd6_-NcRqGgo/s320/aa_DSCN4065.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
As we started climbing yet another level, the bells began to ring. It was incredible to feel the vibration under our feet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxiiMc6NUZfLKEgCJZ_Sylw1FHtVD-ACM5eh9xiuNm8uecEEhxHFQfEtl6UnCZJ53s-8ggsCyY4PKpKNg2y8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Once inside, you could climb some wooden stairs to see one of the bells that was inoperable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnNLin81p6olXqwcrIAqESDlzBX_1f1ir8jlCHavHkV9a3h6EH0rlDtWQJgsfxouoQB5TafFJbSs6YCuM6bnz7EtdFskNh_AEBPiWrvKfkiudtf9FA2VaM1aB7Fi99QlrtXmxqgiwYlg/s1600/aa_DSCN4066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnNLin81p6olXqwcrIAqESDlzBX_1f1ir8jlCHavHkV9a3h6EH0rlDtWQJgsfxouoQB5TafFJbSs6YCuM6bnz7EtdFskNh_AEBPiWrvKfkiudtf9FA2VaM1aB7Fi99QlrtXmxqgiwYlg/s320/aa_DSCN4066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Back out we continued to climb the whole way to the top providing the most stunning views of Paris!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaXB7t03TkcY8AKsEwO_cTkRfbMUfGTgEW2IfUQPCsQI5qCDYGSSGblLub9S1X9Kte9Vz5NJ7hcJoF7A8sqqE1CaCGlWk2T4N9Cwyn8SBxEN5aFb38I3qGzp00OD2Rbjt3WvBuW_t2JU/s1600/aa_DSCN4078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaXB7t03TkcY8AKsEwO_cTkRfbMUfGTgEW2IfUQPCsQI5qCDYGSSGblLub9S1X9Kte9Vz5NJ7hcJoF7A8sqqE1CaCGlWk2T4N9Cwyn8SBxEN5aFb38I3qGzp00OD2Rbjt3WvBuW_t2JU/s320/aa_DSCN4078.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOGs1IEpYkVX80t5exXy-P-yc2XnYl1vVgFNNoWy4UjlVX4SPgt62-H9Mbj5Lgq_TQpVaxGmgyth0Jc61U3Ub3C4au_o8fXbL6L9V_DRgzRG_x8iChzrFpYFOV0HUiOygCGaBvmNrwxA/s1600/aa_DSCN4079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOGs1IEpYkVX80t5exXy-P-yc2XnYl1vVgFNNoWy4UjlVX4SPgt62-H9Mbj5Lgq_TQpVaxGmgyth0Jc61U3Ub3C4au_o8fXbL6L9V_DRgzRG_x8iChzrFpYFOV0HUiOygCGaBvmNrwxA/s320/aa_DSCN4079.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
In this pic you can see Sacre Couer in the background on the hill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX81fa2v2gbLn8ehBB5BeOsPc7SCCOvNn7eaQfmBxE7Z-nMfEipCDhajGk028gwX84KOb4tylZ6Ak0URPNNAAerjgD-_kKD0KYpY0AU5IBi2PgV73zvPDWP9a8iYXLGtmTUBJY3E7I3EA/s1600/aa_DSCN4080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX81fa2v2gbLn8ehBB5BeOsPc7SCCOvNn7eaQfmBxE7Z-nMfEipCDhajGk028gwX84KOb4tylZ6Ak0URPNNAAerjgD-_kKD0KYpY0AU5IBi2PgV73zvPDWP9a8iYXLGtmTUBJY3E7I3EA/s320/aa_DSCN4080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwAjU75mXdAb5limCzOTur1ERkwaC4fJpwbDpHemw8flnz-RKNVZOeUCU5JPD6uMdZH4qObakvWrUvQz_stU5YHytClrTCx8raBcL_De8cKXqgUDlpHntmg7pUofo06YQm2gQkplmAq4/s1600/aa_DSCN4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwAjU75mXdAb5limCzOTur1ERkwaC4fJpwbDpHemw8flnz-RKNVZOeUCU5JPD6uMdZH4qObakvWrUvQz_stU5YHytClrTCx8raBcL_De8cKXqgUDlpHntmg7pUofo06YQm2gQkplmAq4/s320/aa_DSCN4083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGwMqsdXFuD-P_5xCd-kB-nd1ouBKi53WBFbG4idBbmBeZYHaSMjNCUvyaBOxZt1BJzIwpp2b3_wHJL6GMwlYpVUWLJ0bIyKzcUpVBpOAKPUk09j3OJmUlSUBy2vK5NQkdOeIbawr_QE/s1600/aa_DSCN4085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGwMqsdXFuD-P_5xCd-kB-nd1ouBKi53WBFbG4idBbmBeZYHaSMjNCUvyaBOxZt1BJzIwpp2b3_wHJL6GMwlYpVUWLJ0bIyKzcUpVBpOAKPUk09j3OJmUlSUBy2vK5NQkdOeIbawr_QE/s320/aa_DSCN4085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNAJDg-6A6cyFE_BJ2C2MhyphenhyphenLJUsvhvZyHlvxNNqDKHsvIDoyqiM9XSGFHeM9CuS1-I4LdDJm79FjgcjB9K5xlJRZltcvQ1-7BXcc_fjV_8d4xyMpVcxNz1IcNBVCPf7SCJoxBOaHSzk/s1600/aa_DSCN4086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbNAJDg-6A6cyFE_BJ2C2MhyphenhyphenLJUsvhvZyHlvxNNqDKHsvIDoyqiM9XSGFHeM9CuS1-I4LdDJm79FjgcjB9K5xlJRZltcvQ1-7BXcc_fjV_8d4xyMpVcxNz1IcNBVCPf7SCJoxBOaHSzk/s320/aa_DSCN4086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cNSRulgRNez8ArbEJQE5DrB1lUklahluH5i7O8pEM_vGQyhnkOAgbUxR4BhkifVBD7ORpI3y2pF1P-RjU0kAne9TWjkCO8BYePMIMz5ZiQ4Wu0nNWNC9ezqt3_xyWpfZga7s4Qc_NsU/s1600/aa_DSCN4088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cNSRulgRNez8ArbEJQE5DrB1lUklahluH5i7O8pEM_vGQyhnkOAgbUxR4BhkifVBD7ORpI3y2pF1P-RjU0kAne9TWjkCO8BYePMIMz5ZiQ4Wu0nNWNC9ezqt3_xyWpfZga7s4Qc_NsU/s320/aa_DSCN4088.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1uj_YxlPxs4UYUqnORTmTolhlpZjoIV1fzrj6P9hfWyy4eypzYhSz2F7hDF8O4bsfn1TkEdk-F2fbEOSo6DBkTTtXYCjGZpjhtSylVMlFgSRMKc6fRKqwGOImL0_wFZuhWDYaa7htmw/s1600/aa_DSCN4089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1uj_YxlPxs4UYUqnORTmTolhlpZjoIV1fzrj6P9hfWyy4eypzYhSz2F7hDF8O4bsfn1TkEdk-F2fbEOSo6DBkTTtXYCjGZpjhtSylVMlFgSRMKc6fRKqwGOImL0_wFZuhWDYaa7htmw/s320/aa_DSCN4089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
One last pic of the Notre Dame Climbers! Andrew, Britt, Annie, Adam and myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2VOl-wNlMXpkNNpm4J3fRldNAx_vt6SRbY-diPqT0v2Typp8dwbTr4OftjKuCF6OWdFyF9h0VW6EGejI9-uQpz_CT3CXZNTiIkkm_017Gos85MPS2DirdTXcEzUKyWma1HjploSV_Hs/s1600/DSCN4037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2VOl-wNlMXpkNNpm4J3fRldNAx_vt6SRbY-diPqT0v2Typp8dwbTr4OftjKuCF6OWdFyF9h0VW6EGejI9-uQpz_CT3CXZNTiIkkm_017Gos85MPS2DirdTXcEzUKyWma1HjploSV_Hs/s320/DSCN4037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1236884697"></span><span id="goog_1236884698"></span>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-79928127017350156852011-05-18T05:40:00.010-04:002011-06-10T21:56:41.164-04:00Home at last my beautiful Montmartre, home at last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIRVv_u4RI72WxBuvwaH74dFst2rn7Wx5MwlrLFuCQI9YlhF6eiNmSF4H0jXrC3u3-meZfcwpEmZzfjeu2yaYibU_U_oBSo65DEiInnUitbC9aPch0-6LVFGkW8GJ8QmQPsiyRccUYog/s1600/768px-Camille_Pissarro_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIRVv_u4RI72WxBuvwaH74dFst2rn7Wx5MwlrLFuCQI9YlhF6eiNmSF4H0jXrC3u3-meZfcwpEmZzfjeu2yaYibU_U_oBSo65DEiInnUitbC9aPch0-6LVFGkW8GJ8QmQPsiyRccUYog/s320/768px-Camille_Pissarro_007.