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See entry for Museum at Carnavalet (24
Fevrier) |
| It’s good to have some visitors to
one’s little apartment in Paris. When one has a long time in the area,
it gets pretty comfortable, and you can turn into the Austinites that never
go to Barton Springs, the new Art Museum, the Broken Spoke or Mount Bonnell.
When visitors come, you have to get out. And for us, in Paris, that often means discovering the place in a new way. After our wonderful visit with Jennifer, we had a terrific visit with Tom and Carol from Austin. It was during about 5 days of the coldest, wettest, windiest days of the winter, but of course since they were here for a short few days, it was time to hit the streets. |
 Or, to hit the Metro with the clammy smell of wet wool coats. |
One walks up to the top of the Arc
de Triomphe de l'Etoile on these spiral stairs for a fantastic
view of the city. We stayed up to see the light show—the Eifel tower
is strung with thousands of strobe lights that light up spectacularly on
the hour. |
Here is the Arc lit up at night.  |
So, a little of tourist time, and also seeing
Paris through the photographer’s eye. Tom
is a gifted and committed photographer, whose work, like the work of a true
artist, shows the world in a different aspect—gives a new perspective
on objects, nature, man made structures, etc. You can see some of his work online.
You know he’s an artist, when, for instance, you are walking on the elevated
walkway from the Bois de Vincennes to the Bastille Opera House, surrounded
by some of the fine buildings of the 12th Arrondisement, as well as
lovingly planted exotic botanical specimens. Sculptures, gargoyles, and etc.
Well, Tom snapped a couple of photos, but the moment he got real exited was
when, on a rather nondescript street, he spied an X spray-painted on the ground.
“Man, I’ve got to get a picture of that X,” he enthused, “I’m
doing a series of X’s that I find.” He also took several pictures
of rivets, some of rust, a picture of sand, etc.
Now, I’d love to share some of Tom’s
pictures with you, but I have trouble with jpegs that are huge. I ask my able
readers to send me directions from downsizing a large file pic to one suitable
for the website. I use iphoto and preview on the mac, with no photoshop or anything.
Suggestions? (When I try to downsize the pics all I get is a rectangle with
a gray square and an X in the middle. Which might suit Tom. . .)
Ah, yes, I'm beginning to understand! |
A wonderful idea for architectural ornamentation--might also make a pretty
fine floor lamp. (Seen from the Promenade des Plantes). |
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Tribute to Power and Empire in an ostentatious show of wealth and ability, or beautiful homage to the power of art and monument to inspire and instill awe? Or both? Walking through the crowded plaza by The Louvre, one is dazzled by the sculpture and the architecture. |
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And to cap it off, one must include a fountain. (Though not as cool as the fountain in the airport in Detroit.) |
Our friend Avner also came, on his way home to San Francisco from Israel.
Museums, restaurants, and just visiting. Here's Avner on the way home from
the Orangerie where the spectacular Les
Nymphéas of
Monet are housed. |
Getting Charles
De Gaulle outside the Grand Palais. |
And of course--Hanuman had to come along for some of the action. Here
he is, posing for the crowds as they cross the magnificent Pont
Alexandre III. |
Again on the Pont, feeling quite comfortable in an oceanscape. |