Pamela and I had a few other reasons to go to Paris besides the Dior show (which was the initial catalyst). In 1969 both of us were together in Paris for a university theatre trip. It was my first trip to France and Pamela's second (she studied there the year before). On probably the first day there in 1969, we crossed the Seine and there was Notre Dame cathedral. I remember what it felt like to suddenly see that symbolic structure...I was amazed to see it in person which is probably what I am exclaiming as we both posed for a photo...this photo as a matter of fact. Check out those mini skirts!!! This might have also been the day we slept for nearly 24 hours frightening the friends we stayed with who thought we might have died!
Well...we just HAD to retake the same photo in 2018 (minus the mini skirts...November, remember??). An American tourist was kind enough to snap a photo on that brilliant, sunny day.
So...what do you think?? I think we look better today. Who said anything about aging anyway? That was such fun and the weather was perfect.
Later we walked through the neighborhood and there were Christmas decorations along the way.
In the Quartier Latin, however, near the Sorbonne this place had blooming geraniums at all the windows.
We went over to see the Gaugin exhibit too. Since I still was using my cane and it was visible, Pamela and I were amazed to see a guard come to us and usher us in a "special" entrance ahead of all those in line!
We did have some rain in Paris...of course we had our tiny umbrellas along and we waited on the steps of the Polish Bookstore on Blvd Saint Germain while there was a downpour going on...we had just been out to have some moules/frites in the neighborhood which were delicious.
Here is a view of the church after the rain storm was over and we were on the way to Deux Magots for some well deserved coffee which, by the way, was terrific.
Another goal of our trip was to locate the "magical street" from the movie Midnight in Paris where the yellow Rolls Royce takes the hero into Paris of Fitzgerald and Hemingway and all the other expats who came to the city. Yes...we found the place (with a little help). Here I am on the steps waiting for the Rolls....
...and here is the street...no view of a Rolls coming along. I guess we had to be here at midnight to actually have it work.
No matter...we did make it over to the Pantheon which has been recently refurbished and also to pass the Luxembourg garden.
On the wrought iron wall around the park were fascinating drawings of the lawyers and judges who hold court in the building. This is one I liked.
Across the street was this shop...I liked the pale blue facade.
Since we missed Thanksgiving in the States we went off to have a Thanksgiving lunch at Bouillon Racine...very Art deco old restaurant in Quartier Latin.
This is what we had...it was the plat du jour!
Two tiny ladies next to us tucked into this with gusto and finished off with dessert and coffee...Pamela and I had a hard time finishing, skipped dessert and had coffee later after we had walked a bit!!!
Later we saw the lights near the Champs Elysees on Ave Montaigne...see the Eiffel Tower back in the distance?
This was the Dior boutique
We walked down to the Seine to catch our bus home and really what more beautiful a way to wait for the bus than to look around from the bus stop:
I think I have one more post from Paris and then I am going to start on the great new adventure which is....buying a house in Provence!!! A bientôt.
