An unplanned trip to Paris

Our trip was planned, what we would do wasn't. On our flight from Chicago to Kuala Lumpur we stopped in Paris, made a hotel reservation, and planned to see the Eiffel Tower. Otherwise our days (and nights) were open. (Somehow Doug had missed the Eiffel Tower on a earlier trip.)

We booked at a hotel near Pigelle Station, Hotel Opera Frochet (about 117/night). We expected a typical budget hotel, i.e., small room, poor WiFi reception, few amenities, and a bit worn. Instead we had a bright, spacious room with an array of amenities, a mini-bar, coffee-maker, and speedy Internet. (We needed 5 UserIDs to access the Internet - two people 2 kindles, a nook, and 2 computers.) The Pigelle is a notorious red light district, but Boulevard de Clichy was the only seamy area we encountered.

There were bistros south of the hotel, but the first night we chose a small Vietnamese shop across from the hotel - unforgettably awful. Our other meals tended to be mediocre and pricey - the price we paid for not doing our homework.

We went to the Musee d'Orsay twice.  The first time it was closed because of an emergency. We saw no strikers or the police,  so the problem must have been more mundane than a strike or bomb threat. The next day it was open. The museum is housed in the former Orsay train station. It is a lovely space to wander and small enough not be overwhelming. The museum website is worth a visit as well

We saw a flier for the exhibition "Impressions A Montmarte," so we headed  to Montmarte to find the  Musee Montmarte. The perfect museum - easily reached, a walkable neighborhood, and a small enough collection to fully engage.  The art, which included Le Chat Noir posters, was as joyful as the one below. We watched a film clip from Can Can - immediately uplifting. The museum, surrounded by a garden, is in a house where at one time Renior and other artists lived.

Andre Gill poster - pure joy

The gardens in late October

Before we left Montmarte we walked up to the Basicilica Sacre Coeur and snapped a picture of people on its steps. On steps or chairs my image of Paris is people gazing out on the scene in front of them. Still true, but now lots of looking down to check smart phones.

Walking through Paris we viewed favorite sites and discovered new ones. Our walk along the Seine from the Musee d'Orsay ended at Notre Dame Cathedral. For the first time we noticed the similarity between the cathedral and temples in India - the large central hall, a central alter, side chapels, and statutes both inside and outside.

We had no interest in the Pompidou's current exhibit. Still it is a pleasure to look at the architecture, enjoy the mall, and people watch.

This mime provided an exceptional people watching opportunity. Passerbys seemed to be asking themselves "How does he do it?" A feat worthy of every euro he collected.

A later walk took us to the Arc deTriomphe. Along the way we continued enjoying the parks and broad sidewalks.

Interactive Art?

Two full days in Paris. Lots of walking, two good museums, a few tourist sites, and not-so-great food. What would we do differently? Only, better meal planning. Three years in Malaysia has taught us to not surrender to mediocre food.