June 2 2013
Well I really am pouting myself now. After going all of the way to the US to visit Chagall (and they couldn’t find them) they were around the corner from my damn hotel in Paris – but when did I find them – hmmm ten minutes before we needed to leave, on our stroll back to the hotel to pick up our bags. When the terribly unhelpful person in New York at MOMA told me they could be in Luxembourg I took her at her word. Very unlike me not to follow up with a Google search but they were in Luxembourg, Musée du Luxembourg in Paris – the whole damn collection … ohhh the first time that I have felt like stamping my feet since we went away. I couldn’t even run in for 5 minutes as it was free entry to the museum day in Paris so the lines were a km long.
Anyway, it means I have to now plan a trip to find every Chagall in every part of the world but send emails first to make sure they haven’t been misplaced.
We had a lovely French Sunday morning. A stroll to visit our neighbor Da Vinci and co and then bread and cheese in a lovely quiet courtyard beside a gorgeous church. It was quite peaceful sitting there with the pigeons for company. A nun and her family were also having a picnic and it felt very civilized to be sitting in a churchyard in Paris on a Sunday morning. We joined the Parisian dog walking club and strolled the neighborhood streets. Being Sunday morning we thought we had better fulfill our church going responsibilities so visited St Sulpice as you do when strolling in Paris. The smell of incense told us we were in a very traditional Sunday morning service and the artwork made it clear we were definitely in Europe. The two half shells at the doorway resting on Pigalle sculptures.
Feeling quite pious we wandered back to the hotel and started that horrible part of any journey – every time I do it I vow and declare next time I am only taking 5kg. Now we really didn’t take that much but in a surely enlightened age it totally intrigues me how many railway stations in the UK and Europe don’t have lifts. Heaven help us how you would manage in a wheelchair. Well after dragging cases up and down stairs (Oh I really hate it) we finally reached the station – our next challenge machines selling tickets on the other side of the barrier but you need a ticket to get in – well I probably should have been arrested (or more likely broken my leg) as I had to climb over the gate to get a ticket to get in the gate – not very Parisian or lady like. Lyd and I have discussed at length how hard it is in Paris without French. All of the Parisians that we met had fantastic English but they definitely don’t use it unless really pushed. I think it is part of the reason why I love Italy so much – it is so much easier. Anyway, we eventually arrived at Gard Du Nord. Weird that you clear French passport control, and two metres later clear UK passport control. An easy train trip to King’s Cross.
It is quite good that QANTAS and BA have had a falling out as we are sitting in the much more civilized American Airlines lounge. Far less crowded than the BA one and much better service. Quite looking forward to the 22 hour flight – we have been so damn busy it will be just nice to sit. I forgot to post up the great photo that I took over the Italian Alps so have added it here. We have had a fantastic time but I think are both looking forward to coming home. My only disappointment is that the machines have replaced real people at Tullamarine. I always thought there was something rather nice about the Aussie accented passport person saying Gidday – Welcome home.
Sleeping under the stars 