Paris at night (and during the day)

 

Paris at night

 

            Again, another day and night in Paris.   Still raining on and off.  Cold and rainy.  Today is Tuesday.  This is the start of the Rick Steves 13-day M Way Tour.  

            The morning started as usual---get my cappuccino, have my American breakfast of eggs and bacon, maybe toast today instead of the croissant.  But today is different. I am waiting to change from my standard room with a double bed and five huge pillows to a twin room with a new roommate.  

            I met Julie while she was eating her breakfast.  We exchange niceties and I went to unload my bags in our new shared room.  Julie is from Chicago and has traveled a lot, solo.  This is her first Rick Steves’ tour.  She has her itinerary for the day.  Seems she is a tennis buff.  

            I am determined to venture out in the rain, wet feet and all.  I thought shopping would be in order today.  I would like a scarf because it will keep me warmer.  I see no stores that I want to go into.  So-- I walk.  I walked toward the cemetery, which is close by the hotel.  

            Okay, here is something else about me.  I like cemeteries.  It is quiet and can be interesting.  In this case, this cemetery is the home of many famous people, such as Man Ray and Susan Sontag.  I have a picture of Simone De Beauvoir and her Philosopher husband Jean Paul Sartre and I didn’t even know who they were.  (Also Jean Seberg—a French actress). All are still honored with rocks placed on the headstones along with flowers, pictures, and adored items even though they have been gone since the 70’s or before. There are others that are famous for France, as well.  This cemetery was just as or even more interesting that any museum.  Art is placed on the gravesites, such as sculptures and ceramics.  (The pictures aren’t the best I would have hoped for---it is difficult to hold the phone camera while holding an umbrella).  

         

                                    Jean Seberg, actress, the most famous movie, "Breathless".

                                    Sculpturist---Cesar

                                    Interesting ceramics. 

                                Grave site of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Paul Satre

   Back to the hotel to get warm with my cup ‘o ramen noodle soup before my next adventure of my long-awaited splurge of a dinner cruise on the Seine.  

 

            Although, my dinner cruise started at 7:30 pm, it is still light out.  The sun doesn’t go down until 9:30 and 10:00.  The boat is electric and noiseless. It set off at precisely 8:30 while I was enjoying my main course. Of blue lobster.   

            Alain Ducasse is a Michelin-starred chef who owns many restaurants around the world. The three chefs with the most Michelin stars in Joël Robuchon (who is now deceased), Alain Ducasse (still alive and working on more sustainable menus), and Gordon Ramsey (the best known chef due to celebrity). 

            I am spending three hours on a dinner by myself.  This is hard for me. Only because I get bored easily. There is an American couple sitting behind me; talking loud enough that I feel I am in their conversation. My dinner is paced to last the entire three hours.  Having dessert watching the sights as it is getting darker that by the time we return to our berth, the Eiffel Tower is bathed in lights.  

        

Dinner and Paris night sites: 

    I snapped a few pictures as I made my way to the train station.  What I am finding the later it is at night, the happier the people or they are all just tourists.  I get to the train station after following a nice couple going the same direction and find my Navigo train ticket is not working.  I try and reload more money on the ticket and still a no-go.  I noticed another person was having the same trouble---his girlfriend got through, but his card beeped like a wrong game-show answer.  He jumped the turnstile and they both encouraged me to do the same.  Oh the thrill.  Thank goodness my new roomie was awake when I got home since we only have one key. 

Is it just me?   The next day was continuous rain.  It is beyond me how I can venture out and rain automatic starts.  I get wet, my pants get wet, my backpack get wet.  I look like a wet puppy.  When I look around, Parisians are walking the street with thin jackets barely covering their heads and they don’t even look wet.  It must be that I have one dark, wet cloud following me around!