We had a little leftover bread that we took down to St Sulpice to feed the birds. Doreen was mobbed!


It was calm at first


But they just came in waves


That red headed woman was giving us the hairy eyeball 

Without Renoir there would be no Picasso

Several years ago Doreen and I went to a lecture about how Renoir changed the way Picasso painted. Oh sure, we said.

But on this trip, we went to the L'orangerie and the paintings below were hung. (Not in this order, of course)

Makes the relationship obvious, don't you think?




 

This is a self portrait as we were waiting for our two hour late flight to leave CDG. We are now home safe and sound. 

Celebrity Spotting

A couple of years ago when we were here we spotted Jude Law with his (then) wife. Doreen remarked how interesting it would be if we would see him again.

Today we did. He was wearing a pastel pink linen sport coat, a high quality straw hat, and was not trying to be inconspicuous. I offered to take her picture next to him, but she declined.

Hemingway on the Left Bank.

We were eating at a small fromagerie a couple of days ago when an older (say in her mid 60s, but who’s counting?) woman came out of her apartment and saw us sitting there at a table. She came over and started chatting amiably. Her English was good, and she was quite animated. She asked if we knew Hemingway. I said “John Hemingway? Sure!” She looked at me somewhat in amazement, and then started laughing. She then kissed Doreen on both cheeks, and she then PULLED MY EARS! BOTH of them! She pulled them until they turned red.

Then she left.

Balzac in his Bathrobe. Lost Illusions is my favorite novel.

Rodin's House. He was NOT a starving artist!!! 

Doreen in the Rodin Museum gardens. I want a yard like that. 

We ate lunch at a small cafe today. I had the Croque Madam (grilled ham sandwich with a fried egg on top) and Doreen had the French Onion Soup. Quite nice. 

The Eiffel Tower. Contrary to common wisdom, you cannot see the Tower from everywhere in Paris. But you can see it when you get close. Here is a view from the Tuileries. 

New Mephistos. I am wearing Doreen's socks here. 

Champagne grapes (tiny little grapes) 

A typical day at work. 

Leaded panel from the 13th century from inside the St Remy Basilica 

On the train back from Reims 

Chinese Horse Head 

Elgin Marble 

While we were eating at the Fou, this Asian kid who wants to be Michael Jackson sat down at this bench. Then these two painters sat down opposite him. Strange juxtaposition. 

Doreen standing on the balcony of our apartment 

SP by ND 

The Fou on his own 

Doreen with the Fou 

Joel Robuchon

For dinner last night we decided to go to Joel Robuchon again. We had been there two years ago, (scroll down) and decided we liked it so much we decided to eat there again.

We usually don’t eat so early here, but in order to get a seating we left the apartment about 6:30. We arrived about 6:45 after waiting out a brief shower. We waited about ten minutes and were then seated. We had almost the same seats as before, and the same waiter. Some things don’t change so much. An older couple from New York City was seated across the corner from us, and there was an empty seat to my left.

We started out with a wonderful glass of champagne. (I am sorry that I did not write down all the wines or all the food. More in a second about that) The menu (la carte) and the “exploration menu” was put in front of us. When offered a tasting menu we will almost always take it, and we did the same this time. We asked the sommelier to help us with the wines, and we were off.

I won’t be able to remember all the courses, but there was everything from sardines on toast to lobster sashimi. We had sweetbreads as our main meal but also gazpacho. We had two desserts, one was strawberries in a sorbet, the other was a baked chocolate dish with a scoop of mint ice on top. Wonderful.

I mentioned that there was an empty seat next to me when we sat down. It was shortly filled by a fellow. As is usually in such a tight spot, we started talking to him. He was from Savannah – and Doreen lived in Savannah for several years as a child. That was an amazing coincidence.

But wait, there’s more!

He had a digital camera and was taking photos of the food. He offered to send me copies, so I gave him my e-mail address. I started spelling it out and pronouncing it as I do in Houston (pea-yet). He said “That’s not pea-yet, that PATE!” it turns out that he is friends with my cousin Jimmy’s son Jim (who is about 50). He even called him later in the meal and had me talk to him. Now THAT is a coincidence. If I get those photos, I will post the best ones here.

SP from under the Tower 

Tour Effiel