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many parts of Paris have stirred my imagination long before I ever set foot in the city. Minoring in art history as an undergrad influenced me great deal and helped me establish a European museum bucket list. The Louvre has been an inexhaustible place. I feel like the undergrad student I was each time I go- six times this trip alone- baffled by the staggering quality and quantity of works. Few experiences bring that kind of endless wonder and enjoyment to me. I feel lucky to feel like a student half way through my life where art, art-making, and art history are continually challenging, novel and inspiring.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4S0Nj0N-wpLgAIQz9ZdLdrScC4iBR2IQ1rcbaBnqDggroFdUThwSjb5-Pvacyx6wuoFVHTBI3xoNtIfUv0VhyphenhyphenQBLu7Rxv2G0owU0vCVDu3nPMgilCueFmrXt4N2HZS-NSpnOX8eTp7A/s1600/Edgar+Degas+-+The+Absinthe+Drinker+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4S0Nj0N-wpLgAIQz9ZdLdrScC4iBR2IQ1rcbaBnqDggroFdUThwSjb5-Pvacyx6wuoFVHTBI3xoNtIfUv0VhyphenhyphenQBLu7Rxv2G0owU0vCVDu3nPMgilCueFmrXt4N2HZS-NSpnOX8eTp7A/s320/Edgar+Degas+-+The+Absinthe+Drinker+.JPG" width="235" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6K_EZT1dEWiYikdUWRn3QFCOXeprpVRiILe5KhskGPOIlPdOZl3LkhQkN3bHBFIO058Jmv7cC5nqeYRJZTV66RirqvumPYl-UvlB-ncFEjR_Uct7dtMo-U3wWVp3X95nFIBrYRr55hw8/s1600/Toulouse-Lautrec_Au_Moulin_Rouge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6K_EZT1dEWiYikdUWRn3QFCOXeprpVRiILe5KhskGPOIlPdOZl3LkhQkN3bHBFIO058Jmv7cC5nqeYRJZTV66RirqvumPYl-UvlB-ncFEjR_Uct7dtMo-U3wWVp3X95nFIBrYRr55hw8/s320/Toulouse-Lautrec_Au_Moulin_Rouge.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd071pCLUk0bXwNlr7B8Q4sEenJh2qpMOvIGJ_KYM3uXQUWo0qFMYXBa9LpepNIWqnBWve4MWPFq6LH2Lh1NYzqCfTFEfRGzHmeOSzWFO5WzEBs8R6vh-2zAfCuIv8tGf4447IO_DiSgI/s1600/aa_DSCN4022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd071pCLUk0bXwNlr7B8Q4sEenJh2qpMOvIGJ_KYM3uXQUWo0qFMYXBa9LpepNIWqnBWve4MWPFq6LH2Lh1NYzqCfTFEfRGzHmeOSzWFO5WzEBs8R6vh-2zAfCuIv8tGf4447IO_DiSgI/s320/aa_DSCN4022.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I remember studying Piccaso, Modigliani, Pissaro (the author of the landscape above), Degas' "The Absinthe Drinker" and Toulouse-Latrec ("At the Moulin Rouge" above) and countless others) and reading about this place called Montmartre they frequented. I invented daydreams as I looked at the projected slides of the bohemian and absinthe-drinking artists of Montmartre and was carried far away from Doucette Hall at Edinboro University during the evenings of that post-impressionist class. I'm happy to report that I am finally able to cross this one of the bucket list though I'll definitely be returning every year from now on! More importantly, real experience will merge with those memories of my art history class something I've waited for nearly 18-19 years.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I discovered Montmartre means, "Mountain of Martyrs" after the decapitation of St. Denis. Its such a high place, due the elevation (not the absinthe), slightly outside the city and provides incredibly dramatic views of Paris. Montmartre's wine-making was a major source of income, and apparently, as a result, its how the hill such a popular drinking spot.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got off at the metro stop, Abbesses, which is one of the lowest metro stations in Paris- almost 100 feet below ground. Climbing to daylight would be a great exercise for my quads which are longing to get back on the bike. In fact, there would be much stair climbing in the hours to come! The promise was the great view of the city it would provide in addition to discovering the actual Montmartre.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaxQuizaoCD3x2ZmZ_6OsClty6Pd_qX-MctuXPzWhx67CDVsylRYJDlb2jvZSedFo9O_BemD47RSf8ARXW_iNAmukJHoHDK34VHpS4d0Q_VQgNu1giZRPCsJZwaZBVQiC25Bnitalxb0/s1600/DSCN3946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaxQuizaoCD3x2ZmZ_6OsClty6Pd_qX-MctuXPzWhx67CDVsylRYJDlb2jvZSedFo9O_BemD47RSf8ARXW_iNAmukJHoHDK34VHpS4d0Q_VQgNu1giZRPCsJZwaZBVQiC25Bnitalxb0/s320/DSCN3946.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a5YEOa54jj6BbeFBM5xCeoWYbi25HyJdR9Z47037Q3z666uJro4DfOxbNsn-rfpY9fy0RsBnd8OnnKsaufBKN8EKtXiW9ini2eTCx0xjNDFKyk6Yru2zjjG-KS1f-wc0YNFVHNZlb5U/s1600/aa_DSCN3952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a5YEOa54jj6BbeFBM5xCeoWYbi25HyJdR9Z47037Q3z666uJro4DfOxbNsn-rfpY9fy0RsBnd8OnnKsaufBKN8EKtXiW9ini2eTCx0xjNDFKyk6Yru2zjjG-KS1f-wc0YNFVHNZlb5U/s320/aa_DSCN3952.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfO6oI8cMmRCPEzlJM090G1BnB6yQ69UJUViOLfCRCLzC2dp1HYJCuGGzWSBpo_p-qgaQ3SwPzCmZb9ItXBuVJpMwoG837Skpgw-ZxkblYZ6jknXO-olhVZp6WLtsU-Nn43C_l6UbUNE/s1600/aa_DSCN3953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfO6oI8cMmRCPEzlJM090G1BnB6yQ69UJUViOLfCRCLzC2dp1HYJCuGGzWSBpo_p-qgaQ3SwPzCmZb9ItXBuVJpMwoG837Skpgw-ZxkblYZ6jknXO-olhVZp6WLtsU-Nn43C_l6UbUNE/s320/aa_DSCN3953.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> After arriving at the top of some serious flights of stairs, I came into a little piazza where local artists where making and trying to sell images of Tower d' Eiffel, Notre Dame and other well-known Parisian places.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqiIr2YIA90dEYk8OQkQ4vivNEMkNuIX1UGUWZ9n3zPqeCcDTv46XZtFJ3AbUCINQ2XYyixl9Gj6pBCpAQvgFLc-P4OXPaWfhwpw8CKCt67W3HNyikSuBQ8gR5FZ1cSZYOjoVWVuG0bc/s1600/aa_DSCN3954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqiIr2YIA90dEYk8OQkQ4vivNEMkNuIX1UGUWZ9n3zPqeCcDTv46XZtFJ3AbUCINQ2XYyixl9Gj6pBCpAQvgFLc-P4OXPaWfhwpw8CKCt67W3HNyikSuBQ8gR5FZ1cSZYOjoVWVuG0bc/s320/aa_DSCN3954.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEnP7fXvhkFSEELVqv0XXleK-1RM5ZdXSGh_DFSF2x6NHsUnR0OBzAUbTiIL_Wy2zf_zZ3xecBw_f5sDicxNH-QfSuHyfZGQDY31juig0deDtmcnG6VRFV5i5RXzBoOSvybDxJzIgqSQ/s1600/aa_DSCN3999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEnP7fXvhkFSEELVqv0XXleK-1RM5ZdXSGh_DFSF2x6NHsUnR0OBzAUbTiIL_Wy2zf_zZ3xecBw_f5sDicxNH-QfSuHyfZGQDY31juig0deDtmcnG6VRFV5i5RXzBoOSvybDxJzIgqSQ/s320/aa_DSCN3999.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvssqqIjnMBqQvLWsDRjUFZsbrVavJ8h36Dyzzum3F6Xcqbvqgxq7u_QSJBH-jGddmjgx4B1p3hJskZeyKKOohRe3DqmXvDwdTFsTzpLwBUzjOiLpsXImfrauvHlprDhzFAx1pNBOceNQ/s1600/aa_DSCN4000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvssqqIjnMBqQvLWsDRjUFZsbrVavJ8h36Dyzzum3F6Xcqbvqgxq7u_QSJBH-jGddmjgx4B1p3hJskZeyKKOohRe3DqmXvDwdTFsTzpLwBUzjOiLpsXImfrauvHlprDhzFAx1pNBOceNQ/s320/aa_DSCN4000.