Three Countries in Four Weeks

I am an American, but it seems that places in France want to imitate American styles. But why do they seem to select such odd ways?
For example, this sign Senior Solutions with window displays for all sorts of infirmities. Why did they choose English?

Same in Any Language

How is an American Car Wash different from a French one? Or do they only wash American brands or for only Americans?

It's Not Like French Kissing

Yankee Candle - Why

No one in North America would rent a vacation unit with a garden that looked like this.

This Is NOT a Beautiful Garden

If they had, I would have been able to demand a refund.

We don't have these in America - do we? I love it. I want one.

When the Audi Expires

I Don't Even Know What It Is

This is delightful, but I am ready for a good ol' American breakfast at Jelly's.

petit-déjeuner classique

I am also ready for drip coffee service in hotel rooms.

No More Nescafe

Au revoir, Paris.

CDG Airport Shuttle

This listing will include photos to show why everyone loves Paris.

Morning

My Studio Apartment

Unless something extremely interesting overcomes me as I post these I will probably omit any narrative.

From My Window at Dusk

An Early Morning Walk A;long the Seine

Weekend in the Park at 100 Degrees

Iconic Site

Hotel de Ville

At Last a Protestant Church

Modern Art in Traditional Garden

Angels and Gargoyles Are Everywhere

Another Ornate Building

Another Bridge Another Photo

My First Front Door

They Worked Out I Watched

My Little Balcony in the AM

From My Window at Dusk

Stairway at My New Flat

We Need These

If you don't know how to use these, read this.

Some Have Beattiful Walkways

Welcome to the Louvre

My third time in Paris, so I must finally visit the Louvre.

The Perfect Tour

I decided to take a tour in the evening when I found this Louvre Tour on line.

Of course, the Pei Pyramid is an amazing contrast to the former fort.

Under the Pei Pyramid

Are These Included in the 688

Ah, Religious Art

As I am not a big fan of old religious art, I enjoyed the tour mainly for the architecture of the building, the history, and the wing that was built by Napoleon III for official entertaining and not living.

A Ceiling in the Louvre

The Crown Jewels

Opulence of Napoleon III

Interestingly, this wing was built and used from 1848-1870 - the same time Denver was first settled and started to become a city.
Of course, I enjoyed seeing the Mona Lisa and the other famous works. Did not take pictures because you can find much better than mine would be anywhere on line or in an art book.

This family was on my tour.

Black Flag Assassin

I was puzzled why he was wearing a Black Flag T Shirt, and so I asked him about. His son started to laugh. He said his son gave it to him and he guessed it was some kind of game. I said it was a bug spray in the US, so I was puzzled about why he was wearing it. They were British and didn't seem to want to find any more humor in this interaction.

I had visited the Rodin and D'Orssey in the past, so I skipped these. Be sure to go. I like the art there better than in the Louvre.

Definitely on my list this visit were the Palais de Tokyo and the Museum of Modern Art.

Musee d'Art Moderne

The Musee d'Art Moderne is a puzzling maze of rooms. Even the guards had trouble helping find my way out. Here the guards were allowed to pursue private interests during their shift.

Knitting Guard at Musée d'Art Moderne

This female security guard was knitting. I saw others doing word or number puzzles, and of course looking at their phones.
However, sometimes they would try to act like they were concealing their knitting and puzzles - but never their phones. I was just a bit puzzled about all this. I was tempted to try to do some kind of inappropriate museum behavior to see if anyone would react, but I didn't.

Permanent Construction in Classroom of Museum

The permanent exhibits are free. I purchased the audio guide and spent several hours there before having lunch on the patio with a view of the tip of the Eiffel Tower.

Graphic Art

Don't bother visiting the Palais de Tokyo if you don't like Contemporary Art. I do. I loved the experience.

Palais de Tokyo

Jacket of Bees' Wings

Both this viewer and I had tears in our eyes looking at this piece made of the wings of bees!

Homage to Excess

I didn't enjoy all the exhibits, but then I didn't enjoy everything in the Louvre either!

This is just an early morning street scene, but I thought it looked like contemporary sculpture.

Serendipitous Sculputre

Some of you might recall I visited Chattanooga, Tennessee and Couch Surfed with a fine fellow named Tom Gardner. In case you missed it, he also posted this trailer about The Lady in the Van on Facebook that he thought might be a movie about me!
We made quick buddy status and have kept in touch. He claims I have inspired him to do some traveling, so he decided to take a trip to Europe.
When he noticed I was in Paris, he scheduled this as his first stop.

How to Frame a Pix if You Are From Madagascar

We met at Notre Dame and flagged down some other tourists to snap our picture.
These are the first people I have met from Madagascar! It must be the way to take art photos there because he insisted on holding the camera at an angle.

We toured some typical tourist "must sees."
Tom was into climbing stairs and getting as high over the city wherever he could.

