Shortly into our trip, Amy says, "looks like rain, let's have lunch". Of course being a man and particularly good at weather prediction especially when I have radar images handy respond, "what are you talking about".
Sure enough we order Lunch and a 'deluge'. I think that is a french term.
I ordered the Nicoise Salad and French Onion soup. Delicious. Amy ordered a hamburger for the kids One would think they know what they are getting when they order a hamburger. It arrives with a hamburger Patty only on a plate with a fried Egg perched on top.
From here we decided to take the 'metro' or subway. We had one of those experiences that are hard to write about but so common when traveling or interacting with kids.
We spent about 20 frustrating minutes trying to purchase tickets to travel 3 blocks on the subway. The kids bumping into people, strange looks from Parisians. We get the tickets and when you enter the turnstyle you insert the ticket and then it pops out partially and when you remove it the turnstyle can move.
Maggie wanted to go first. Amy put the ticket in the machine and (because Maggie had passed it), Amy removed it and encouraged her maggie to proceed through. The only problem was that Maggie wanted to remove the ticket and she would not proceed through the open turnstyle.
The line backing up, impatient Parisians looking incredulous. "Vat is vrong wid zee cheeldraaann"
Maggie refusing to go forward. "Maggie, GOOOO!" "But I wanted to do the ticket"....
Anyway We took the subway 3 blocks for 10 euro's. The subway was literally 3 blocks down some stairs...
We went to the Pompidou which was named after George Pompidou the Prime Minister from the 70's. The Parisians skyline is filled with the most incredible architecture almost all Beaux Arts style or French Renesaince.
Then there is the Pompidou. This is a steel and glass building and the mechanical is run on the outside and is painted bright colors. This includes pipes, oversized ventilation.
You ascend the building in an escalator that is a giant tube. I think they decided combine both escalator and ventilation because it was humid very humid.
here is some video from the Pompidou. Maggie and Lawton wanted to look under the first exhibit that was on the floor (and breathing).
it seems that the definition of art is always changing the Pompidou. It did prompt some discussion and we decided that anything that draws attention good or bad is Art in France.
Overheard at the Pompidou, (Lawton and Amy). Amy said, "If I can do this, it is not Art". Lawton responded, "that is not what miss Winny would say" (his art teacher).
Also overheard, (Eric) when viewing some painted 4" PVC pipe with holes drilled into it. "I have done that many times but I did not realize it was art"..... It was strange looking at some PVC pipe with small holes drilled into placed on a pedastal with "Ne Pas toucher" Please do not touch....
I swear, I saw the same PVC pipe with holes drilled in it sitting in the subway on the ground and no one was admiring it...
here is some video. Viewer discretion is advised with little eyes.
From here we decided to take the 'metro' or subway. We had one of those experiences that are hard to write about but so common when traveling or interacting with kids.
We spent about 20 frustrating minutes trying to purchase tickets to travel 3 blocks on the subway. The kids bumping into people, strange looks from Parisians. We get the tickets and when you enter the turnstyle you insert the ticket and then it pops out partially and when you remove it the turnstyle can move.
Maggie wanted to go first. Amy put the ticket in the machine and (because Maggie had passed it), Amy removed it and encouraged her maggie to proceed through. The only problem was that Maggie wanted to remove the ticket and she would not proceed through the open turnstyle.
The line backing up, impatient Parisians looking incredulous. "Vat is vrong wid zee cheeldraaann"
Maggie refusing to go forward. "Maggie, GOOOO!" "But I wanted to do the ticket"....
Anyway We took the subway 3 blocks for 10 euro's. The subway was literally 3 blocks down some stairs...
We went to the Pompidou which was named after George Pompidou the Prime Minister from the 70's. The Parisians skyline is filled with the most incredible architecture almost all Beaux Arts style or French Renesaince.
Then there is the Pompidou. This is a steel and glass building and the mechanical is run on the outside and is painted bright colors. This includes pipes, oversized ventilation.
You ascend the building in an escalator that is a giant tube. I think they decided combine both escalator and ventilation because it was humid very humid.
here is some video from the Pompidou. Maggie and Lawton wanted to look under the first exhibit that was on the floor (and breathing).
it seems that the definition of art is always changing the Pompidou. It did prompt some discussion and we decided that anything that draws attention good or bad is Art in France.
Overheard at the Pompidou, (Lawton and Amy). Amy said, "If I can do this, it is not Art". Lawton responded, "that is not what miss Winny would say" (his art teacher).
Also overheard, (Eric) when viewing some painted 4" PVC pipe with holes drilled into it. "I have done that many times but I did not realize it was art"..... It was strange looking at some PVC pipe with small holes drilled into placed on a pedastal with "Ne Pas toucher" Please do not touch....
I swear, I saw the same PVC pipe with holes drilled in it sitting in the subway on the ground and no one was admiring it...
here is some video. Viewer discretion is advised with little eyes.
At one point, Lawton was having the wiggles and started running around the Gallery. A Parisian Arteest said, "please be quite, this is a Gallerieee". To which we wanted to put Lawton in the middle of the floor. He would have been a fine exhibit at the Pompidou
From here we walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral about 3 blocks away. This is a gorgeous Cathedral that is on an island in the middle of the Seine. It was started in 1160 and took almost 200 years to complete. While the outside and the structure is gorgeous and fascinating the insides are not quite as nice as other Cathedrals especially Italy, Spain.
Apparently a pack of Man eating wolves in 1450 were finally killed after being lulled into the courtyard. The leader was named Courtaud or 'Bobtail' and they ate 40 Parisians prior to being killed. Man, the dark ages were tough...
This was my favorite part of the inside of the Cathedral. Apparently they did not need closets in 1200 and now what do you do with things like Coat Hangers and boxes? You stick them in the Naves!
And finally.....
If you are feeling sheepish about your French in Paris, we could make you feel better with this public sign. Closed on Thuesday....
Thanks so much for keeping us updated. I love the videos but the writing is the best part! Keep it up!
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