The Day Fizzled Out

Our Thursday started so well - breakfast at Eric Kayser, Artisan Boulanger with a wonderful croissant and coffee, and then we metro'ed to Le Marais, a historic district known for its charming streets, art galleries, museums, and vibrant culture including its rich Jewish and LGBTQIA heritage, located in the southeast of Paris.

There we went, first, to the Centre Pompidou, a large exhibit hall that features a rooftop view of the city. Unfortunately, we were early (at 9:00 a.m.) and they didn't open until 10 a.m.  As a general rule, places (especially stores) open later here, often not until 11:00 a.m. or even noon.  So, we walked about 20 minutes via Google Maps (wonderful software) to the Place des Vosges.

The Place des Vosges is the oldest planned square in Paris, and was a fashionable and expensive square to live in during the 17th. and 18th. century, and one of the main reasons for the chic nature of Le Marais among Parisian nobility.  It is one of five royal square in Paris and was just lovely - peaceful, quiet, sunny, and completely charming for a rest.  From there, the ladies wanted to see the vintage clothing stores  which were nearby so off we walked.  They, too, were closed as it was simply too early.  They did find a skin care store that they wanted to go to, so I sat on a bench facing the street while they went, and was surprised that, so early in the morning, I felt tuckered out.

It was a nice respite and when they returned we headed down the street to the Picasso Museum.  What an interesting dude he was and very prolific in a variety of media - paintings, of course, but also sculpts, poetry, and the like.  In the museum was also an exhibit on "Degenerate Art" that showed what the Nazis during their occupation found degenerate to "the cause" from Picasso and others.  And, they confiscated much of it and sold it off to fund their war machine.  Made me think of the current wave of banning DEI and books in the US - not a place I think we should be.  After all, eliminating the Defense Department references to Jackie Robinson, an American hero.

Lunch was a Monsieur Croque - ham and cheese - on the rooftop of the Picasso Museum in the bright sunshine. I was still feeling fine at that point so we Uber'ed back to the Centre Pompidou.  It has a very unique system of large tubes with escalators in them, strapped to the outside of the building so up we went.  Connie has a thing about heights so she turned back about halfway and Cheryl and I went to the top for the magnificent view of the city.

Down we came through those same tubes and decided it was time to return to the apartment for a nap before heading to the Eiffel Tower for an 8:30 tour.  Into the bed we climbed and I was sleeping soundly only to be awakened by something that has afflicted me periodically since my bout with cancer - first, I get very cold all over and shake unmercifully from the cold.  Thankfully, Cheryl had brought her heating pad and after about an hour of shaking I finally warmed back up.  I was exhausted from that experience so Cheryl and Connie went on to the Eiffel Tower without me - bummer - but I slept basically from 4:30 p.m. until 11:30 a.m. the next day.  Something isn't right but the doctors at home have no real explanation.  Thankfully it has been 2 - 3 months since my last bout with this.

I awoke at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and Connie was gone - on her way back to Charles De Gaulle airport for her return home.  I laid around for a couple of hours hoping to get better because we had a nice day planned - the Dolce and Gabbana exhibit at the Grand Palais followed by a display between 3 - 5 p.m. of the Crown of Thorns at Notre Dame.  Mark those as the third straight thing I've missed.  While I'm better I am just damned washed out and a trip downtown to see them is a bridge too far for me. Hoping I feel better tomorrow as it is another day of just Cheryl and I before Jeff and Leigh arrive on Sunday afternoon.

A prayer for my return to normal is always appreciated.  I'll be lying around most of the rest of this Friday and hopefully back at 'em tomorrow.  Bon soir.