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0lohhygikvuQQajEmjGlXMH3H4lzJyt95gXVwukkEbywUNLB5AFFCS4RBzmD4K6Qy8lgDZ5lWkV8iFcuIUHkbWsRSttpf5iPBsJOAerdpeFknfB9hXmUfsrRqOBMmRaUbwTqZT-MWM/s1600/aa_DSCN3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu0lohhygikvuQQajEmjGlXMH3H4lzJyt95gXVwukkEbywUNLB5AFFCS4RBzmD4K6Qy8lgDZ5lWkV8iFcuIUHkbWsRSttpf5iPBsJOAerdpeFknfB9hXmUfsrRqOBMmRaUbwTqZT-MWM/s320/aa_DSCN3955.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1H0in-6YmiIK9bt86tMi6s7k1-jnbBTZqH8L0RxpTyd8ME0qfpucjDq6sjsSeDvgeidanTj71WbThR-B0Dhyphenhyphenxeao2D-jb8O9gEx4Ur88PU8jbxtYQ8wYmPsMcaZ561KeHUwSqXDxA08/s1600/aa_DSCN4009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1H0in-6YmiIK9bt86tMi6s7k1-jnbBTZqH8L0RxpTyd8ME0qfpucjDq6sjsSeDvgeidanTj71WbThR-B0Dhyphenhyphenxeao2D-jb8O9gEx4Ur88PU8jbxtYQ8wYmPsMcaZ561KeHUwSqXDxA08/s320/aa_DSCN4009.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You have to try a little harder to "see" the Montmartre I had created in my head, but the sentiment of it was easily roused. I couldn't help thinking of of Erik Satie and his famous piece, "Gymnopedies", which is a collection of minimal piano compositions that I have listened to thousands of times. The piece is so incredibly melancholic (at least to me) and interwoven in the Montmartre I have created. This past year I had this (along with much Debussy and Chopin) on in the studio preparing for this meeting. If you don't know the piece (or know it by name) you can listen to it here:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhZAQlOtwg&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhZAQlOtwg&feature=related</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Though I'm not so interested in romantic art, much of the work I admire stirs feelings of melancholy, longing and remembrance and so Satie has a great hold on me. It turns out there's a story of Satie and his brief involvement with Suzanne Valadon that apparently had a profound impact on him. While the "Gymnopedies" was not written for her, I associate the sentiment of Satie's most famous composition with the story of his relationship with Valadon. It's retold slightly different way than I recall hearing. Here's the wikipedia version:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;">Satie and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Valadon" title="Suzanne Valadon">Suzanne Valadon</a>, an artists' model and artist in her own right, and a long-time friend of </span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Miguel Utrillo (and mother of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Utrillo" title="Maurice Utrillo">Maurice Utrillo</a>), began an affair early in 1893. After their first night </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> together, he proposed marriage. The two did not marry, but Valadon moved to a room next to Satie's </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> at the Rue Cortot. Satie became obsessed with her, calling her his </i><i>Biqui, and writing impassioned </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> notes about "her whole being, lovely eyes, gentle hands, and tiny feet". During their relationship, </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Satie composed the </i><i>Danses gothiques as a kind of prayer to restore peace of mind, and Valadon </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> painted a portrait of Satie, which she gave to him. After six months she moved away, leaving Satie </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> broken-hearted. Afterwards, he said that he was left with "nothing but an icy loneliness that fills the </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> head with emptiness and the heart with sadness".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Satie#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup> It is believed this was the only intimate <span style="font-size: x-small;">relationship Satie ever had.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Satie#cite_note-grove-7"><span style="font-size: small;">[</span>8]</a></sup></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">One evening last week, before heading to Chez Papa, my colleague invited a Parisian professor to come to dinner to teach us a famous chanson. The one I instantly fell in love with was Charles Aznavour's "La Boheme". Like many of my experiences here, there seemed to be constant evidence of synchronicity. "La Boheme" is about an artist recalling his days in Montmartre romantically involved with a young woman who models for him. He recalls being happy, though poor and revisiting Montmartre afterward only to find how the city he knew, no longer is there. The french lyrics are here followed by the english:</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Je vous parle d'un temps<br />
Que les moins de vingt ans ne peuvent pas connaitre<br />
Montmartre en ce temps-la accrochait ses lilas<br />
Jusque sous nos fenetres et si l'humble garni<br />
Qui nous servait de nid ne payait pas de mine<br />
C'est la qu'on s'est connu<br />
Moi qui criait famine et toi qui posais nue</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>La boheme, la boheme. Ca voulait dire on est heureux<br />
La boheme, la boheme. Nous ne mangions qu'un jour sur deux</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dans les cafes voisins<br />
Nous etions quelques-uns<br />
Qui attendions la gloire et bien que misereux<br />
Avec le ventre creux<br />
Nous ne cessions d'y croire et quand quelque bistro<br />
Contre un bon repas chaud<br />
Nous prenait une toile, nous recitions des vers<br />
Groupes autour du poele en oubliant l'hiver</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>La boheme, la boheme. Ca voulait dire tu es jolie<br />
