Well,
here we are. Almost done and time to go home. I have the alarm set for 5:15a.
I’m going to leave earlier than I think I need to, just to be on the safe side.
I guess it’s better to be sitting around the airport than to miss my flight.
This
morning I waited around the hostel until it was time to check in for my flight.
I then went to the “Tour Eifeel”. I walked down to the Laumiere stop, so I’d
know where to go in the morning.
I
mailed my post cards from the Eiffel Tower. They have no postmen any more, just
a machine. I was going to pay to go up the tower, but only one elevator was
working, so the line was backed up to Timbuktu. I decided to skip it.
 |
| Eiffel Tower |
I
went to information, and asked how to get to the Louvre. The girl told me which
bus to take, and that it was an hour walk. Well, I’m an idiot. I decided to
walk it. I looked at the map at the bus stop and decided it didn’t look that
far. Kinda like how Roquefixade didn’t look that steep.
It
was not an hour walk, but about forty minutes. It was still pretty far, and I
shouldn’t have done it, because my legs have been hurting pretty badly for some
days now. It was a pleasant walk though, with some nice views of the Eiffel
Tower and other buildings. And two gypsies that tried to pull the “ring scam”
on me. They pretended to pick something of the ground, usually a “gold” ring,
and then try to sell it to you. It’s probably plastic. I thought it was too bad
V. wasn’t with me because we could have had some fun with them.
 |
| Tried to pull the Gold Ring Scam on me - vanished when he saw I was photographing him |
The
Louvre was nice. I went up to the 2nd floor (the 3rd
floor in the States) and saw some nice paintings, Dutch, Flanders, etc.
Poussin, Rembrandt, Van Eyck, Ruisdael, etc. It wasn’t too crowded because I
think most people start on the ground floor and work their way up. V. and I did
not see that floor. Actually, I only really saw one wing of it.
 |
| Poussin's Shepherds of Arcadia |
I
then went downstairs. I was going to look at the Etruscan stuff, but it was
bedlam, so I left. I was only there about two hours. It would have been longer,
except , my batteries started dying in my camera, so I went and bought some. I
got upstairs and they didn’t work! I put them in and they had no charge. I had
to find a Tabac shop to buy some more. Luckily they didn’t mark my ticket, so I
was able to come back in, no problem. When I was done, I went back and told the
shop where I bought them what happened. The lady remembered me luckily and she
gave me my money back! I was expecting them not to do anything for me.
In
the Louvre, I took pictures of all the Poussin (sp? I can’t remember how to
spell his name, I don’t think that’s right) paintings. I really like his
paintings. “The Shepards of Arcadia” was there. I didn’t know that it was.
 |
| Bedlam at the Louvre |
One
of his other paintings I really liked was of his “seasons” paintings. There
were the farmers carrying grapes and they were the size of apples! It struck me
as amusing for some reason.
After
I left the Louvre, I went shopping. I bought Andy a brass squirrel I’d seen in
a shop window. It’s so cute! I hope he likes it. I also bought Oliver a stuffed
Eiffel Tower, and his yet born sibling a pair of cute purple socks that say
“Paris” on them.
I
ate dinner at the hostel. I got an appetizer of chicken strips and another of
onion rings. It was a massive amount of food. I should have only ordered the
chicken. It cost €14 with wine and a tip. A bit much, but it’s the last dinner
here, so there you go. I ate too much!
I
have had a shower. I have everything as together as possible. I really can’t
pack until in the morning because I want to air out the clothes I wore today.
Hope I don’t make too much noise in the morning.
Well,
I think that’s it. Good night!
