Wet Washed - Day 5

Still not feeling quite normal I slept until about noon got up decided I better do something with my day and not sure what that was gonna be looked at my handy dandy little planning book and decided to go to the Atelier de la Lumiere. 

I was thinking maybe I was a bit hungry though so I decided to stop for lunch, pizza sound of the best me that’s never hurt anybody with my situation so I stopped and had  ham and mushroom pizza,

pretty good the owner was not very happy that I left half of it but I was pretty pleased that I managed to eat half of it. From there I went onto the atelier, it is currently hosting a exposition of new stuff and it was very interesting. It is a old foundry that they have cleaned out and placed lights all over so that there are reflections of surrounding movie in the entirety of the building except for the ceiling. Klimt came to my attention when I watched a movie about the niece of one of the sitters and the Gustav Klimt painting that had belonged to her family and they lost it in the war and she wanted to back.  It was a very good movie, Helen Mirren played the niece. 

And so I wanted to go to the exposition, it was amazing and I would do it again.

It was $14 maybe $14.50 I bought my ticket ahead online and I walked right in.

There was no place to set though so if you are a sitter there were maybe a dozen places to sit in the entire place. 

From there I went back to the apartment tried to refresh myself a little bit and it was about time to go to my first painting class. Finding the Atllier de La Villa Bastille was a bit difficult however for once my daddy would have been proud and I was early,  rue, Charenton sort of stops and starts, bit once I got there I sat down and had a glass of white wine while I was waiting. It was a bit difficult to get in as we had miscommunication about when I was doing classes so he was not expecting me, there was a door code and I did not have that like code but once I got there everything was good.  The painting class was interesting in that it felt like a step back he had me doing washes, 

wet washes,  trying to plan colors and he’s not easy to please however I enjoyed the class.  Halfway through everybody takes a quick coffee break,  then everyone goes back to painting. There’s a young woman in class who is from Sweden it’s very interesting to me how similar to German Swedish sounds but she’s very sweet she’s also a beginner so we have that in common after painting class I left it was just starting to sprinkle and THEN God opened the floodgates by the time I got back to the apartment I was wet all the way to my skin not a very comfortable way to end the evening even my watercolor paper was damp in a little curled fortunately my phone stay dry

Promenading the Plantee, Day 4

Breakfast was a new Almond thing  made out of Croissant dough, sort or roll we up in a swirl.  I am not sure how it was done but it sure was tasty. Accompanied by orange slices, cheese and ham, and the ubiquitous cup of coffee it was a great way to start the day.  If I could only get the GI distress under control, life wold be much better,  I decided to go the the Promenade Plantee which had been on my list since 2009.  It was not terribly hot, and seemed like a good idea.  I took the metro to Bastille

and went to Emmaus, the Parisian equivalent of Goodwill, but it isn’t really.  It was almost all clothing and not very interesting.  Maybe if you are into “Vintage” clothing stores it might be a hit, definitely not going to make Mom jealous!  Then I walked by my old stomping grounds and my bank is closed!  Good thing IMCU went with chips Ir I wold have been in a world of hurt. IT was a place I always knew I cold get money with the old strip ATM cards. 

Promenade Plantee is an old train track about a story above ground, that they have repulsed into a garden/walk.

It begins near the Bastille and runs all the way to the Bois du Vincennes.  It is lovely, planted with trees, flowers and all kind of shrubbery. 

I told Mom that we could live here now because I have found a way for her to support us!  She could be a shrub trimmer!  There are a lot of benches and people were eating  their lunches, there as a lovely older couple sitting together and she was having a snooze on his shoulder.  I sat and painted for quite a while, while people ran by me in the height of the day sweating.  I didn’t get that, if I were going to run it wold be in the morning or evening for Pete’s sake.

I walked back to the Bastille, came home ate the sandwich I had picked up at a local bakery and chips

that I found too my relief,

and then cleaned up, It is hot enough that cleaning up is crucial!  And decided to go to Bistro Du Henri,  A lot of restaurants are not open on Sunday or Monday’s but this one is and it is still one of my favorite places to dine. It is tiny, maybe tables for 30 at the most, there is some outside seating but it was pouring rain.  I sat beside a lovely couple from Chicago and we had a nice visit.   I had their green bean salad which is to die for, I keep thinking I am going to try it at home. 

