Today and tomorrow are European cultural patrimony days. This basically means that throughout Europe important historical and cultural locations are open for free, which includes some locations that are normally not open to the public. In her email yesterday, Christina mentioned that Palais-Royal and the Sénat would be open and suggested that we go. I couldn't pass up the chance to see two very important locations that are normally closed.
I woke up early and studied before leaving the house before eleven. I got myself on the one with no troubles, and got off at Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre. Easy peasy. I have found that google directions with get you absolutely nowhere in Paris, but I still insist on bringing them just in case. Only through God's grace did I make my way to the garden of the Palais-Royal. I saw a line at the other end of the garden and walked towards it. I asked a man if that where the Palais-Royal was, and it just so happened that the line was to get into the palace.
I checked my bag because it was heavy, and because my limited French skills wouldn't allow me to tell the loads of security why I made the metal detector go off. Every security officer, armed guard, and otherwise protector must have been hired for today. There was a metal detector and a man with a wand waiting for you before you went into the building. I still made the metal detector go off despite having absolutely nothing on me. Nothing dangerous was going to fit into my tight jeans. The wand man said something to me in French, and I told him that I don't speak French. In plain as day English he said "I want to know why you made the metal dectector go off". I told him it must be my earrings and he let me go.
I didn't take any pictures of Palais-Royal, but rest assured that it was fantastic. I've never seen so much gold in my entire life, and I've seen the Opéra. I was really surprised about the decor. It was a mix of obviously French style (gold and cherubs) with very modern art and furnishings. I found that a lot in France; old and new art mixed together in a less than harmonious mix. My favorite was the Napoleon room. It's all baby blue, the color of power, with a blue sky with white clouds painted on the ceiling.
The funniest room was the President's office. The French president, François Hollande, has the lowest approval rating in French history. You would expect with those kind of reviews that his office would be covered in bloody axes. In fact, it has pictures of him and his children….and a painting of a smurf. Oh, and lots of toys and comical art. Not what I was expecting at all.
I'm planning on going to the Picasso museum tomorrow, so I had to go to the Sénat today. My google directions looked like I'd be lost, but I had faith and walked in the direction that I thought was right. Oh course I was wrong. I was under some kind of impression that I had to walk across the Seine, so I started off in that direction. I walked and walked until I saw a sign for Pont Neuf. I've been reading about Pont Neuf and other fun historical events that took place in Paris, and I decided that I had to see Pont Neuf. I saw the statue, and kept walking across the bridge.
While I was walking, I saw a sign for flower artwork for one euro. I bought a picture of a rose. Too bad that the picture got smushed in my purse, and now has four crinkles running vertically across the picture. I still think it's beautiful.
My poor flower :(
At this point I knew that I was lost kept checking every map that I could find to try to correct my course. I must have wandered around for about two hours. During my wanderings I managed to walk all the way from around the Louvre, across the Seine, and wound up at the Tuileries. From there I stumbled upon Rue Saint Honoré; a happy accident because it happens to be on my list of things to do. Too bad it's just a street with fancy shopping.
I had been walking forever, and I was panicked that I wouldn't find my way to Palais du Luxembourg before it closed at six. I got onto the metro in the hopes of either finding my way or at least going home defeated. I figured out that the one would intersect with the five at Chalet, and then I could take the five to the nearest stop near the Luxembourg gardens: Saint Sulpice.
I got to Saint Sulpice, and of course turned the wrong direction. This happy accident lead me to discover Les Deux Magots. It's a restaurant where literaries used to hangout when there were still people writing good books (by the way, this area is Saint Germain des Près where more fancy shopping is). I had come this far, and I was not going to give up so close to my goal. I turned around and started walking frantically to try to find a street sign. I thought that if I turned left I would eventually see a sign for the garden.
I was beginning to feel hopeless when I saw a sign for Jardin du Luxembourg. The end was near. I picked up the pace even more, and got to Rue Valois (named after a line of French kings in case you were wondering). I passed number 19 where the museum is, and then I almost ran to number 15. I had made it.
The Sénat building is beautiful, but way less fascinating than the Palais-Royal. I had my camera this time, and started taking pictures. During a picture I realized that I had become the people that I hate; those picture-takers who are too busy getting the perfect shot to enjoy the moment. I put the camera away, but I still pulled it out for a few other great shots. Once again there was a mash up of old and new decorative styles and artwork. Strange, but I supposed the French norm. Though the Sénat is less interesting, I did appreciate their collection of Marianne artwork. Also, how can you beat looking out the window and seeing a beautiful garden? There are views of both private gardens and the main Jardin du Luxembourg in various rooms. Stunning.
One of the private gardens at the palais du luxembourg
all gold
I went home a victorious woman. On my walk from the train station, I walked down a street that I haven't been down before because I saw the infamous red sign that says "kebab" on it. I ordered a donner kebab; only five euros and comes with fries. I wanted to sit outside, but when the owner told her relative to get up and let me sit there he absolutely refused. I ended up sitting in a corner under the tv.
I've been home ever since attempting to recover from my adventure. It has been some day.
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