La boheme, la boheme et nous avions tous du genie</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Souvent il m'arrivait<br />
Devant mon chevalet<br />
De passer des nuits blanches<br />
Retouchant le dessin<br />
De la ligne d'un sein<br />
Du galbe d'une hanche et ce n'est qu'au matin<br />
Qu'on s'asseyait enfin<br />
Devant un cafe-creme<br />
Epuises mais ravis<br />
Fallait-il que l'on s'aime et qu'on aime la vie</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>La boheme, la boheme. Ca voulait dire on a vingt ans<br />
La boheme, la boheme et nous vivions de l'air du temps</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Quand au hasard des jours<br />
Je m'en vais faire un tour<br />
A mon ancienne adresse<br />
Je ne reconnais plus<br />
Ni les murs, ni les rues<br />
Qui ont vu ma jeunesse<br />
En haut d'un escalier<br />
Je cherche l'atelier<br />
Dont plus rien ne subsiste<br />
Dans son nouveau decor<br />
Montmartre semble triste et les lilas sont morts</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>La boheme, la boheme. On etait jeunes, on etait fous<br />
La boheme, la boheme. Ca ne veut plus rien dire du tout</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The english: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tell you about a time</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That teenagers cannot know about</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At that time, Montmartre hung its lilacs</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">right up to our windows, and even if our humble furnished room</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That served us as a love-nest didn't look like much</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was there that we knew each other</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me, crying hunger, and you, posing in the nude</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme. That meant "one is happy"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boeme, la boheme. We only ate once every two days.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the neighbouring cafes</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were people</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">that waited for glory and although miserable</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">with empty stomacs we never stopped believing</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and when some pub in exchange for a warm meal</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">accepted a painting, we recited verses</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">gathered around the stove, forgetting about winter.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme. That meant "you are pretty"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme, and all of us were geniuses </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Often, before my easel, </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I spent sleepless nights</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">touching up the drawing</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">of the line of a breast</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">of the figure of a hip, and only at morning</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">one sat down at last</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">before a cafe-creme </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">exhausted, but exhillarated</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It must have been so that we loved each other, and that we loved life</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme. That meant "one was twenty years old"</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme and we lived from the 'spirit of the age'</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When, some days in a whim</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I go out and take a walk</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to my old address</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I no longer recognise</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">nor the walls, nor the streets</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">that witnessed my youth</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the top of a stairway</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I search for the workshop</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">of which nothing remains</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In its new decor</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Montmartre looks sad, and the lilacs have died.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme. We were young, we were crazy</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">La boheme, la boheme. It doesn't mean anything at all anymore.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; position: fixed;"><div id="new_selection_block0.9166481193990095" style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://lyricstranslate.com/"> http://lyricstranslate.com </a></span> </div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; position: fixed;"><div id="new_selection_block0.35567449197248635" style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://lyricstranslate.com/"> http://lyricstranslate.com </a></i></span> </div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">Like Satie's music and relationship with Valadon, its an incredibly moving </sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">story about lost love and returning to specific places only to find that they have vanished in the way that we remember them</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">. Its an incredible power to be aware of these memories and feelings we have- that instigate the cathartic expression of art-making that is born from them, to appreciate where we are (or were), and to find ways of celebrating the preciousness of time we spend with others. It was so reassuring to be emotionally and pyschologically at Montmartre with these associations I had created over the years. I found it incredibly moving and was relishing in the overwhelming feelings the place had on me. This was one of those moments that will never be lost.