Sacre Coeur

I Am Down Here Tom Is Up There

At Sacre-Coeur, I took the funicular. Tom climbed all the stairs including to the cupola for the panoramic view.

Hisotric Beauty

We even had to go on the second story of the carousel!

Riding the Carousel

A picnic at the Eiffel Tower was definitely on our list.

Approaching le Tour

A Bit of Construction Spoils the Picnic Spot

Tom Tries an Olive

The 100 degree weather suddenly dropped and dust storms kept blowing the white sand found in all Paris parks. Until it finally turned into a full-fledged rainstorm.

Picnic Interupted

Sun and Rain

We had to go back again the next day, so that Tom could climb those steps also.

Tom Is Up There Somewhere

I stayed below to people-watch.
Somehow, I also lost about 40 Euro and my trusty Sony Reader decided to disintegrate in front of my eyes. It was a rather somber hour for me.
But, we texted back and forth and pretended like he could see me on the ground and that I could see him on the glass walkway.

Tom Is Up There Somewhere

Still heading for places that would get us up there for the view, we took in the Arc de Triomphe.
Here as I entered with my ticket, I was asked "Madam, don't you want to take the lift?"
Of course, I did and didn't realize I was in the stairway line. I guess I am really showing my age because I don't think anyone has ever asked me that before.

Atop the Arc

Paris Is Not Technicolored

From Arc de Triumphe to Arche de Defense

Tom, of course, took the stairway and we met at the top for photos.

There is always something to see on the streets of Paris. A man about my age was charging 1 Euro to take a picture of his rabbits.

French Bunnies to Photo

It is

The only thing I fear on the streets of Paris are all these young soldier/policemen with their finger pressed on the trigger of their loaded gun.

Move Those Pedicabs Or Else

Camoflouged at the Eiffel Tower

We didn't spend all of our time up in the air. A real highlight was when we visited the Musee de Egouts - The Sewer Museum.

Visit des Egouts de Paris

Here Comes Tom to Visite des Egouts of Paris

It might not be on everyone's list of Must Sees, but it was a real highlight for Tom and me. Although they had good information in English, we really challenged ourselves and tried to figure it out in French.

In On the Action at the Musee of Sewers

Quite frankly, we both feel it would be far better if humankind would build monuments to the people who maintain our sewers and keep our city clean instead of those who kill others in the name of patriotism.

Another Homage to Those Who Died Killing Others

We allowed each other some personal interest time.
I was so glad to have seen this billboard for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the first Metro station I boarded.

Ah AA ADT in Paris

I went to an afternoon performance at the Theatre du Chatelet. The performance was superb and brought tears to my eyes. It was not possible to get a good photo of the stage.

Waiting for the Dance Performance at the Theatre du Chatelet

There were definitely some things we missed,

Not For Us

but it was time for Tom to continue his two week journey into Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
He left me with a birthday greeting that is a great message for all of us.

Greetings for #71 from Tom G

After jumping the barge, I spent a day and a night in La Charities sur Loire wandering through the town and the church in the morning while it was cool.

16th Century Storefront for Sale

A Load Crosses the Loire

I Also Had a Fine Lunch Here

School Children on a History Tour

The Abby

Homage in the Chapelle

I tried to imagine this place in the 15th century during a siege by Joan d'Arc..
I wonder if she would have understood the modern art currently on display in the former monastery.

Who Knows

Symbols of Modern Consumerism

I doubt the pilgrims who walked this path, some of them on their way to the Camino de Santiago in Spain, would have grasped the meaning.

82 Pilgrims' Steps

While the temperature was around 100, I relaxed in my hotel room.

Hotel Garden A Respite from the Heat

Half of the Stairway

Wee Room for 48 Euro

Apertif Where the Locals Hang Out

When it cooled, I headed up to the rampart to get a look at the moonrise.

Walk Along the Ramparts

Moonrise Over La Charities sur Loire

I enjoyed a pizza on the banks of the Loire.

View from My Table

Caught the bus at 6 AM to take me to Bourges.

Here Comes the #120

The bus driver took the opportunity to practice his English. He will be visiting family in Kansas City and Atlanta this month,

Bus Ride Through the French Farm Country

I started walking around this city at 7:30 AM when the bus arrived. I took a ride on a little tourist train,I didn't return to the hotel until around 19:00
It was 100 the entire day. It seems it was so hot I forgot to take many pictures!

Find the Tourist Office First Thing

Can't Even Fit It In the Frame

Paying Your Way to Heaven

It is understandable why a Christian Reform movement started!

Calvin Spoke Reformism Here

A Crepe for Lunch

Had I realized all the historic sites and museums that awaited me here, I would have stayed another day.

A Wee Room for 89 Euro

But, I had already contacted Msr. Prodhomme in Paris and he had an apartment awaiting my arrival.