ACROSS THE CHANNEL

Victoria here, doing a few web searches on what I want to see on my upcoming trip to Paris and cruise on the Seine.

Arc de Triomphe

Hubby and I have been to Paris several times, so we really don't need to re-visit The  Louvre, the Musée Carnavalet, Place des Vosges, Montmartre, or the Eiffel Tower.  We've seen Napoleon's tomb in Les Invalides, the Pompidou Center, Musée'Orsay, and the spectacular Notre Dame Cathedral and the nearby Sainte-Chapelle.  Not that we would be disappointed in seeing any of those wonderful places again, but with so much more available, we need to wander a bit farther afield, find things out of the ordinary.  Anybody have any suggestions??

le Tour Eiffel

I'm thinking about some of the small museums such as the Musée Cluny with its Medieval treasures.

15th C. tapestry, Lady and the Unicorn

Eugene Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People

 The Musée Delacroix is housed in the building in which he lived and died in 1863. 

 Musée Rodin.

The Rodin Museum looks like fun, if just for the building alone, much less the opportunity to get up close and personal with The Thinker! 

Musée Gustave Moreau 

I saw an article in the NY Times a while ago about a fascinating small museum called Musée Gustave Moreau  (to read it click here).  We will try to find that one too.

I am hoping to take a day to go to Josephine's Malmaison, just on the edge of the city.  She is such an interesting character, and I am fascinated by her life.  I have read -- and believe -- she was able, in the midst of all the French-British wars, to receive her beautiful English roses for her garden.  Both sides of the Channel apparently would do anything for her!

Chateau de Malmaison

Josephine's bedroom at Malmaison

There is a very amusing irony in the love of the British for all things French.  And in the fascination of the French with all things British.  Even after decades of war and managing to defeat Napoleon, the Prince Regent (later George IV) accumulated all sorts of furniture, decorative arts, paintings and sculpture from France.  Tours of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace clearly indicate the royal preferences for the styles of Louis XIV, XV, and even XVI.

Buckingham Palace White Drawing Room

Which makes me think of Versailles. It's on our schedule -- I was there once, but spent almost all my time inside.  This visit I intend to emphasize the gardens. 

Versailles

Attendez!  Wait! We'll be in Paris.  Why go anyplace other than a café?  A bit of people watching and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc?  Parfait!!  Merci beaucoup. Plenty of cafes for a different one every day.