And just like that....

home again....

MIscellaneous France Memories....Merci a tous!

Lunch on our last day in the Vendee...

 a la prochaine a La Gite....

 les mirabelles at Le Bon Georges....

 lunch with Tom and Anne at La Gare....

tartelette framboise from the local pastry shop....

 gorgeous beef above and the whole Bresse chicken from Le Coq Rico below....

 A day at the art fair with Suzy and Jean Marie...

a terrific potluck at the nursery after the art show....

 a series of prints based on New Yorker covers, every one a gem...

 Bercy's gourmet ghetto......

 and food from all over because, you know, France.

 

Farewell Paris!

The highlight of our last days in Paris was visit to Francoise and Charles at their home.  To get there, we planned an excursion through the center of Paris/

First we stopped at the Palais Elysee, the presidential palace.  President Hollande announced, with great fanfare,  three years ago, that the gardens would be open to the public the first Sunday of the month. We tried twice before to go.  The first time it was raining chats et chiens.  The second time the place was locked down tighter than a drum; apparently there was a demonstration someplace far away, and the palace guard were concerned that the rabble might attempt to take on the palace guard.  This was our third attempt.

We confirmed with the website that the gardens were on schedule to be open.

But when we got there, the place was again locked down.  We approached a guard whose smile was tentative, but reassuring, given the automatic rifle he had in hand.  He was quite confused about our request to visit the gardens, since he said they are never open.  After some discussion he said that the increased security following the Charlie Hebdo murders had sealed off the Palace.  So despite the website, no garden visits were allowed.  Perhaps next Patromoine we may give it a try.

So we walked across town instead.  We passed the Grand and Petit Palais, and crossed the Seine.  There we found a street fair going on, cerebrating the ecology.

Inexplicably in the mix was our second destination, an anniversary exposition by Hermes.  They had erected a series of connected tents housing various displays featuring their products over the decades.  It was fun and interesting, and free.

 In this display, the lights changed and various elements -- the tea tray, the chandelier, the mannequin -- twirled around

 The best was last: a projection onto a blank wall of various images growing more and more elaborate.  This is all done with lights; these are just blank white walls. 

 Outside, there were more activities for the kids, like this giant blackboard, and

 segways, motorized unicycles and scooters. 

After all of that we enjoyed a lovely visit with Francoise and Charles, and made our way back to the apartment where we packed and cleaned before our trip home. 

Rodin at Meudon

We have long wanted to visit Rodin's country home in Meudon.  Since there was a temporary exhibit of photos by Doisneau this was the perfect time.  Anne drove Tom and Jeanne and me across and just out of town to what is now part of the Parisian sprawl. 

 There was also a large exhibition hall filled with Rodin's sculptures and studies. 

Outside is "the Thinker" on top of a pedestal with the name "Rodin".  The artist is buried next to the statue.

On the way out we walked through three of the rooms of Rodin's house.