Margaret du Canard in a honey sauce (I am thinking maybe I am going to shoot those ducks that land on our roofs, they might make for good eating?), Dauphiniose potatoes, accompanies by a St. Emillion.  I passed on dessert as I wanted something light.  I feel good for a while, and then my tummy started cramping again, it is frustrating as heck.  I don’t have time for this,  Anyway I got off the metro at Bastille and ran into the Amorino. This was all planned quite nicely as it was still pouring and it was a quick hop to Amorino form the Metro exit.  Anyway I handed the girl 4.70 Euro and she said I needed to give her another Euro, in the long of things I paid 6.70 for a 3.70 itty bitty cup of ice cream.  Now my bowels are really in an uproar and not over the Tartare!  There is not discussion here, though,  so option 1 was to stalk out leaving my $ behind or give the little sweetie who is clearly in the I can’t do math group, another 2 euro.  It tainted  the taste of my ice cream, and didn’t harm her at all. 

Regardless, got home fairly dry and listened to the sweet sound of rain coming down.

Cooking with Catherine - Day 3

I did not sleep well last night, consequences to the delicious Tartare, damn it.  I think I am going to have to give it up and it makes me sad.  Anyway I woke up too late to make eight o’clock mass so I went to the corner brasserie for breakfast of a coffee and croissant

and then

on to my cooking class at Reed.  

It was a good  group, a couple from Ohio, Canada and New Jersey ( I think- I was more focused on the fact that they both spoke Spanish and hubby was multilingual!).

We made Cheese soufflés,

Margaret De Canard with Peach Chutney,  potatoes and Haricot Vert.  The special ingredient of the day was

( just look at the pad of delicious fat waiting to be rendered) duck fat. 

 

We did similar potatoes last year, but the fat was butter, the Duck fat had its own special appeal! For dessert we did profiteroles. 

Jodi watch out I think I can do eclairs now!   The class is about 6 hours long and after  cooking we ate!  On the way to Notre Dame we congregated on one side of the street waiting for this group to pass. 

I went to vespers service at Notre Dame, and lit a candle for Mallory and Meredith. (the one to the right of the red candle).

 (Being a heathen child, I have to admit at focused my prayers more on their family and their healing.  But the remembrance of these two lovely young women was there just the same. On the way back to chez moi (my house- at least for the week) , I noticed several things.  Firstly along the scene there is now exercize equipment, qu’elle horror. 

Next, before I had even had a chance to recover was this ugly sight. 

I can never understand the need to take to the streets on wheels to drink.  I wandered a bit in BHV, but arrived at the conclusion that at my age, I really have everything I need and that there is really nothing new under the sun, just what I saw 5, 10, 15 years ago. 

I hopped the metro back home to cool off, rest and work on the blog.  Maybe a bit more of my excellent painting! 

Market Day Day 2

This morning I was awake early, which was good, as I got a mini chanson du pomme and chocolate croissant to eat with my coffee.  I saw the market setting up and after breakfast went out to wander through.  Great flowers,

interesting mushrooms

and Celery root

that is not 5 years old like in the states!   It was quite a long one, but not better than the market at the Bastille, I think.  I did purchase some meat and cheese stuffed shells and a chèvre roll

for lunch which it was about time for when I got back and settled in.  After lunch I took the metro to The Louvre and crossed the seine to have a look see at Senellier. I was early so I went down by the river, got out my paints and was sitting there painting when this Asian guy stood there watching.  It was unnerving, so I asked him if he was an artist and he said yes, and I felt morally obligated to tell him I am a beginner! 

I painted until about time to go to the store.  It was a painters wet dream and I wanted to just wander and touch, but they had the watercolors behind the shelf and I had to ask.  It was a store full of anything you could imagine artsy though.  3 levels of goodies, with theses little quickies by shoppers. 

I though about doing my Rosie but didn’t.  Then I wandered towards Boulevard St . Germain, with the intention of looking for a couple of back up glasses for my sets and a visit to Monoprix.  I brought an ancient mascara with the intention of replacing, wanted to start purchasing my goat cheese chips and have a look see at the TP.  Well the store that sold my glasses is gone.  Monoprix did not have my mascara, not the goat cheese chips!  What is a girl to do?  I will just have to find another Monoprix and look at other stores for the chips.  IT would be a bummer because I even brought a special box, to put a bag in to mail home!  I did stop for a water a and Lemon Tart at Paul.

But I did find another art store.  I found a found stamp and a goodie for Jodi. I nearly succumbed to another pallets, but resisted.  No sure how I am going to use my new grays.  But I will figure it out.  Back to chez moi to rest, tub and rinse out some sweaty undies!  It is hot outside but fairly nice in the house.  

