Still oh so excited to be in Paris, I got up early to look out at the world below. A French woman in a tight fitting red & white checkered business suit flew by on her bicycle. Impressive.
My Map app tells me it will take 23 minutes to walk to the Musee d’Orsay and it took me…23 minutes. What a relief! A few feet ahead of me along the Seine, a French man with his jacket slung over his shoulder starts to sing. I could get used to this. I observe a street hustler kick open the side panel of a garbage receptacle and retrieve his backpack. He simply created room by pushing the plastic garbage bag to the side. A public storage locker, if you will.
The Musee d’Orsay is an amazing place, nothing I will say about it can do it justice. It’s a former train station converted into an exquisite exposition space. The natural light, the blending of the old and new architectural details, the color palette, the clocks, the layout, all speak to a very high appreciation for the great body of artwork within its walls. It is user friendly, easy to navigate. It is truly amazing. There were paintings by all the major heavyweights, Van Gogh (honestly, his works seem to glow from within) Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, Manet, too many to mention here.
A wing devoted to Art Nouveau, furniture designed by Antonin Gaudi(!) A wonderful 2 minute film showing the transition from abandoned train station/hotel/restaurant/ballroom to exhibition space. An adorable collection of tiny paintings by Seurat. I think my new favorite Artist is Maurice Denis. A small show dedicated to drawings of dogs which brought to mind my next door neighbors Lucy & Charlie who recently welcomed a pug name Penny Lane.
Before heading home I went to see Sonia Delaunay’s house, 16 rue St Simon, not far from d’Orsay, sigh.
Dinner tonight with my HS friend and her daughter at the Cafe des Antiquaires in the shadow of the Musee d’Orsay.
Walked 19,300 steps.
All around, another perfect day to round out a perfect week. Tomorrow I leave for Italy.