Life

A quick visit to St. Sulpice on Sunday and a candle for the Virgin, while the organist played in the afternoon. We had just entered and were letting our eyes adjust when this organ chord came out of nowhere and we nearly jumped out of skins. I wanted to take a look at the crypt. A side door was open but I didn't feel like just stealing in there. Recall this is the da Vinci code church - I can't imagine how tired they are of all that, even years later. We came back to the hood and walked around the Marais later in the day and found chocolate and gemstones. There is also a wonderful store just up the street from us on Tournelles with strange objets including felt rolled into pillows and mats and carved cow skulls.

We put aside museums and churches for a couple of days...a few housekeeping and work things to attend to, and the fact that almost every museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Monday took us to Monceau - it is really quite lovely with all the trees. But it was cooler than we expected and even with a brisk walk we decided to pack up early. I think it will be a great choice as the spring heats up. It has the fakey ruins that are either really lovely or in the case of the brick pyramid - kind of broken and unkept.

Today Rachel and I had some time so we headed to the department stores. Printemps is really its own living museum - both in terms of clothes and those who shop. One woman, covered head to toe in sequins, I'm telling you in the middle of the day on Tuesday, was being followed around by an entourage. Who was she? Clueless. A few other serious dressers, more women in those ankle-buckled sandals, and a few Kiki de Montparnasse types back from the dead with the skin that has never seen the sun and the black cropped hair and red red lipstick. And one with her dog. Although I have no idea if the real Kiki ever had a dog. Rachel asked if dogs were allowed in stores; I ventured that that was the type of women who would not be told where she could take her dog...really it's something women here do not take to at all. The cashier told the woman who walked up behind me that he was closing his drawer. She responded, "Really?" and didn't move a muscle...I heard him say the same thing as he started checking her items and I was leaving and another woman walked up. Poor guy is probably still there.