Author Archives: JJD
Paris, Day 3 – L’Oasis
After the Rodin Museum, we had lunch at a Moroccan restaurant on the other side of Les Invalides. The couscous was fine but not outstanding (which is unfortunate, because I love a good couscous). Fortunately, I got the merguez, which was tasty enough; Amanda, I think, was disappointed with her lamb — but the restaurant […]
Paris, Day 3 – Le Musee Rodin
The Musee Rodin is one of my favorite places in Paris. The grounds are beautiful and the artwork wonderfully curated. His sculptures have a humanity and emotional poignance that touch me the way no other sculpture does — I feel like I’m witnessing creation when I look at his work. Les six bourgeois de Calais For those […]
Paris, Day 2 – Movie: Twilight Breaking Dawn
As per tradition when traveling abroad, Amanda and I made sure to see a bad American movie. This time it was the latest episode of the Twilight saga. In the US, it’s called Breaking Dawn. Here, it’s called Revelation. It had better directing than the earlier movies, but still awful makeup and questionable acting…
Paris, Day 2 – Dinner at Le Procope
Le Procope, which was founded in 1686, claims to be the oldest cafe in Paris. The interior is pretty and the food was pretty good (not outstanding, but certainly decent). Plus, it was conveniently close to the movie theater… Le Procope Gratinee a l’oignon Magret de canard a l’orange Pommes de terre gaufrees […]
Paris, Day 2 – Versailles (Le Hameau de la Reine)
Marie-Antoinette built a hamlet a stone’s throw from le Petit Trianon so that she could pretend to be a peasant. There were miniature farms and a functioning dairy. She’d run around “supervising” in a white muslin dress and a straw hat. The queen’s house
Paris, Day 2 – Versailles (Petit Trianon; Pavillon de France)
A simple cottage, where the queen could come to play. Le Petit Trianon The panels with the mirrors could be descended to the lower level to uncover the windows using mechanical devices Pavillon de France
Paris, Day 2 – Versailles (Grand Trianon)
This smaller pavillion is on the grounds of Versailles and was a favorite of the queen. It was also used extensively by Napoleon, and we found it decorated in the Empire style. Still aligned with the neo-classical tradition, but much more influenced by Egypt than the earlier classical style of the main palace. Malachite – […]
Paris, Day 2 – Versailles (Les Fontaines)
None of the fountains were running today, but they were still lovely. Apparently only the Apollo fountain would run continuously — the others only ran when the king walked by.
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 