Rick and I have gotten into a bit of a routine here. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings I have French class, so Rick jogs to the pool and swims laps.
He's a regular now. He's got it all down...how to use the lockers, the protocol - don't wear shoes in the locker room - and his buddies who swim at the same time. He did mention that they are not exactly serious swimmers and even doing the back stroke he can lap them. They all stop at the end of the lane and let him go ahead. He's even gotten to the point where some of the swimmers wave to him when he comes in. For anyone who swims with him in Oak Harbor............I think he is better behaved in the pool in Paris!
On Monday we did a walking tour of "Paris During the Occupation and Liberation". Rick had read a lot about this period in Paris but still found it fascinating to see where all of the action really took place. I loved that during the occupation when people were out after the curfew they walked barefoot because their wooden shoes made too much noise.
I took this great shot at Place de la Concorde.
On Tuesday afternoon, I took Rick up to Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise. I knew he would love it, even though it was cold. Not only is it one of the most serene places to wander in Paris, it is full of history. Rick loved the memorials to the resistance and the victims of the concentration camps.
And then when Rick positioned me for this picture, we were told by a friendly guide that I was standing on the graves of the homeless people. There are not grave markers because no one knows who they are. Ooops!
After an early dinner at home, we took the metro to the Church of Madeleine for a concert by a group of local gospel singers. The concert was great. The chorus had a keyboard and sax accompanying them and they were so dynamic. Loved it.
And the church was stunning.............
After the concert, we wandered over to the Ritz, at the Place de Vendome, and had a champagne (26 Euros!!!!) at the Bar Hemingway which is quite famous. It's full of memorabilia from Hem, and it's said that he cruised into Paris in advance of the liberation in his press jeep, parked in front of the Ritz, and ordered 50 martinis to be prepared for the allies as they came into town. I also heard that he stayed on at the Ritz for 20 days and never paid. They're getting it all back now when the tourists visit the bar. I wish I had a photo, but the bar, which is actually quite small, was very crowded. The bar across the hall of the Ritz was totally empty.
Yesterday Rick and I spent the afternoon at the huge Carnavalet Museum. It's housed in two old mansions and displays the history of Paris. Our kids (knowing how Rick is at museums) will really appreciate the fact that we didn't see the whole thing in one afternoon, and have to go back. Luckily it's free! It was fascinating. And the gardens are lovely!
We had dinner at a restaurant called Sopranos. Yes, it's Italian. I was there once with Helene and Deanna, and then another time with just Deanna. When Rick and I walked in the very vivacious hostess remembered me, and immediately brought over each of us a glass of "Italian champagne". There was a girl playing the piano in the basement and we had a great dinner. I had tortellini with truffles - it was divine. And we drank some pretty good wine. By the time we left, we had made reservations for Christmas dinner and we were all old friends - Bisous (kisses) on the way out.
And this morning.............it was difficult to get up to go to French class (or as Rick says "work").
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