Thursday I had the chance to meet a former student of mine...from Whitford Junior High....Nicola lives and works in Paris for the International Herald Tribune and it was great to hear what she has been doing!
As we sat at the cafe near the Invalides I kept seeing people dressed like doctors from the operating room walk by...I was sure there was a hospital nearby but found it odd that they would still be in full operating gear. Turns out we ended up in the middle of a demonstration march where nursing students were protesting governmental changes to their program.
Took this picture above from our cafe table.
That is the Tour Montparnasse in the background:
The architect Mansart looking over his plans for the dome of Les Invalides...
JC inside the archways of the Musée de l'Armée...they have an exhibit about the Mousquetaires:
Heading out the door towards the Seine and the Pont Alexandre III:
Crossing over the grassy area near the bridge we were warned by this sign attached on the curb:
Later at the Renault showroom on the Champs Elysées we saw some very fun exhibits created around what is typically "French"... here is a set of pétanque balls with the imprint of tires on the balls:
A wooden car with a beret steering wheel:
and a rooster for the motor...see the Eiffel Tower hood ornament?
also check out the moustache windshield shape...everything was in the flag colors.
Don't you love that orange chair up on that balcony? We were waiting for our bus when we looked over and saw this. It is at the very top area near the black post sort of center.
They have kept the interior as it was from the beginning and there is even a note tacked on the inside of one of the cabinets to remind the pharmacist of the past of some medication they were running low on in 1911. The cabinets and shelves are all solid, carved wood...never been repainted or anything!
Some other fun things to look at around the neighborhood...aren't these adorable little shoes? Like little gumdrops!
Oh yes, and here is a good quotation for the day...of course it was in a boulangerie window!(Bread is even better when you eat it!)
Since it is June 6 today there are big celebrations taking place in Normandie for D-Day. On the news this morning they showed US newspapers from the date 1944 and one of the newspapers shown was...The Fargo Forum!! I tried to get a photo but I was not fast enough!
It is a beautiful day in Normandie and it looks to be an incredible program for the 70th year commemoration.
I'll be back after the weekend...with more photos to share. The weather forecast is for nice days. I hope it is the same for you. A bientôt.
A former student??! That is SO WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See how great of a teacher you were and still are!!!! (I'M still learning from you! =) A manifestation?? GASP! In Paris? How is that POSSIBLE! =) What a fun idea to have "beaches" by the Seine!!!! Do people actually sunbathe there? WOmen topless or...? (Interdit?) Fun cars and petanque balls at the Renault showroom. Clever, clever, clever! Pharmacy interior reminds me of the candy store in Willy Wonka and the Choc Factory. =) So delighted the weather is so grand for you! Lots of folks probably showing up the the 70th anniversary of D-Day. I was in Normandy for the 40th!!!! (Showing my age, here!) Remarkable...met several veterans from Wales there to commemorate the day. NO WAY! From the FARGO paper??!! What are the odds!!!!??? Looks like you two are having the best time! You fit right in...wonder why??!! Love to you both! Thanks so much for sharing your trip!!! xoxox
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