Well, off to Normandy tomorrow morning. The train for Bayeux leaves from Saint-Lazare station at 9:20. My handy dandy Paris Metro app on my phone tells me the fast route takes 12 minutes and the simple route takes . . . huh. . . .12 minutes. So like the French.
Was reading today that le Rue Cler which has been my home for a few days was where Julia Child would start each day. It is lined with butchers, bakers, fresh produce, and the like. Actually discoverd that I have walked by many times where she lived at No. 81 rue de l’universite in the 30s.
My thanks to my son in law Matt who stayed here before and recommended it to me. It is a charming little street lined with cafes where, now 12:14 a.m., I can hear many conversations in the street below. I can’t understand any of them, but I can hear them.
Started my walk with a beautiful sunrise over the Seine.
Walked up the Luxembourg gardens and strolled where Hemingway did. A cold wind and rain today, so first time I unfurled the umbrella. Rain didn’t stop the pétanque players.
From the park I walked southeast and found the location of the scene in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris where Gil, sitting on the steps of a small church is picked up by Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and later T.S. Elliot.
Paris in the rain, even a cold one, is beautiful, especially at night. So many lights, old fashioned street lamps, back lit churches.
From there hopped on the Metro and went far to the east edge of the city to see Frank Gehry’s new creation for the Louis Vuitton Foundation. referred to as the flying cloud. Remarkable work . . . not for everyone . . . but I like Gehry and loved this new creation.
From there it was time for dinner so I went old school. I mean OLD SCHOOL. Le Precope was founded in 1686 and has been in business ever since. In the heart of the Saint Germaine neighborhood . . . my favorite . . .it was the first to serve coffee to non royalty and initiated coffee being served in china cups. Napoleon ate here, apparently leaving his hat, rather than paying his bill and the hat is still proudly on display. Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau were regulars. I opted to go traditional with delicious onion soup, coq au vin, and of course the creme brule. To die for.
Finally walked home with a small detour to catch a shot of the Eiffel Tower at night.
"Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost" 