Never Too Old for an Adventure

Never too old for an adventure, I (re)learned today that I can do pretty much anything!  The ladies went off this morning at 8:00 a.m. to Citypharma and left me for a grocery store run - on my own - in a foreign country.  Seems so small but I bravely trudged down the street expecting the worse as I entered Monop, the nearest grocery store.  I'll be daggoned if they didn't have everything I needed - coffee pods (we were out), TP (almost out), a baguette (they only last 24 hours), and even swapped out the bananas I had chosen for better ones as I was ready to cash out.

The French lady checking me out started with a question in French to which I calmly responded "Je ne sais parle Francais" (I don't speak French) to which she gave the warmest, most disarming smile as if to say "No problem".  

Out I marched and passed a bank on the way home as I had been looking for a bank-attached ATM to get some Euros . . .my ATM card worked just as it should although I did have to decipher the on-screen French instructions.  Got my 250 Euros and headed for the door of our apartment.  My only error of the morning happened then as I entered the door and lobby and discovered it wasn't Apartment 45 but rather 50!  A quick step back to the street and I danced into Apartment 45, proud of myself.  Sitting here now listening to Kacey Musgraves on my Airpods waiting for my two women to come home to start our day.

When the ladies arrived from their stop at Citypharma, it was time to start the day with brunch so we went around the corner from the apartment to a creperie - La Creme de Paris.  We each had a wonderful crepe - mine with blackberries and Chantilly cream and, of course, a healthy espresso to wash it down.  I believe that is the first crepe I've ever had and geez was it delicious - kind of like a mini-pancake only better.

Off to the metro for a ride to Les Invalides, an amazing location originated in 1670 as a military hospital by Louis XIV (the Sun King).  While the Musee de Armee (military museum) is located there, Cheryl had no interest in repeating that part of it from our prior trip there in 2009.  We were all, though, interested in seeing Napoleon's tomb as, for me, it is one of the most memorable things in Paris.  On our way there on the metro, though, we had to make a transfer and that second line was closed!  Hmmmm, what to do?  We simply exited and called old friend Uber who took us the rest of the way.

The Les Invalides ticket covered a lot of sites and we focused on, first, Napoleon's tomb and then the Musee de la Liberation (the story of WWII from the French perspective, including liberation).  That was followed by a visit to the magnificent onsite cathedral - Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides - which is attached to the building where the tomb is.  Napoleon's sarcophagus contains five coffins - one made of tin, one in mahogany, two of lead, and one in ebony wood - fitted into each other around the body of Napoleon (1769 - 1821).

An interesting story about the crypt that we heard the last time we were there involves the occupation by the Nazis.  Apparently Hitler, in the early days when in Paris, visited daily Napoleon's tomb for inspiration and meditation.  Turns out that the beautiful ceiling above the tomb is false, and the French Resistance had a small operation there.  Apparently, neither were aware of the other or the war might've ended years earlier.

Disappointingly for the ladies, the onsite boutique was closed so we adjourned across the street to Cafe Invalides for refreshment.  For me that meant a couple of appetizers - shrimp tempura and langastinos (snails) - both of which were delicious.  Cheryl had the best onion soup in her entire life (made in house).  In preparing for the trip, I followed "Les Frenchies" on Facebook and there was a ton of discussion about restaurants.  I'm doubting if this one would make the list of very best but, damn, the food was great and the Coke Zero was absolutely delicious.

The Rodin Museum was right next door so that was our next stop.  This, too, really impressed us when we were here in 2009 and we were delighted to share it with dear friend Connie.  His work was amazing and housed in a beautiful 18th. century mansion.  Turns out he actually lived 30 km away but used the building, along with other artists, as a workshop.  At some point he went to the French government and told them that if they would buy the building and keep it for other artists, he'd give all of his work to them.  The guide who told me this said he wanted to be a celebrity (though he struggled with the word and I lit up when I suggested he was searching for "celebrity").

Rodin's work was just spectacular and beautiful.  One of his enduring favorites is "The Kiss" so I ordered one to be shipped home for display.  I asked Cheryl if we could put it on the ledge between our kitchen and great room, and she suggested maybe a better spot was our bedroom.  Ooh la la!  I like the sounds of that.  Again, it was probably a great example of getting something we didn't need, but darn it I liked it and wanted it.  It'll be there perhaps before we get home.

From there I announced that I was getting "tuckered" for the day so we decided to head back to the apartment.  Connie is particularly interested in vintage clothing and perfume so, first, we stopped at the vintage clothing store at the end of Rue Vivienne - vintage was one word to describe it.  A better description is that it looked like what Mr. Haney might've had on his truck in Green Acres.  We adjourned to a grocery store across the street for some catch up items, and then to the apartment where Cheryl and Connie planned to go back out to a couple of perfume stores. Cheryl bought Miss Dior, while Connie bought Nerolie Azur and, also, No.11 by Fragrances De L'Opera (as did Cheryl).

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is a 3 hour Louvre tour in the morning, likely followed by a visit to L'Orangerie at the edge of the Tulliere Gardens adjacent to the Louvre.  So looking forward to both but particularly the latter because it features eight large Monet Water Lilies murals that are simply staggering to see online.  Can't wait to see them in person.

Until tomorrow, au revoir and bon soir!