APRIL IN PARIS

Charlie and our friend Geoff King have been working together for a long time.  Geoff had given us an open invitation to visit whenever we could.  With Spring break at the beginning of April, and Charlie on sabbatical, the time seemed right to go.  We left on Saturday, arrived on Sunday, and stayed until the following Thursday.  Trips to Paris are always interesting, often fun, this one was, without doubt, perfect.  The weather was good, Geoff and Charlie got some good things done, and I had a chance to meet up with my teacher buddy Sadie Medina.

Sunday was Easter, and we did very little but sit around and eat.  Geoff decided we needed to experiment with food.  That night we tried goat.  It was delicious.  I don't know what I expected, but it really was nice.  Monday was a French holiday - Easter Monday.  Lots of people were strolling around.  Geoff's flat in in the Marais district which turned out to be very popular to stroll through.  We wandered out in the crowds.

This old carousel was on the plaza in front of the Hotel de Ville.  You can see the Pompidou center in the background.

One of my favorite French towers - Tour St. Jacques.

We had coffee across from the Palais de Justice.  Had my chance to order some coffee in French.  Oo la la

Geoff was looking for flowers for his balcony.  He opted for geraniums.  Here I am near the shop.

Geoff's flat is only a few blocks from the Pompidou center in the Marais district in Paris.  Not only is it located in a great place for my stomping around Paris, it's a beautiful place as well.  Geoff was born in Uganda, and has a lot of wonderful African art around.

The view from our window in the room we stayed in at Geoff's

The interior of Geoff's flat

Tuesday, Charlie went to the university with Geoff, and I wandered around a bit by myself.  Here are some of my adventure views

Place de Vosges.  Beautiful area  and lovely building

The Bastille memorial.

Notre Dame seen from the Seine on my way to the university to meet up with Geoff, Charlie, and Harsha for lunch.

View of the Pantheon from the same bridge.

After lunch, Charlie joined me for some sightseeing.  We wandered into Notre Dame.  We tried to get into St. Chapelle but the lines were too formidable.  We went instead to the Musee des Artes et Metiers.  The Museum of Art and Measures.  I originally went because the description said it had Foucault's original pendulum.  The museum turned out to be much bigger than I thought it would be, and much more interesting.  Here are some views of our sightseeing tour.

Notre Dame from across the river.

Stained glass in interior of Notre Dame

This building struck my fancy - the building to the right is a church.

The museum had Lavoisier's lab equipment.  I was totally impressed.

This is for my brother.  They had lots of displays showing how different types of industrial materials were produced.  This was a glass mold.

In the main hall way of the building was this wonderful flying machine (non-flying machine) designed around the structure of a bat.

Whenever I've shown this picture to anyone they always think I've got a picture of batman.  Too bad it didn't really work.  It looked great.

Wednesday morning, I met up with Sadie. 

We stopped first and had a cup of coffee - une creme - and managed to get the waiter to take our photo.

We decided to visit the Musee de Orsay. 

On the way over to the museum Sadie told me that lovers would place a lock on bridges over the Seine, then throw the key over the edge into the water.  Here are some locks, and Sadie and me

 We waited in line to go through security.  We then waited in another line to pay.  We were next in line and we heard a siren go off - everyone had to clear the museum, there was a fire. 

Above is a view of the smoke from the fire.

People waiting outside - and a firetruck.

 After we got sent outside, Sadie and I decided to walk around instead.  We had a wonderful walk.  I don't think there's anywhere in that city that doesn't provide amazing views.  

Sadie's maiden name seemed to be part of the boat's name.

We could see the Eifel Tower from our stroll

Lots of house boats on the Seine.

Place de la Concorde and me

Ste. Madeleine in the background.  

Basilique de Sacre Coeur.  We really stomped all over Paris.

A lovely fruit and vegetable stand.

By the time we wandered back near Hotel de Ville Sadie was worried she'd be late for an appointment to meet up with her brother.  I got back to Geoff's in time to have a great quiche from a local patisserie near Geoff's flat.  

Thursday, we went back to Pompidou center, back to Charles de Gaul airport, through Chicago, then back to LAX.  I'm ready for another Paris trip - poor Geoff - he's created a monster.