Statue of Liberty

Nope, I'm not in New York City. It was funny how often the Statue of Liberty came up today though. She was everywhere! I visited the Musee d'Orsay today and there she was just as I walked in. Of course there were groups of school children sitting right by her! She's much smaller than our version in New York of course, and she's still brown, not having been exposed to the weather and all. It was fun to see her.

I loved the Musee d'Orsay. I had great hopes of visiting the Musee Rodin today as well, but by the time I was finished at the Orsay, there was only about an hour to spend at the Rodin.  I'll have to squeeze that in another day! The Musee d'Orsay had so many great works that I had never thought I'd see in person. It was amazing to walk through the museum and look at paintings that I've only seen in books right in front of me. There was a special exhibit of Van Gogh. It was based on a book written by this man who spent nine years in an insane asylum. He was an artist in the 1940s and since he was "crazy" he wrote a book about Van Gogh being "crazy" and what his art meant. The exhibit was all about how society caused Van Gogh to commit suicide or something. Honestly, I did not care a bit about this man's points of view. I was far too interested in soaking up all the Van Gogh paintings in front of me.  

Photos were not allowed in the exhibit, this Van Gogh was outside the special exhibit. I do not think pictures were really allowed here either, I snapped this one  really quickly (that's why it's off center) and then felt super guilty about breaking the rules. Everyone else was taking photos, but you know what they say ... 189 wrongs, do not make a right! Ha! I ended up buying a couple of postcards after the exhibit. They will have to suffice. It was pretty exciting to see his self portraits, roses and sunflowers.  Starry Night was not part of the exhibit, there were so many others that were, I couldn't complain.

Here I am with Van Gogh himself.  

There were lots of other things that I saw at the Musee d'Orsay too!

Susan texted that she was headed out to see some gators on a swamp tour in Louisiana. I spotted this and thought of her right away.  Hopefully her experience with the gators wasn't quite like this!  Yikes! 

After the Musee d'Orsay, I decided to take a boat trip down the Seine.  I was up for sitting down for an hour, enjoying a cool breeze and seeing the sights.  

I got a great view of the Eiffel Tower from the boat.  What a beautiful day too!

 

I had to take a selfie! It was too good an opportunity to pass up! Ha!

The Musee d'Orsay from the boat.  

Apparently, it was originally a train station that was converted to a museum much later. 

Pont du Alexander III

This is the fanciest of all the bridges across the Seine.  

While I was on the cruise on the Seine, the Statue of Liberty came up again!  I couldn't get a picture, but by one of the bridges there is an exact replica of flame on the Lady Liberty's torch.  It's gold and everything.  It was very cool to see.  I meant to walk by and get a picture, but I got distracted by the Louvre! oops!  I guess it was dedicated to Princess Dianna after she died.  I'm not sure why.... 

Then, as we went under yet another bridge, they told us how another replica of the Statue of Liberty was a the end of the bridge.  She's everywhere I tell you!  The French are pretty proud of that gift to the United States!  

Eccos on the boat on the Seine.

After I got off the boat, I walked back by the Louvre.  I can't seem to get enough of that place.  I didn't go in again.  It was close to closing time, but the grounds outside of the Louvre are fantastic as well! 

There is that cool pyramid again!  Love this place!!

On my way back to the Metro, I actually shopped a little bit.  Can you believe it?  I shopped!  I picked up a few souvenirs for the kids and then made my way back to the flat.  I didn't realize that I hadn't eaten since lunch until I got back!  I was actually still full after seven hours!  It was an amazing lunch to be sure!  I made a special trip to a restaurant called Frenchie To Go that I had heard great reviews about. It was worth the special trip to a new part of the city.  The food was awesome!

I had fish and chips.  The British girl sitting by me said they weren't the British version, and they sure weren't the American version either.  It was so yummy!  I'll take this French version any day! 

The fun part of making this trek to find this restaurant was that I had to take the train.  The RER C to be exact.  This is different than the Metro.  It's still underground and all, but it's a real train, not a subway.  It was a fun new adventure!

The C train - double decker even! 

Eccos waiting for the train. 

Well, it was another great day in Paris!  We shall see what tomorrow brings.  I'm sure it will be good!