</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">Well you may have heard there's a basilica there- lol- the beautiful Sacre Couer. Built in the 19th century, the basilica was built, in part, to honor the victims of the Franco-Prussian War. Its absolutely stunning and provides a wonderful and dramatic view of Paris.</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BWHO5x7Z8EwoG09hkwE5SlBPe5nC6wfFKsJZDCwmRE8MPsBD5uxd_kyCiWh9tTVVxwidKsA0Vi6HM5Om0zGdoYjeVg69Ol10po3PGWTnvw4htYZv0zGMIV5sgQXh_00bjWc70JoR04E/s1600/aa_DSCN3990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BWHO5x7Z8EwoG09hkwE5SlBPe5nC6wfFKsJZDCwmRE8MPsBD5uxd_kyCiWh9tTVVxwidKsA0Vi6HM5Om0zGdoYjeVg69Ol10po3PGWTnvw4htYZv0zGMIV5sgQXh_00bjWc70JoR04E/s320/aa_DSCN3990.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU5-8rXcPyFNWowOKkBaxvBIH8F1xTb96Gy9HqjwO0rU73GIKyS5KS9BRfqO4CeFskMOMrDQ72kjSpucP1y7hO9dnf3smNCAOW1aOVWy56No70matMlN2KZ5bVVD1NRM8YC-N8JrWcYc/s1600/aa_DSCN3985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU5-8rXcPyFNWowOKkBaxvBIH8F1xTb96Gy9HqjwO0rU73GIKyS5KS9BRfqO4CeFskMOMrDQ72kjSpucP1y7hO9dnf3smNCAOW1aOVWy56No70matMlN2KZ5bVVD1NRM8YC-N8JrWcYc/s320/aa_DSCN3985.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P-VBch2jMS6br-8Ju2ypTv7WkG2GBJrqXaBJ4gHty76HCcP5HglIZ4vic3YPfXRgZsLvkU7A9Xxx9NKGkjRtUWetav6RVQy5mdt9zWm0mGdLL-5L9-x3DswlsqcWGGNozdG9tLdWo9A/s1600/aa_DSCN3977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P-VBch2jMS6br-8Ju2ypTv7WkG2GBJrqXaBJ4gHty76HCcP5HglIZ4vic3YPfXRgZsLvkU7A9Xxx9NKGkjRtUWetav6RVQy5mdt9zWm0mGdLL-5L9-x3DswlsqcWGGNozdG9tLdWo9A/s320/aa_DSCN3977.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgTVmk2JOrKf67FEjlORpc9YDHnJGV1mLueop_3zxfstEL0om_tYjikVN7mntAtlULvEliZ5kSTbfN7c4_7RAiegn6KBEqd92OXWuI1v3Q_ne4ocJo1VSC2QWg4epJhkU5v_Ocsb_xB8/s1600/aa_DSCN3989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgTVmk2JOrKf67FEjlORpc9YDHnJGV1mLueop_3zxfstEL0om_tYjikVN7mntAtlULvEliZ5kSTbfN7c4_7RAiegn6KBEqd92OXWuI1v3Q_ne4ocJo1VSC2QWg4epJhkU5v_Ocsb_xB8/s320/aa_DSCN3989.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWBibvNwaM0b3HVXhhiAVZ4uU_Us1klsWTRWfFI5J5KhbkEO-R5Ue18H1X8s3GbkHXxTl70bGOFBYbvYNQ-SPBEH5Z7sSG61wfFvruY_Ra8KcBO8BvRucxYzXmdgcZ7kN-Ji0n2qWaxQ/s1600/aa_DSCN3983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWBibvNwaM0b3HVXhhiAVZ4uU_Us1klsWTRWfFI5J5KhbkEO-R5Ue18H1X8s3GbkHXxTl70bGOFBYbvYNQ-SPBEH5Z7sSG61wfFvruY_Ra8KcBO8BvRucxYzXmdgcZ7kN-Ji0n2qWaxQ/s320/aa_DSCN3983.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs9UD7z_Pcg-DvKTRa6BZ6puJpsD5u5zKq2oSk6xS7oA8f45CflVtuhwbDSOGOdwF09sA_LHrBL2rYE7vIFYAuKc-q1hKdAW4wptEytEOX-uHWf81lsugR65dSokEbw5On5g5y41OXqc/s1600/aa_DSCN3981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrs9UD7z_Pcg-DvKTRa6BZ6puJpsD5u5zKq2oSk6xS7oA8f45CflVtuhwbDSOGOdwF09sA_LHrBL2rYE7vIFYAuKc-q1hKdAW4wptEytEOX-uHWf81lsugR65dSokEbw5On5g5y41OXqc/s320/aa_DSCN3981.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">I took some photos and savored the drama of the view. It was gorgeous out- bright and sunny, but a little cool and a street musician was playing some Marley. </sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCQ3JBj4hJN46iDUYcRF9jy337CuX4WKRM3_Iscx4Z9DDjYqEj-JxZroXe-PyrWhxqR8A_sDXg3xjln-Qwjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">As I headed back to the piazza, I realized one item of Montmartre I neglected to consider in building my image was- you guessed it: food. Actually my student, Annie, made yet another wonderful suggestion: a banana and Nutella crepe! It too, delivered and nearly brought tears to my eyes like Satie! Here they are making it.</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqhWK4cyTudEjqJ66JSNXVdV4DHUzfXHco_Y0RS29pTEZvoYs1WzQZ8jVCNciiPXSx8Qjb51btiU3fOkHOmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwEQ02SUpoLOWd4ZJ6hy3DtVM4U-QMPKU_BYYuQD9yS2HgYbSdQsWPfHZn5Zf5UytCHRGwiOS6xECa-utplWg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76bLqPamQcvfDA2yTSHy4vRVgRFnTJdxXhP153CtnFfGsI6zZnH5_iie86FIdMmYgKJtCwHSQ7PoT_ro8uAi-1jEvyFBBArzr55zqsoiGb0uo-3fU4jyv4-b7-7U1xbB5mU69Vss5wK0/s1600/aa_DSCN4006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76bLqPamQcvfDA2yTSHy4vRVgRFnTJdxXhP153CtnFfGsI6zZnH5_iie86FIdMmYgKJtCwHSQ7PoT_ro8uAi-1jEvyFBBArzr55zqsoiGb0uo-3fU4jyv4-b7-7U1xbB5mU69Vss5wK0/s320/aa_DSCN4006.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Never underestimate the power of a fresh crepe! I continued on trying to find the Moulin Rouge and looking for the Lost Bohemian in me :) Not sure if "being bohemian" happens in a plaid Nautica shirt, but internally it certainly did so. I passed by produce stands of fresh cherries and apricots and all of the other great offerings the local stands have. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9IUT1bfbDBzAylix-0wbSbYCqo920WaJEimnW5LBNdZnl0NkYMos6fSOxw2at1IgO3UptayNMCdlw8us43yyp46oOslB0Q667NjDSa4GZ4RYm6N_d11FxzIji6KdiZmmAlcrUs0CzRM/s1600/aa_DSCN4001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9IUT1bfbDBzAylix-0wbSbYCqo920WaJEimnW5LBNdZnl0NkYMos6fSOxw2at1IgO3UptayNMCdlw8us43yyp46oOslB0Q667NjDSa4GZ4RYm6N_d11FxzIji6KdiZmmAlcrUs0CzRM/s320/aa_DSCN4001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hRBrvb4QpcjPknXeqZrZyfZfO7sVoZjg9nPx85-BS2xyWaMML7-5L_pxyrmh7rFaRxwhe68YBWNGVJKsyDA8JXRutVW4AlUaTL4gOB1pwNB2WLRvBRWdGwULVUCyUfRn5zHI2r6iGsw/s1600/aa_DSCN4014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hRBrvb4QpcjPknXeqZrZyfZfO7sVoZjg9nPx85-BS2xyWaMML7-5L_pxyrmh7rFaRxwhe68YBWNGVJKsyDA8JXRutVW4AlUaTL4gOB1pwNB2WLRvBRWdGwULVUCyUfRn5zHI2r6iGsw/s320/aa_DSCN4014.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90BJ69Xs5GSRFnimBRjDlKDQdqEx6R-b8u-_GsjS7cRg9VDC1TDm4IyU0f9x3K0gioIakwttXH8kGwxFU8AlIe9unybOuEwoo2i95W1NfoPHlUw1_W1UyGP4lSZztqi14hwKTl4mMwYs/s1600/aa_DSCN4016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90BJ69Xs5GSRFnimBRjDlKDQdqEx6R-b8u-_GsjS7cRg9VDC1TDm4IyU0f9x3K0gioIakwttXH8kGwxFU8AlIe9unybOuEwoo2i95W1NfoPHlUw1_W1UyGP4lSZztqi14hwKTl4mMwYs/s320/aa_DSCN4016.