Author: Grubb

Georges Méliès’ grave is one I should have visited when we were at the Pere Lachaise cemetery.  I’ve always thought that the imaginative silent films he made at the turn-of-the-century were extraordinary.  When most of the other filmmakers at that time were shooting rudimentary slices-of-life, Méliès was already experimenting with special effects.  Based on a Jules Verne story,…

Ella’s already detailed our walk to Montmartre.  Let me add that it was another fine day weather-wise.  So far in our stay we haven’t had to use umbrellas.  If there are clouds, they vanish by mid-day.  The temperature has been in the low sixties which, for me, is great for strolling around.   The forecourt below the steps of the…

We began our day by transferring from one metro line to another to get across the Seine to the Invalides stop  a few blocks from the Rodin museum. The Beaux Arts building, formally the Hôtel Biron, was purchased by Rodin at the turn of the century.  He turned the ground floor into studios and later donated it…

The only ticketed item we had in store for us this Saturday (9:30 AM) was the Cluny Medieval Museum on the Left Bank.  (The Left Bank named for the side of the Seine you’re on in the direction the river is flowing.)  And, mirabile dictu,  we were on time!  It was too early for the crowds to start showing…

Friday we took the train to Versailles.  We joined the passengers getting out at the final stop to take the short walk up a tree-lined street that led to the parking lot outside the palace.   Gold-tipped gates were the first clue that we were approaching the Sun King’s domain.  Inside the gates, the palatial spread of…

After following countless Sortie signs leading us down endless corridors lined with casino-style shopping outlets, we escaped the monumental confines of the Louvre and had a café brunch of eggs Florentine before heading into the Tuileries park… …along with a stream of people half of whom, in my opinion, should have been in school.  Green metal…

It was a quick metro ride from where we’re staying to the Louvre.  It was easy finding the entrance to the museum—just follow the swarming humanity.  The Louvre is laid out like a large limestone palace enclosing a large courtyard.  I expected touring this monstrosity to be taxing when it came to attention span because there’s too much…

Sunny Paris in the mid-sixties is quite spectacular.  No one seems to be eating indoors if they can help it.  People are splayed out over the grass in the parks, sitting on the benches along canal walkways, meandering among the pigeons in the squares.   We are staying in an Airbnb on the Fauberg Saint Martin in the…