LAST FEAST

Another lazy morning and late breakfast before we went of to Montparnasse to have lunch at La Coupole restuarant.   We had read about this restuarant and how it was the meeting place for artists, poets and writers in the late 1920s when it was a restuarant and dance hall.  The pillars around the space have been painted by the various artists.  Although modernised is still has lots of character with an art deco theme and is a very popular place to eat by both locals and visitors.   We chose the three course plate of the day menu and are both feeling the effects tonight - not needing any more food.  The food was delicous though.  There were some Germans sitting one side of us and they had the biggest tray of sea food between four of them and then followed up with a main meal. Unbelievable.  Whereas our neighbours on the otherside (an Italian man with his Brazilian wife and her girlfriend) settled for the oysters.  The women didn't eat a main course however after the man saw Ian with his Charolais Tartare (a raw mixed beef dish) the man ordered one too. Then the Germans decided to try it as well.  Ian said it was great and obviously the others enjoyed theirs as well.  All down to experience. 
By the time we came out of the restuarant it was showering and cold wind again so we caught the metro home and called in to the neighbourhood shops to pick up a few last minute goodies.

We are off home in the morning.  The shuttle picks us up at the front door at 7.00 (we hope).  We arrive back in Sydney on Thursday night at 8.00 or thereabouts and will stay at The Centre at Randwick for the night and catch the train to Newcastle to pick up the car from Sean's.  

Ian doing some last minute research in case there is anything he has missed out on.

It is a bit sad saying goodbye to Paris.  We have thoroughly enjoyed this visit.  We have both had a good rest and just mooched around the various places without feeling we had to rush off and do things in case we run out of time.  The long nights have also helped as it is hard to get up early whilst it is still dark. 

A HISTORY STROLL



Steps at Montmarte


We had to be up and showered with breakfast over before 9.00 this morning as the sign on the front door of the apartment block told us the plumber was turning the water off in the building between 9 and 6pm. 
We took a metro to Arenis de Lutece, the remains of a Roman Arena from the late second century, Lutetia was the Roman name for Paris.  It was rediscovered in 1860s and was partly rebuilt in the 1900s.  It was much larger than we expected and the acoustics were still excellent.  Ian tested them out!!!   As we walked out we came across a film crew setting up to film a scene so we stood and watched for a while.  Just as they were doing the second take a lady walked past so they continued filming with her included.   Nearby is Rue Mouffetard, one of the oldest streets (or roads) in the city and was once part of the major thoroughfare in Roman times from Paris to Rome.  The street was paved in great cobblestone that seemed to curve around. 
We then caught another metro (or four) across the city to Montmarte.  We really had our monies worth on the one 1.25 euro ticket.  We had lunch in a little cafe near the long stairs leading up to Sacre Cour.  I then tried to photograph these stairs again but it is not the same in daylight as at night.  For once the sun was shining and there were lots of shadows to contend with.  We then walked up to the top and wandered around Montmarte again.  The artists were out in full force today and there were lots of people around the Tetre area.  Most were taking photos although some were buying art or having their portraits drawn.  There is some great paintings here and the people doing the drawings were great to watch.
We could see the black clouds coming over fast so came back down to the metro and home.  It had already rained on our side of the city by the time we arrived. 

A section of Arenis de Lutece

NEW YEARS EVE - NEW YEARS DAY

Saturday -  We had been to the Grande Palais several times however the line to visit the Stein Collection exhibition has been very long so we went early today and I was able to get in straight away.  This was a great Exhibition of works collected over a number of years by the Stein Family who really gave Matisse, Picasso and Cezzane their great starts.  Gertrude Stein was well known in Paris for her support she gave to writers and artists.  Ian went walking and finished up at the Pompidou Centre and around near Hotel de Ville.  He was waiting when I came out.   It had started to shower and we decided to walk back to the apartment for lunch.  We were not far along the way when the rain really came down along with the wind, it was very cold and miserable.  After lunch Ian went off again to Musee Monet.  I decided to give this a miss and read for a while before going for a walk around the neighbourhood and having a coffee.  It was very busy around the shopping area and interesting just sitting in the Cafe people watching.  There seemed to be an air of expectancy about.

We had decided we would try a Restaurant 'Les Cocotte' which is nearby for dinner.  They don't take bookings so we left about 8.45pm to walk around and when we got there the queue was out the door and they were handing out champagne to those waiting for a table.  We gave this a miss and walked away from the crowded streets and finished up back at a restaurant we have been to last time we were here and had a wonderful dinner.  The place was absolutely packed and by the time we finished our three courses we had been moved around the tables three times making room for parties of people that were coming in.  It was fun really and we got to speak English to an American girl who had a MA from Queensland Uni (online) and her friend was French but managed an American Football team.  Interesting.

It was just after 11.30 when we left the restaurant and we walked quickly down to the Eiffel Tower arriving in time to cheer in the New Year along with thousands of others.  No fireworks though.  Thankfully we had decided we would not go to Champs Elysee which is where most of the action happens.  Tonight we saw where 360,000 people saw the New Year in there. 



Celebrating the arrival of 2012. 

 Sunday.   It was a very late night for us oldies and we slept till day light - 8.30.  I was happy to stay in bed for a while.  Ian went off and brought the croissants for breakfast or brunch - we certainly didn't need more after last nights dinner.   We sat around reading till around 2.00 and walked along the river
and then up to Rue Madelaine and found the Musee Pinacotheque of Paris where there was a Giacometti and the Etruscans Exhibition on.  This was extremely interesting.  We had seen Giacometti's Sculptures in Sydney some time ago however this exhibition included many art works back as far as the 9th Century BC and explained Giacometti's search and final works. 

We then walked along Rue Rivoli which was crowded with people.   There are many souvenir shops along here with cheap scarfs, hats, t-shirts etc.  Each time we crossed a street we were in the fine misty rain and so when we came to a metro station we caught a metro back.   We found some quiche in a Patisserie nearby and came back to our nice warm little apartment. 



A Grey Overcast day but the gold still shines.