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My last stop was finding the Moulin Rouge. Clearly during the daytime, it lacked the drama that surrounds it, but was glad to have seen at least the outside. :)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDvEhGgefXcTHGOTVkf2Wawevv8VEniJhVdSe1cVH-OGZ_pjScYo7IzidD39oInGJHj3K1wt45zXDPVCBEM8pHR6ZhYo4hyphenhyphenLjYvZfB4i2xyflSADRcdqq_SssPEqXumUmuJxUAvcgPmo/s1600/aa_DSCN4022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDvEhGgefXcTHGOTVkf2Wawevv8VEniJhVdSe1cVH-OGZ_pjScYo7IzidD39oInGJHj3K1wt45zXDPVCBEM8pHR6ZhYo4hyphenhyphenLjYvZfB4i2xyflSADRcdqq_SssPEqXumUmuJxUAvcgPmo/s320/aa_DSCN4022.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0">Across the street from the Moulin Rouge is a metro stop and Britt and Annie mentioned they were going to climb Notre Dame. "After all of the stairs we've already climbed?", I thought. So all of the sudden, the "Climb Notre Dame" group was on! I could sense that they too were infected by Paris, and to share that with them was one of the greatest things that could have happened.</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61j5Ie_cS_cXBlWauNUEvfIr2lF2I5yqKmt7o_12UiES0lVJJfoOC6OxuGACKhdQ2bv-Cm2gvHJqk9mktHGPfGb0uGnCsqCkIpmnz9NB5BU-shb78tkrbHaEt8S1oJASBdiiMvA3dY3E/s1600/aa_DSCN3994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61j5Ie_cS_cXBlWauNUEvfIr2lF2I5yqKmt7o_12UiES0lVJJfoOC6OxuGACKhdQ2bv-Cm2gvHJqk9mktHGPfGb0uGnCsqCkIpmnz9NB5BU-shb78tkrbHaEt8S1oJASBdiiMvA3dY3E/s320/aa_DSCN3994.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"><br />
</sup></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-grove_7-0"> </sup></span></div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-57463869080776297272011-05-16T19:27:00.001-04:002011-05-16T20:05:10.671-04:00Palais Royal and Galerie Vivienne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyxqCWD5m9ESs5qHV-PcP9bgYDOdV1GXq7-Xj1bVtolcYnqjGM9bd_xkWsOJNtCfUJfeUSaADIm3D9Mcq64IM0jYZaJEqVGIPiCSy1EueAA0rV68OCBLJiZlmPykT564vhjEMBIKKxQE/s1600/aa_DSCN3861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyxqCWD5m9ESs5qHV-PcP9bgYDOdV1GXq7-Xj1bVtolcYnqjGM9bd_xkWsOJNtCfUJfeUSaADIm3D9Mcq64IM0jYZaJEqVGIPiCSy1EueAA0rV68OCBLJiZlmPykT564vhjEMBIKKxQE/s320/aa_DSCN3861.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After lunch I headed over to see the Palais Royal, which is on the north side of the Louvre. The Palais contains <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_64477961"></a>Daniel Buren's site-specific artpiece, <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7076513946648274105&postID=5746386908077629727" title="Les Deux Plateaux">Les Deux Plateaux</a></i>, known as <i>Les Colonnes de Buren</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_3qcSn3JG2Pd0W1882BPgOMp4NNXLrk_hdBzGN1d-YEH1MzagpMCnSJXkNJ7tsZ0tERFQyulBks1v5GJpD3i4mrDiNJEvsoGhIEtP9ydVy5WeYKAw_F7OFUx3o-0TSJjQYt4Fy8mpL8/s1600/aa_DSCN3833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_3qcSn3JG2Pd0W1882BPgOMp4NNXLrk_hdBzGN1d-YEH1MzagpMCnSJXkNJ7tsZ0tERFQyulBks1v5GJpD3i4mrDiNJEvsoGhIEtP9ydVy5WeYKAw_F7OFUx3o-0TSJjQYt4Fy8mpL8/s320/aa_DSCN3833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The gardens were well groomed and loaded with flowers, fountains and the rigidly groomed trees. Smart shops surround the courtyard and in one of them, Charlotte Corday, purchased the knife she used to stab Marat. Here are a few pics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa8q1SlRaORhGJdH2jdMFztCTeW_8vV-CRCkRniOTXeikiXViNdAeHbbScQDyDlx0bcVtQyU8mnD_VvkQ2IGhYpbuW_OPJrZaVAB0nYzhSfra_ohWis40lf99JTCdzQkXBARWRP0IFPs/s1600/aa_DSCN3836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa8q1SlRaORhGJdH2jdMFztCTeW_8vV-CRCkRniOTXeikiXViNdAeHbbScQDyDlx0bcVtQyU8mnD_VvkQ2IGhYpbuW_OPJrZaVAB0nYzhSfra_ohWis40lf99JTCdzQkXBARWRP0IFPs/s320/aa_DSCN3836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiCNdpmDs7pvv9qjkIFUwvJyYi2JGTlL8PP2OuYG9MApb4XSEoADsTBhGUx6UobXJ53paIs6_BPLcITfZ6PvXNexqwGXxfoMYPhfZZZr_qYGFMglWqCTK7pzEOz3Bl51TRvHMxscwaCg/s1600/aa_DSCN3839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiCNdpmDs7pvv9qjkIFUwvJyYi2JGTlL8PP2OuYG9MApb4XSEoADsTBhGUx6UobXJ53paIs6_BPLcITfZ6PvXNexqwGXxfoMYPhfZZZr_qYGFMglWqCTK7pzEOz3Bl51TRvHMxscwaCg/s320/aa_DSCN3839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljjr-0BB85c3rVuOfQyBoGe6R-bSymTfSgIIjDg21TUS1dYNlhbwssBN-NROD7yOIosT3-f6cvwMGyM3vNjRbdWq-SQNXAxN0brCr9pwbGpK-jLsc1ekkd5Cq75t9y7KfOSivTaE9x0g/s1600/aa_DSCN3842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljjr-0BB85c3rVuOfQyBoGe6R-bSymTfSgIIjDg21TUS1dYNlhbwssBN-NROD7yOIosT3-f6cvwMGyM3vNjRbdWq-SQNXAxN0brCr9pwbGpK-jLsc1ekkd5Cq75t9y7KfOSivTaE9x0g/s320/aa_DSCN3842.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwEM4q6r-sPhBKg-Ap2YL1DscuAys23khuj2CwL5rH02Y1GvOt32ETKrHj6Ge6oEaWDtWtnJ_DPDOIqQiqYbIrKCUFx9VXzCv4fETV2Qluhxy89v5F41isFd10q53JLRSLBWy3inaPBs/s1600/aa_DSCN3853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwEM4q6r-sPhBKg-Ap2YL1DscuAys23khuj2CwL5rH02Y1GvOt32ETKrHj6Ge6oEaWDtWtnJ_DPDOIqQiqYbIrKCUFx9VXzCv4fETV2Qluhxy89v5F41isFd10q53JLRSLBWy3inaPBs/s320/aa_DSCN3853.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcdN3d0-gQCL3BcOj0WCMiEA77R5cSJv8usFUcaD2M0toqXuHWQpQR9hbUSzj8tCjx2jVQ8-2JtRpfWXOvRAPFPfyoJst76JGRj7RUPeXvrofVjuL96gNmE1VhtJY2NyICzjokTMovRM/s1600/aa_DSCN3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcdN3d0-gQCL3BcOj0WCMiEA77R5cSJv8usFUcaD2M0toqXuHWQpQR9hbUSzj8tCjx2jVQ8-2JtRpfWXOvRAPFPfyoJst76JGRj7RUPeXvrofVjuL96gNmE1VhtJY2NyICzjokTMovRM/s320/aa_DSCN3855.