Sometimes I can’t get a handle on what silence is. I know it's not simply an absence of sound, but it’s more complicated than that. For example, usually I love the sound of the rain but last night it drowned out my Olympics watching as it pounded the sun room roof. I had to pull my chair right up to the TV and even at that, I had to strain to hear. It was not an experience of silence, solitude and simplicity.
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Outside our apartment--heading home. I don’t know where to begin. This was a ‘very grateful’ trip from beginning to end. But what about silence, solitude and simplicity? In a way, those don’t fit with a trip to Paris when traveling with one’s daughter and grandchildren. In the usual way of considering the 3S’s, I had little time for any of them. And yet…. Our apartment was silent at night, so if silence is lack of abrasive noise, there was plenty. (The kids had fun together so there was a fair amount of giggling, and they didn’t argue.) There wasn’t much time for solitude, but if solitude is lack of stress and tension, there was plenty. Riding the metro, sightseeing, eating, and all that goes into travel isn’t simple, but if simplicity is figuring it out with ease, there was plenty. Paris taught me new ways to consider silence, solitude and simplicity. I even had a little solitude today. After climbing the bell towers of of Nortre Dame to visit with the gargoyles, the rest of the family went along the Seine to buy souvenirs and I headed to the Musee de Cluny, the museum of the middles ages. But first I stopped for a sit-down lunch of quiche, salad and a glass of wine. Tomorrow, our last day, takes us to Versailles. Next time you go to Paris be sure to visit the Georges Pompidou Center. A spectacular building housing French art from 1905 on. You can get your fill of Picassos and Braques, but also, the space needs to be seen to be believed. We went there in the evening and through the glass walls saw students working on computers--all part of the contemporary art scene. A far cry from Monet, Renoir and the other impressionists and post-impressionists who relied only upon their eye and paint brush. Today we’re going roam around Montmatre where they hung out over a century ago. But that not all. The next time you go to Paris be sure to be awed by the stained glass windows of St. Chapelle. And the Luxumbourg Gardens. We’ve been on such a Paris whirl that we slept in until 10 this morning. After the Louvre, Muse D’Orsay, the ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe, and an evening boat trip along the Seine, I guess we needed the extra hours. Today is ‘church day’ but we may have to postpone the climb to the bell towers of Notre Dame (the line gets long) and start out by touring the crypt instead. There are other churches on the left bank to visit, and then of course there are all those book stalls along the Seine that the kids love. Of course, they aren’t about churches other than all the beautiful prints of Paris., churches included. Off for a late breakfast. I guess we’re become Parisians. Notre Dame On the move. We are busy tourists. With our Paris Pass we have no excuses.; free metro, free buses, free entry to everything. Our day started with a breakfast of croissants in front of Notre Dame and an awesome visit inside; walking into one’s first cathedral in Europe has to be once in a lifetime experience. For the rest of the day we hopped on and off the City Tour Bus: Paris Opera House for a magnificent tour; the kids loved the wax museum; back to the Eiffel Tower, but not to climb. Dinner on the Left Bank and then the Metro to the Montparnass Tower—elevator to the top to be delighted with the lighting of the Eiffel Tower. I don’t have much time to write; today is Museum Day : the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, and Rodin Museum. This evening we plan to see the lighting of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe and take a evening boat cruise along the Seine. We’re already into August and fully into Paris. This is a busy city but not particularly noisy. Very little solitude, but I didn’t expect any on this trip so I’m just fine. Our apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and kitchen—very French looking both inside and out, and fully adequate for the four of us, especially since w don’t plan to spend much time here. But I must say that not overdoing eating in restaurants serves us very well, so we’re delighted to have the refrigerator filled with yogurt, fruit and milk for cereal. Our best meal so far has been our picnic at the Eiffel Tower park—bread, cheese, salami and fresh fruit from a local supermarket. We’ll try a café today. If you know Paris, you might appreciate our walk from the apartment adjacent to Notre Dame to the Eiffel tower (and then back again) and the climb to the top. I had to admitted that I was glad that the only way to make the last leg to the top was via elevator. 668 steps was enough to prove I’m still fit. The Eiffel Tower was on my granddaughter’s must-do list. She was in awe--couldn’t believe she was there. Such fun to experience that with her. Today we activate our Paris passes. On the list is Notre Dame and the on-off sightseeing bus., with many choices of museums and churches to visit see. Who knows ? We even have a pass to wine tasting . |
Contact me: bobbifisher.mac@mac.com
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