On the way back via the metro

I saw this guy with a sign, back in the apartment I could hear the cheering, drums, sirens and all of the hoopla, I was glad I was sade and away from it.

After a brief rest I had made reservations at le Ange 20 so I headed there.  It’s funny how our memories mess with us. I would have sworn it was on the corner of Place du Vosges and I would have been wrong!  IT was another street over. I had originally thought to get off the Metro at the Bastille and sure should have followed my instinct.  Dinner was a

Peach Kir Royale, Lamb and Mushrooms,  and potatoes Dauphinoise, a glass of Rhône,

and

the carmel apple dessert I had last year.  It was honestly better last year, I.e there is shortbread under the caramelized apples, and it was soggy,  but still a yummy meal.  Back home, windows opened and ready for bed.

Paris Encore

It is so good to be back in MY city.  But first I have to tell the tale of getting here, as it is a good one!  Kathy and Dean took me to the airport.  Kathy said something about this new flight  being  a big deal, wondered at not seeing the Press and I commented that I expected to see the press, but maybe at the gate.  I checked my bags without difficulty and wandered toward the gate, began discerning the strains of La Vie en Rose and noticed an Eiffel Tower in the main greeting space.

Wow, it might be a bit of a deal after all.  I walked out to the glass hallway to go to  gate A5 and there was a big mural there too about the flight. Nice!

When I got to the point that I. Had to turn right to go to the gate there was a sign that said that the area was closed for an event.  And an event it was!  There was food

(appetizers and sweets), beverages,  music, free pins and luggage tags that indigate the inaugural flight, a photo booth and speeches!  I took a quick look, and got in line for food, I had a fingerling potatoes stuffed with Camembert, some Brie, blue cheee and a cracker, a ratatouille Wellington with pesto, a god stuffed with goat cheese and a tiny chocolate mousse, and some fruit.

No alcohol but sparkeling lemonade was a good accompaniment.  I wandered in to listen to the speeches, kids from the Interntaitonal school spoke in French and English,  A priest blessed this voyage, and then the assistant to the governor, the mayor and some big wigs from Delta spoke.  Mostly I liked the blessing!  I went then to get my picture taken and was next in line when I got “bumped” by the big wigs from Delta.  Hmm this was to be just the first of my examples of white male privilege (WMP) from this bunch.  I could not bring myself to do goofy glasses or a silly hat, but could hold up my truth.

The flight was the most painless trip to Paris ever!  The ravioli I got stuck with (at the back of the plane) was actually pretty good and it came with wine! We arrived, moseyed throughout the airport towards customs.  Here agin I saw that WMP as this same folks who bumped me just didn’t do as asked by the personnel there, they jumped line and were in and out of customs in a flash.  Grrr.
The taxi driver was very funny would NOT speak French to me, he told me that his English was better than my French, and honestly he is right.  He spent a year in Scotland and was funny and is most likely my ride back to the airport.  He also offered to take me to a castle or herd me around town and that if we did that he might speak French to me.  LOL. It might be worth it just to have the French lessons!
He dropped me off at the door and Simone was at the door to greet us.  She is s charming lady about my age who is a social worker but can not find work under the new regime. Hmmmm maybe there is a reason that Trump and Macron got along so well.  I have to admit that I supported him, but as a lesser evil.  Why does it seem to always have to come to that in an election?
Anyway the apartment/house is amazing.  Three floors:  The basement has a laundry area, sofa (probably a pullout) and a desk.  The main floor has a sitting area, and the kitchen.

And the bedroom and bathroom upstairs are adorable,

I think maybe this is one of the best places ever, only one though as there have been a couple other “do overs” in our past.
I was pooped though due to circumstances with work and sleep so I did the very think I tell people not to do which was took a nap!  Then I got up and went for that long awaited Tartare Du Boeuf, whith fries and a glass of wine.

 It was as good as I had dreamed!  I had the same prime seat as I had last year, but this year it was not hot and I was glad to be sort of inside as it was sprinkling off and on with the threat of a good rain.  I attempted to sketch something to paint later and paired that with some sorbet.  The pear was delish and the cassis was TART.

I’d have the pear again, not the cassis, although it is beautiful.
From there I went to our park behind Notre Dame.  There is a lot of  “crapping up” here, ( what JOdi calls “work” on the streets, buildings up - which make it hard to get nice photos) but I sat and knitted and people watched, sketched some more, and finally moseyed back via the souvenir shops. I am thinking that there is a pretty umbrella with the Eiffel Tower on it that may need to come home with me!