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xsHp4DxbyEPVUTfzozAsUI-Vg49qSXCMNdc969qai_D6OxtNS_1Ef80pX6pvRS57T1vyf_zMIDzHP4XOApib42fZBPOiLxeansZu3ckv8m-uS3lta-b3Cxt8K6xHG5jWX4watT-QOqM/s1600/aa_DSCN3856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xsHp4DxbyEPVUTfzozAsUI-Vg49qSXCMNdc969qai_D6OxtNS_1Ef80pX6pvRS57T1vyf_zMIDzHP4XOApib42fZBPOiLxeansZu3ckv8m-uS3lta-b3Cxt8K6xHG5jWX4watT-QOqM/s320/aa_DSCN3856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As you exit out the courtyard of the Palais Royal you are close to entering a unique example of the covered passage- an 18th century version of the shopping mall. Enclosed under wrought iron and glass, these passages contained restaurants and markets. Like the one in the Latin Quarter I found and put in an earlier post, this one has a wonderful enclosure and a uniqueness of space. The Galerie Vivienne is amazingly well-preserved and renovated in comparison to the other. The marble tiled floor is applied in a mosaic fashion The space also contains potted plants and trees illuminated by natural light creating an incredible space.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxdOmR-uTwxmLU4_RVTNTFg96afdH5JIiwdpAVhlJ00Jh8WQihh80zc5peZ77IguX4tNBED1Rz4VQnXoBUWNmwJO5lRKZyaqxhyphenhyphenzKIlMSkeySjIdUvlew6pscMTnY7C7VrRZgG4jtytQ/s1600/aa_DSCN3872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxdOmR-uTwxmLU4_RVTNTFg96afdH5JIiwdpAVhlJ00Jh8WQihh80zc5peZ77IguX4tNBED1Rz4VQnXoBUWNmwJO5lRKZyaqxhyphenhyphenzKIlMSkeySjIdUvlew6pscMTnY7C7VrRZgG4jtytQ/s320/aa_DSCN3872.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI_8rBQ20ZvdNqDAHT9kKEAffmSNMHFHUTfzu0UD7uczj9pz-5X2O17kM0HNY0dBdukqPb-gPtObYycSsuKkorsMLzJmAgnOALHPU23xuqpz1yykpRXotAWuhQQkTWG2nXoTMWgErXjg/s1600/aa_DSCN3875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTI_8rBQ20ZvdNqDAHT9kKEAffmSNMHFHUTfzu0UD7uczj9pz-5X2O17kM0HNY0dBdukqPb-gPtObYycSsuKkorsMLzJmAgnOALHPU23xuqpz1yykpRXotAWuhQQkTWG2nXoTMWgErXjg/s320/aa_DSCN3875.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0RfUkQBaAfChujGL61nTujOT6OH9kCYEQuDMe_kBuFE8F1miPfRTazdH9yE-zVwiHcYwKb9gIphQ6K2OzKfzwcvqk6x06_2OcotzIfMCM70L1R9oqUykOqjTSFc-HeTdoQ3Phyphenhyphen0r_Gg/s1600/aa_DSCN3876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0RfUkQBaAfChujGL61nTujOT6OH9kCYEQuDMe_kBuFE8F1miPfRTazdH9yE-zVwiHcYwKb9gIphQ6K2OzKfzwcvqk6x06_2OcotzIfMCM70L1R9oqUykOqjTSFc-HeTdoQ3Phyphenhyphen0r_Gg/s320/aa_DSCN3876.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_WlMAK8uQxy7vBWnu4wC9QPUdesPfTBbnA0_pwmWJcqvkvi-2SfAQteq-rP4bu-f1Pd4gg2qb0qr6daevg4G2n_mrqr08uNmaevLItcyagqUa9HsMJWsBkpDAVIu4tPW_s3C5f137VE/s1600/aa_DSCN3879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_WlMAK8uQxy7vBWnu4wC9QPUdesPfTBbnA0_pwmWJcqvkvi-2SfAQteq-rP4bu-f1Pd4gg2qb0qr6daevg4G2n_mrqr08uNmaevLItcyagqUa9HsMJWsBkpDAVIu4tPW_s3C5f137VE/s320/aa_DSCN3879.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1BN3PEtFDyDQ8trSXBj0rAR6e1fk48SNWDwnNbzPT6_tXrz_dDu6FMyrZsmLKQe5pCp88COqayPCTBYxceV1D_kyLcpePY1KRtyrGj2X-f5JEeveZuVt_k2pwydqVcQ8c7D2rOnmXz0/s1600/aa_DSCN3880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1BN3PEtFDyDQ8trSXBj0rAR6e1fk48SNWDwnNbzPT6_tXrz_dDu6FMyrZsmLKQe5pCp88COqayPCTBYxceV1D_kyLcpePY1KRtyrGj2X-f5JEeveZuVt_k2pwydqVcQ8c7D2rOnmXz0/s320/aa_DSCN3880.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHKgacyfItLaNGEEvD5ZA3eSAIuKXitg8df5CQNXoNI4syl3Vhh84y77ww3HT-BWrHhfAWhkG4cepU2r0iobDxbfno3uh-ogebFPTRfdNmC1E3_gNMpGvNKBgQb08Gcx23tH56ZkTpSs/s1600/aa_DSCN3883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHKgacyfItLaNGEEvD5ZA3eSAIuKXitg8df5CQNXoNI4syl3Vhh84y77ww3HT-BWrHhfAWhkG4cepU2r0iobDxbfno3uh-ogebFPTRfdNmC1E3_gNMpGvNKBgQb08Gcx23tH56ZkTpSs/s320/aa_DSCN3883.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xffI6qUG12rXR5znlec7QwggcOqqPoG0E16akhzvDoD7M3kEx09H2C1vO8gxeyFZkNYd5oz0MB9zOIYXsqNLZytMBfMvKDuJiVb5P4zy20kJs8WfOV5fuHJE-eIByZwzJa9k4AYRAQ0/s1600/aa_DSCN3884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xffI6qUG12rXR5znlec7QwggcOqqPoG0E16akhzvDoD7M3kEx09H2C1vO8gxeyFZkNYd5oz0MB9zOIYXsqNLZytMBfMvKDuJiVb5P4zy20kJs8WfOV5fuHJE-eIByZwzJa9k4AYRAQ0/s320/aa_DSCN3884.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo04r7DtLA-yZpOrw-1tIZ6gwQy-1Iw2CAOpbaLEZgv6lySCl9-91an7p_Uw4zPew6VSFCHOeBd3Yav36V6oym9QKOhRwHgWWsOk_90oXegOeprHVpLJHCeb9N0qKuIiwfLTHkUKgutY/s1600/aa_DSCN3885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo04r7DtLA-yZpOrw-1tIZ6gwQy-1Iw2CAOpbaLEZgv6lySCl9-91an7p_Uw4zPew6VSFCHOeBd3Yav36V6oym9QKOhRwHgWWsOk_90oXegOeprHVpLJHCeb9N0qKuIiwfLTHkUKgutY/s320/aa_DSCN3885.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvriDIWjCjud3m9936KN4J5FkpzleDtIyWMsFUX_fWjgtiKsuWdYw1K1SZdDdAmFrLx36hdscCQWhIO3HN5ABymw0yExkQ3VNDeYSSKZJde1XFVYveW5wdAsVP3Sr_L0fPPf6gLEg-k4/s1600/aa_DSCN3888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvriDIWjCjud3m9936KN4J5FkpzleDtIyWMsFUX_fWjgtiKsuWdYw1K1SZdDdAmFrLx36hdscCQWhIO3HN5ABymw0yExkQ3VNDeYSSKZJde1XFVYveW5wdAsVP3Sr_L0fPPf6gLEg-k4/s320/aa_DSCN3888.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZOXI-n2LQS1IE334q06JEf8OJiyKXO4H7auiNganvytQs5wHl97WTSe0xRbxxF8CaF-urh0-ZPaIIMEQ26lXzAlWFsKke_-sQVaPYaexWkS-nPB9cj0Lp7fMCRbEuATjdlB2YjoEJpI/s1600/aa_DSCN3889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZOXI-n2LQS1IE334q06JEf8OJiyKXO4H7auiNganvytQs5wHl97WTSe0xRbxxF8CaF-urh0-ZPaIIMEQ26lXzAlWFsKke_-sQVaPYaexWkS-nPB9cj0Lp7fMCRbEuATjdlB2YjoEJpI/s320/aa_DSCN3889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6Ot1tVCQjVdVUfp7-JknZo9Z-4E7pfd_v3ZdabW7_wceS9ipbJOqpLfWk35Gfv4ywLj8XVJtOAQFaeY4shWxNL1kRJyQpJ8tKTWn5IOiwQBUI02YfMlG01vpadgnacVZtFALf4F4lxc/s1600/aa_DSCN3893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6Ot1tVCQjVdVUfp7-JknZo9Z-4E7pfd_v3ZdabW7_wceS9ipbJOqpLfWk35Gfv4ywLj8XVJtOAQFaeY4shWxNL1kRJyQpJ8tKTWn5IOiwQBUI02YfMlG01vpadgnacVZtFALf4F4lxc/s320/aa_DSCN3893.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeshyphenhyphen6nTHcyxtLe7J4gbAeh4Pxpbh3gD755s9YDcjox7G7j0EU31AAy9MmQyy_FpFljgmPW0AQo9FYRGAMH-d3yk6ZeIJ1Al43Qwb8Zi3JWBCYGKXfPZ2_jn8NcinVUn1wYlzlDiUksg/s1600/aa_DSCN3895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeshyphenhyphen6nTHcyxtLe7J4gbAeh4Pxpbh3gD755s9YDcjox7G7j0EU31AAy9MmQyy_FpFljgmPW0AQo9FYRGAMH-d3yk6ZeIJ1Al43Qwb8Zi3JWBCYGKXfPZ2_jn8NcinVUn1wYlzlDiUksg/s320/aa_DSCN3895.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIXqiEGFjNT037fy7xfd8jcMuYiVSNHZgz_yMyJnZSkIxbugX2xyXnI13GCwpIZgh9QqrNk6spPY1mxs2zRzo5DuegXVwN8-27_0htfkNZuRm6lpzXfyi4w4F-FvXwjucKWa-WA51V8Q/s1600/aa_DSCN3896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIXqiEGFjNT037fy7xfd8jcMuYiVSNHZgz_yMyJnZSkIxbugX2xyXnI13GCwpIZgh9QqrNk6spPY1mxs2zRzo5DuegXVwN8-27_0htfkNZuRm6lpzXfyi4w4F-FvXwjucKWa-WA51V8Q/s320/aa_DSCN3896.