A few days in Paris

I spent 4 days in Paris with my daughter last week. I hadn't been there since I was in my 20s & took a coach load of Primary children on a school trip. We had a wonderful, if exhausting, time. I'm really lucky that my daughter & I enjoy doing the same things.

We overdosed on art galleries - everything from the Musee du Moyen Age / Cluny with its wonderful tapestries, "La Dame a la Licorne", housed in a 16th C Renaissance mansion, to the Impressionists. The Orangerie, built to protect the Tuileries orange trees, houses eight of Monet's stunning giant waterlily paintings. The Pompidou Centre has the largest collection of modern art in Europe in a stunning modern building. The views as you ascend the escalators on the outside of the building are wonderful, as are the views form the restaurant on the top. However the price of a cup of watery tea is outrageous & the service by the sleek & sophisticated waiters leaves a lot to be desired. The Musee d'Orsay has a wonderful collection of Impressionists & Post Impressionists in what was a railway station.The restaurant here also had good views, which were very original from behind the huge clock faces of the station.

We also did the tourist thing visiting the Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite & the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre with it's wonderful views over Paris. We took the easy route ascending via the funicular. Then we came down via the place de L'Abbesses which has an Art Nouveau metro station & some interesting little shops on the way back to the Gare du Nord.

Paris is a wonderful city. I saw none of the supposed aloofness of the Parisians. They were unfailingly helpful and pleasant, especially those in our lovely hotel Lindbergh Saint Germain des Pres. The shops remind me what we have lost. Lots of small independant, interesting shops. We didn't go shopping in the big stores, apart from Le Bon Marche which is the worlds oldest department store. The luxurious Grande Epicerie is amazing and sells every food you can imagine. Probably even better than Harrods.

Speaking of eating we loved the Cojean chain selling really good home made food for lunch, particularly the soups. Our best meals were undoubtedly in La Petit Chaise, founded in 1680 & the oldest restaurant in Paris.

I didn't take a single photo. I just looked & absorbed everything. We didn't rush to tick things off  a list, we ambled, allowed ourselves to be distracted & enjoyed. As I age I realise that it is memories & enjoying the moment which are important. The joy of travelling independently is that although there may be an overall structure & plan it is the unexpected which is the real bonus. Like the organ playing & the woman singing in the church of St Jean de Montmartre in the Place des Abbesses. Pure heaven & totally unexpected.