July 30-31, 2019
This is not your typical Paris visit. AlteCocker has been to Paris more times that she can count. Consider that her first visit was in 1969 and she has been to France many times--including 6 weeks in a summer program at the Universite de Dijon in the 1970s. Her French is very good but she is not bilingual.
On July 30, 2019, AlteCocker flew to Paris from Prague, where she spent 10 days in a hotel and dealt with very hot weather. In Paris, she took a cab from Charles de Gaulle to her friend Carole's apartment avoid baggage schlepping, and arrived at about 8:30pm. Carole and AlteCocker did a hospitality exchange several years ago and have remained friends. AlteCocker had two 1,000 piece puzzles for Carole in her luggage and was very glad to leave them in Paris. She was also very glad to do a real laundry--as opposed to all the hand washing she had been doing in Prague. The weather in Paris was pleasant--in contrast to the heat she had had in Paris.
With a home exchange in Brittany coming up, AlteCocker was in Paris basically to stage for a train journey to Rennes where she would be picked up by her exchangers, so it was a brief "Hello & good-bye" visit, mainly focussed on visiting with Carole. All major tourist sites in Paris have been done--many multiple times. No Tour Eiffel, Mona Lisa, etc.
July 31, 2019, began with a sleep in and then meeting Carole for lunch at Les Saveurs de l'Orient, a Morrocan restaurant located in one of Paris' covered passages, Passages Panorama. AlteCocker bought a carnet of Metro tickets and Carole had furnished her with a map and directions, so no problem getting there. It was a work day. So, after lunch AlteCocker was on her own.
AlteCocker was looking for special exhibits and there was sure was one--at Porte de La Vilette. While the new Cairo Museum was being built, the Tutankamen Treasures were circulating to raise money and AlteCocker hit them in Paris. She did not prebook a ticket, but, when you only need one ticket, it was no problem getting in. The only problem was getting there. AlteCocker knew where she was going, but a French person, who was also going there, gave her the wrong information, so lots of unnecessary walking to get there. When she arrived, there was no problem getting in. The exhibit was fabulous, and AlteCocker was by herself, there was no problem getting a ticket.
The exhibit has now left Paris and is in London. It will be in Boston during the summer of 2020. The full schedule of where it is going can be found here. It will be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City during 2023. If you are where the exhibit is, do not miss it. It does not include the golden mask of King Tut (which AlteCocker has seen twice), but it includes so many magnificent objects that it was a bit overwhelming. King Tut's throne was part of the exhibit. AlteCocker took a lot of photos as you will see below. She apologizes for some out of focus photos. Conditions were not the best and AlteCocker uses a basic camera.
On July 30, 2019, AlteCocker flew to Paris from Prague, where she spent 10 days in a hotel and dealt with very hot weather. In Paris, she took a cab from Charles de Gaulle to her friend Carole's apartment avoid baggage schlepping, and arrived at about 8:30pm. Carole and AlteCocker did a hospitality exchange several years ago and have remained friends. AlteCocker had two 1,000 piece puzzles for Carole in her luggage and was very glad to leave them in Paris. She was also very glad to do a real laundry--as opposed to all the hand washing she had been doing in Prague. The weather in Paris was pleasant--in contrast to the heat she had had in Paris.
With a home exchange in Brittany coming up, AlteCocker was in Paris basically to stage for a train journey to Rennes where she would be picked up by her exchangers, so it was a brief "Hello & good-bye" visit, mainly focussed on visiting with Carole. All major tourist sites in Paris have been done--many multiple times. No Tour Eiffel, Mona Lisa, etc.
July 31, 2019, began with a sleep in and then meeting Carole for lunch at Les Saveurs de l'Orient, a Morrocan restaurant located in one of Paris' covered passages, Passages Panorama. AlteCocker bought a carnet of Metro tickets and Carole had furnished her with a map and directions, so no problem getting there. It was a work day. So, after lunch AlteCocker was on her own.
AlteCocker was looking for special exhibits and there was sure was one--at Porte de La Vilette. While the new Cairo Museum was being built, the Tutankamen Treasures were circulating to raise money and AlteCocker hit them in Paris. She did not prebook a ticket, but, when you only need one ticket, it was no problem getting in. The only problem was getting there. AlteCocker knew where she was going, but a French person, who was also going there, gave her the wrong information, so lots of unnecessary walking to get there. When she arrived, there was no problem getting in. The exhibit was fabulous, and AlteCocker was by herself, there was no problem getting a ticket.
The exhibit has now left Paris and is in London. It will be in Boston during the summer of 2020. The full schedule of where it is going can be found here. It will be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City during 2023. If you are where the exhibit is, do not miss it. It does not include the golden mask of King Tut (which AlteCocker has seen twice), but it includes so many magnificent objects that it was a bit overwhelming. King Tut's throne was part of the exhibit. AlteCocker took a lot of photos as you will see below. She apologizes for some out of focus photos. Conditions were not the best and AlteCocker uses a basic camera.
August 1, 2019: Tour d'Argent
As per usual, Carole and AlteCocker went to a big ticket restaurant at AlteCocker's expense. AlteCocker does not stay long at friend's places so as not to wear out her welcome. She also always pays for a meal. This time it was Tour d'Argent, a restaurant that has supposedly existed since 1582. It obviously is not in its 1582 condition and you will dine in upscale style. If you want to save money, you go for lunch--which is what AlteCocker and and Carole did. The restaurant overlooks Notre Dame--which was heavily covered in scaffolding due to the April fire when AlteCocker went. There seemed to be no dress code, but you would not feel comfortable in cutoffs. The restaurant is well aware that tourists do not arrive in Paris with a formal wardrobe. In any event, even Parisians are adopting a more relaxed dress code these days--especially younger people.
August 2, 2019: Van Gogh Spectacle
This was AlteCocker's last day in Paris. She decided to go to the Atelier des Lumieres to see the Van Gogh light show. She booked the ticket once she got to Paris. They did want you to print it out, but there was no printer in Carole's apartment--which is really a pied a terre. Carole's home is in Bordeaux and she uses the Paris apartment as a location from which to work and goes home for long weekends, telecommuting whenever possible. This is quite normal in Paris these days. When she got to the exhibit, due to lack of wifi at the entrance, AlteCocker could not show the ticket to the cashier at the entrance. There was a delay, but they were able to look it up and AlteCocker got in. She stayed to see the show twice as you can view it from different angles and levels.
AlteCocker had a coffee and pastry at "merci jerome" a pastry shop near Carole's apartment first and then went to the local pharmacy to buy some eye lubricating over the counter medicine that she likes--and that is not available in the US. She had to go twice to get the amounts she wanted, but the chore was done.
Atelier des Lumieres was reached by Metro and a short walk. AlteCocker did have to stop and ask for directions a couple of times. Because it is new, it was not indicated on her map. The Van Gogh show has closed and there is an impressionist show is now on. Check with the website to see what they have.
AlteCocker had a coffee and pastry at "merci jerome" a pastry shop near Carole's apartment first and then went to the local pharmacy to buy some eye lubricating over the counter medicine that she likes--and that is not available in the US. She had to go twice to get the amounts she wanted, but the chore was done.
Atelier des Lumieres was reached by Metro and a short walk. AlteCocker did have to stop and ask for directions a couple of times. Because it is new, it was not indicated on her map. The Van Gogh show has closed and there is an impressionist show is now on. Check with the website to see what they have.