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnanRxhS0twmla27TDQdzaMaLwkJWV4tSuM7x5NLhGaXzdU2LQN3wHIBjGf-1bLVSw3GyI7xgq7Tos1e-s75kK2TTgQ-zKl25iz4HbMe5WxierttNXqaBaMloWgRgJaCt-nBrkEY6aJIw/s1600/aa_DSCN3898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnanRxhS0twmla27TDQdzaMaLwkJWV4tSuM7x5NLhGaXzdU2LQN3wHIBjGf-1bLVSw3GyI7xgq7Tos1e-s75kK2TTgQ-zKl25iz4HbMe5WxierttNXqaBaMloWgRgJaCt-nBrkEY6aJIw/s320/aa_DSCN3898.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ES8vsdM-8K4iVzPEJ3xBVpKt9FhB7m3lxMW8nBAElyzg9TLvA3HWPRZgC3bycyJZ4yR4Gr94ermxzpP6Y6x2iq9NB_CcRbPEr_BtboM69Es3UA5MBZaPWy8Si52dCaOPEA23SujzyTs/s1600/aa_DSCN3909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ES8vsdM-8K4iVzPEJ3xBVpKt9FhB7m3lxMW8nBAElyzg9TLvA3HWPRZgC3bycyJZ4yR4Gr94ermxzpP6Y6x2iq9NB_CcRbPEr_BtboM69Es3UA5MBZaPWy8Si52dCaOPEA23SujzyTs/s320/aa_DSCN3909.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-27241499205210342282011-05-16T07:51:00.000-04:002011-05-16T07:51:54.403-04:00Lunch<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">Grabbed a nice lunch consisting of snails, shrimp and mussels with zucchini, spinach, cherry tomatoes, green beans and rice. The salad was spinach, cherry tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. Pain au chocolat with cappuccino. :)</span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbow8isfCHb5ra6EMqIRZhYN3-eCcul1Z-3KPk5D_qOFzrbOLur3C_iiGRci1HtX5NOhWUK4X7GZS15KBbNjeN-xEWqqCLR51R7R418ve6XtHEhSxNtdCf4wyofKkk5ZHYXorOlvYlyA/s1600/aa_DSCN3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbow8isfCHb5ra6EMqIRZhYN3-eCcul1Z-3KPk5D_qOFzrbOLur3C_iiGRci1HtX5NOhWUK4X7GZS15KBbNjeN-xEWqqCLR51R7R418ve6XtHEhSxNtdCf4wyofKkk5ZHYXorOlvYlyA/s320/aa_DSCN3826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn7rbsSYjHb66s0Y8u1by-4QqHSxlw0Ma9O_zySZk9os_wHlNVdE-beFvX2p9LciEvglimJOWZSJ6FEVkh2MbW3pH02Y8kQjhc2KpjON-dSh5a87fqOBcYaLnPbrhLAWBy25kaCTQgIw/s1600/aa_DSCN3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn7rbsSYjHb66s0Y8u1by-4QqHSxlw0Ma9O_zySZk9os_wHlNVdE-beFvX2p9LciEvglimJOWZSJ6FEVkh2MbW3pH02Y8kQjhc2KpjON-dSh5a87fqOBcYaLnPbrhLAWBy25kaCTQgIw/s320/aa_DSCN3827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody"><br />
</span></span></h6>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076513946648274105.post-53862139558502214442011-05-16T06:04:00.001-04:002011-05-16T06:05:49.111-04:00Shopping in the Latin Quarter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent this morning milling about in the Latin Quarter purchasing some items for friends back home. I resisted the urge to purchase an array of tempting crepes that surrounded me. However, I did have a wonderful espresso. I took some pictures of a street I discovered last week which reminds me a lot of Degas' painting "Cotton Exchange in New Orleans". There are some additional pics here as well. Okay, off to the Palais Royal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOpnllEptbW6RZpCcTilbNlo6cl2ljK_7ab6JD29wgu_grF0CJ9oLn2RmgdagL8sgNSZdEt5ufxvawjT-RaXMgrsOvzWqY2ht2i8sA98QY0dUnxEaKrs5gWVf5EQ6Fimr4W-2X8iQbxs/s1600/degas-cotton-office-1873-granger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOpnllEptbW6RZpCcTilbNlo6cl2ljK_7ab6JD29wgu_grF0CJ9oLn2RmgdagL8sgNSZdEt5ufxvawjT-RaXMgrsOvzWqY2ht2i8sA98QY0dUnxEaKrs5gWVf5EQ6Fimr4W-2X8iQbxs/s320/degas-cotton-office-1873-granger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h7nVulQKbtaT-Ff4_rw8176uvzNDgBPrVc1Ut7fKSuRAH9I83Drr6H1Fd1xPhb6kLgdj4DNNKk5-i6SZNpt4f0TQeNSj0ysXXWLamIho8w-YtvdbGNeu1jdYWcuQE12jtWjV8SZDR_0/s1600/aa_DSCN3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h7nVulQKbtaT-Ff4_rw8176uvzNDgBPrVc1Ut7fKSuRAH9I83Drr6H1Fd1xPhb6kLgdj4DNNKk5-i6SZNpt4f0TQeNSj0ysXXWLamIho8w-YtvdbGNeu1jdYWcuQE12jtWjV8SZDR_0/s320/aa_DSCN3817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaD27SDD65Y5BL8gWJSiblF9xCKBGep_l_HkRueytfi3bAFKanyDBgF-L1bpcDpCILMoZ_vuZDmd2QiOkhnJGMJI4bGeeOVR05bTVuE_IZUJicrEe75YO8kxmURuMcA0IQwGG6uhsEP1E/s1600/aa_DSCN3819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaD27SDD65Y5BL8gWJSiblF9xCKBGep_l_HkRueytfi3bAFKanyDBgF-L1bpcDpCILMoZ_vuZDmd2QiOkhnJGMJI4bGeeOVR05bTVuE_IZUJicrEe75YO8kxmURuMcA0IQwGG6uhsEP1E/s320/aa_DSCN3819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwyWZzrvFh29i1-4cC4kkeK1gxG6f1DklmBl2gSa5sPtvWDnfDw4-4Ph54xW3F7VsJMMwj8v53pxt04iFGZjhuZG9OxmCHyekQD3ok0BYhXVoJzP0jBkDGvBBu0y6hBJOykgU8WiDbbk/s1600/aa_DSCN3820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwyWZzrvFh29i1-4cC4kkeK1gxG6f1DklmBl2gSa5sPtvWDnfDw4-4Ph54xW3F7VsJMMwj8v53pxt04iFGZjhuZG9OxmCHyekQD3ok0BYhXVoJzP0jBkDGvBBu0y6hBJOykgU8WiDbbk/s320/aa_DSCN3820.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEKIyoHtIRqGvYm5aHiwGaqT7ZM9Uo2fH0znvP5HOw9t8zKJZ9l4Uu0J85owXuhcMkesFR72jC0tz7GVuAh2OrvDXSMToZnEoJZCDU9FzcqluH17wf1_BIJgbrxqh3-p68j9McPhoaHM/s1600/aa_DSCN3822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEKIyoHtIRqGvYm5aHiwGaqT7ZM9Uo2fH0znvP5HOw9t8zKJZ9l4Uu0J85owXuhcMkesFR72jC0tz7GVuAh2OrvDXSMToZnEoJZCDU9FzcqluH17wf1_BIJgbrxqh3-p68j9McPhoaHM/s320/aa_DSCN3822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHa13eYl_1FFuPKbLUVMQaHaS-4A81JKh2ZhxpAxPAjxVkcNRe0f15iudhBJQ-dwT_Nd-s7U0GKqYCI-mta7U1jiOmkceU4lH6fm3L0KJa5iztE8RN6cCuP6-2kT7YU2RikgoxJIYdho/s1600/aa_DSCN3824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHa13eYl_1FFuPKbLUVMQaHaS-4A81JKh2ZhxpAxPAjxVkcNRe0f15iudhBJQ-dwT_Nd-s7U0GKqYCI-mta7U1jiOmkceU4lH6fm3L0KJa5iztE8RN6cCuP6-2kT7YU2RikgoxJIYdho/s320/aa_DSCN3824.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIawfR8zoC9DMKJ20B8a4D6euVRWD1Vn5UyBhDEdCB3ZmB3frLneuUztO9ynQ96cYsUATq5WdAMYsBvOQW1TnRAHCoPJ9ZjhH-Wc9xE2E5GppZqqo7eudlngXOjO41neLn_yjrlx4fOw/s1600/aa_DSCN3825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIawfR8zoC9DMKJ20B8a4D6euVRWD1Vn5UyBhDEdCB3ZmB3frLneuUztO9ynQ96cYsUATq5WdAMYsBvOQW1TnRAHCoPJ9ZjhH-Wc9xE2E5GppZqqo7eudlngXOjO41neLn_yjrlx4fOw/s320/aa_DSCN3825.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>bmeriksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245281404913640962noreply@blogger.com0