SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2008

Today, we went to the Roland Garros Tennis Complex where we took the guided tour and then spent some time in the Tenniseum. We toured the grounds and started with fountain in the place des Mousquetaires where there are statues of some of the original players including René LaCoste, well known also for Izod shirts with the alligator.

We toured two of the three stadia, the largest being the Court Philippe Chatrier.

We were shown around the playing area and then inside to the press area and the players' area. While there we saw the press room, Alexandria in the winners' interview room (no, she didn't play), and the players' lounge. Notice these areas in the following pictures.

Alexandria has been to the US Open at Flushing Meadow for 4 or 5 years and says that it is much larger than Roland Garros. There are 20 courts at Roland Garros of which 16 are used for marches and 4 for practice. The place is only in use for the time of the French Open and is not used for the rest of the year. However, there are the guided tours all year long as well as the Tenniseum. After the tour we spend about an hour in the Tenniseum looking at the displays and mementos, and watched replays of some of the important matches over the past 20 some odd years. One we saw was the year Ivan Lendl beat the young John McEnroe. McEnroe was not very happy as you could see from his face at the presentation ceremony. Incidentally, even a player who loses his first match takes home about $20,000.

We had gone to the Complex on the metro but we went home on two buses. Much longer but a much more pleasant trip. We had dinner in this evening.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008

This afternoon, we went to meet two of the other prospective owners of the fractional-share apartment. We met at a café on the place de la Sorbonne. We chatted over coffee for almost and hour and a half about very many aspects of the ownership of the apartment. The other couple brought up some interesting points that we hadn't thought of, and we did the same for them. All in all, we had an interesting and informative discussion. When we parted, we agreed that we would remain in contact since it would be in our mutual interests.

We stayed on at the cafe and had out usual apératif before heading off for dinner. We went to a restaurant we had never been to before. It was La Rôtisserie du Beaujolais located on one of the "quais" of the Seine, quai de la Tournelle, across from the Ile St. Louis. It was a very lovely place in the old French bistrot style and the food was excellent. We both had sautéed pleurotes which are a variety of wild mushrooms. Alexandria had monkfish for her main course and I had the confit de canard. We shared a pear tart. We both agreed that we would come here again. It addition to the food and the ambiance, the kitchen opened on to the dining room so we were able to watch the chef and his crew working. It was fascinating to watch this performance.

We caught the bus back home after a wonderful evening.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

We had an appointment with the developer of the apartment we have been looking at near the Luxemburg Gardens. We met him at the apartment which gave us a second chance to see it again. Please note the pictures below.

We have come to a tentative agreement for basically the last two weeks in September and the first two in October. All will depend upon our lawyer's review of the contract when we get back home. We are excited about this new aspect of our lives.

The neighborhood is an interesting one. We are across the street from the library of the Sorbonne, two blocks from the Luxemburg Gardens, and two blocks in the other direction from the Pantheon. Just down the street is the famous boulevard St. Michel (called BoulMich by the Parisians). There are lots of interesting restaurants and cafes nearby, and in walking distance of the rue Mouffetard, well-known amongst francophiles.

In front of the Pantheon, we discovered a group of modern art statues in a display by the Italian sculptor Rabarama, being sponsored by the town hall of the 5th arrondisement. We found them very interesting, to say the least. What do you think?










We walked down the rue Mouffetard doing a lot of window shopping and making an occasional purchase. At the bottom, we walked out to the boulevard du Port-Royal. We got the bus back to our neighborhood. Dinner was in again. A bit of pasta, a salad, some cheese, and a few fresh figs from the market.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

Very little to report. Erwin went for a haircut and Alexandria stayed in for the day. Linda, our "gardener", came at 5 pm to take care of the flowers on the balcony. We ate in and later watched the film "That's Entertainment". That's it!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

More shopping at the market. Then we went to the Marais where we had a light lunch in the Marché des Enfants Rouges. We stopped at the Moroccan stand in the market and shared a vegetable couscous. It was very good and cost only 5 euros.

After strolling around the neighborhood, we then went to our 3rd, and last, get-together of ParlerParis. It is interesting to meet all kinds of people who love Paris, mostly Americans, some of whom live here all year long, or some who are here only for a few months at a time. Chatted with a man who was born and raised in South Orange, a few miles from where we live.

We took the bus back and relaxed for a while before going out to dinner.

For dinner we went to a local bistrot where we have never dined before. It is called Le Quincy.

It was quite an experience. We were the first ones to arrive. The owner greeted us very warmly and made some jokes about his expectancy of few patrons due to the American elections.

He said business would be booming for the take-out pizza places since the French would be home watching the American election results. The French preferred, in polls taken several days ago, Sen Obama by a wide margin. The French tend to be more liberal in their political beliefs and carried that over to our election.

The restaurant itself was very quaint and warm.

The food also was very good, traditional in style. Alexandria and Erwin shared a leak tart to start. She then had scallops and Erwin had the cassoulet. We finished up with an excellent rice pudding with macerated fruits. All in all, a fine experience.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2008

Today was another laundry day. This time sheets and pillow cases. Normally at home, one load to wash and one load to dry. Here, it is two loads to wash and then off to the laundromat for drying. In spite of this, we went off to the Boulevard Raspail to the Banque de France to exchange 150 francs that Erwin had had in his wallet for years. What a stogey place. Double door security to get in, go to the Accueil (welcome desk), fill out a form that asks everything but the name of your dog, get a number and wait for the number to be called. Then go to the window, give the form, the cash, AND the little paper with your number. You have to sign two papers and then you get your 22 euros along with a full page receipt.

We got back on the bus and went to the boulevard de la Tour Maubourg to find out what had happened to one of our favorites, Le Maupertu. We got there and found out the name had changed and we were told that the former owner, Sophie Deguest was no longer there and that it had changed hands. What a shame! Sophie had very kind and accommodating to us over the years and we will miss her.

We then went to the École Militaire intersection where we had the obligatory hot chocolate and cappuccino. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and we enjoyed the sun and the view. We went back to the apartment and had a light supper. Erwin had picked up some cheese and/or vegetable tarts at the boulangerie which we had with a salad, cheese and dessert.

Another uneventful, but wonderful day in Paris.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2008

Here to get in it is the first Sunday of the month and free museum entrances again. We went off to the D'Orsay Museum and got there about 1:30 and it took us about 25 minutes waiting on line to get in. When we left at 4:00, the lines were even longer.

We went to see the special exhibition entitled "Le Mystère et l'Éclat, pastels du Musée d'Orsay". You would be surprised at the number of impressionists who worked with pastels as well as oils.

Below are a few. Do you recognize which one is a Degas?

We separated and Alexandria went to see the exhibition of masks. Erwin went to see some photo essays by a contemporary photographic artist named Valérie Belin. For the moment, there are no photos of the masks, but maybe?

Erwin also looked at some of the sculptures in the main hall.