No Reims today - we dawdled

Today we had planned to go to Reims - but we checked out some other hotels and stumbled upon Luxembourg gardens which were very beautiful! Being Sunday, a lot of people were enjoying the gardens. There was a very interesting photography show on the fence around the gardens.

Then we went to the Opera Garnier - which was still beautiful...

Then Mom chatted up one of the locals

So when we finally got to Gare de l'Est (remember that one?) It was too late to make it to Reims, so we made reservations to ride the TGV tomorrow to Reims! Should be great fun! We were both struck by how different Gare de l'Est looked this time - much cleaner and brighter! Go figure! Plus the person at the reservation counter was very nice and helpful! (In fact, we've both noticed that everyone seems much nicer to us this time.)

So then we decided to go to St. Denis - remember that was the one we tried to go to the first day and ended up way out in a part of Paris we didn't really want to be in? Well, it sure helps to be prepared and know where something actually is! I am so glad we went there - it was truly beautiful. It started out as one of the first churches in Paris. I guess this St. Denis guy got his head chopped off for some reason in Montmarte, but he didn't want to die there, so he picked it up and walked until he really died - and they built the church on that spot! It is also famous for being the place that a lot of the French kings were buried. It was re-built several times, so it has a lot of different styles. I thought the end result was particularly beautiful!

Then we went to the Musee d'Orsay and saw lots of great paintings - mostly impressionist and barbizon schools - my favorites!

Then we went to the l'Orangerie which had these huge wrap-around paintings by Monet of his gardens and ponds in Giverny (where we are headed on Tuesday) and a bunch of Picasso's etc.

Then we walked throught the Tuilleries,

Past the Louvre and Notre Dame to that little island with the creperie and the gelaterie. We ate at a new place next to the Gelato place - veg soup and quiche with a chocolate cake for dessert - and then of course a cone from the gelato place (I had the orange again - it is SOOOO good!) Have I mentioned that I like the food here?

Then once more past Notre Dame and home to our wonderful hotel! Where we plan our next day and update the blog.... G'nite!