Our time in Paris is soon to end but we know we’ll be coming back — hopefully.  There is always so much to explore and enjoy whether the places we’ve been to and have enjoyed or new places that are yet to be explored.  The photos here uploaded out of order and so you see somethings first that should have come last — as with these swords.  These were at the end of our visit to the Marmottan (described below).  These magnificent swords are representative of those presented to famous artists by the Foundation of the Academy of Arts (Beaux Arts).  Each sword is crafter specially for the person being honored, thus the handle speaks to the individual’s specialty. I’m not going into details… I hope you can magnify the photo and see it is greater detail.  This little exhibit was worth the price of admission.  Each sword was a masterpiece in itself.

We start out to the museum:  It was a cool rainy day but we decided to go to the Musée Marmottan Monet in the 16th.  After quite a bit of figuring I found an all bus route from our house using the app Citymapper which I have now found to be the best route planner.  It is easy to figure out, gives lots of options and specifies the walking routes, and gives the times for the buses so one can plan departure and arrival times more accurately.  We took the #28 to the river and there walked across the street to the stop for the #63.  Another couple were waiting there too for the #92.  They said they had been waiting for 40 minutes and that the GPS wasn’t working.  Well — now — what to do?  It was raining and we didn’t much feel like walking to another stop or looking for another bus route.  Of course — there is always Uber, but we thought we’d wait.  The other couple left but we stayed.  Just as we were about to leave the #63 appeared — and exactly as Citymapper was giving the time: 12:38!

I hadn’t gotten tickets for the exhibition ahead of time because I thought it was Tuesday — and raining – and who would go out on a day like this all the way to the Marmottan for an exhibition that was not necessarily ‘extraordinary’… Wrong!  We got there to find a long line out the door of the museum and down the street.  (I was tempted, but didn’t take a photo).  We decided to wait.  Right!  It took about 20 minutes and we were inside.  I should note that when we came out the line was even longer, around the building and down the side street despite the rain.

I was right to think the show was not extraordinary, but it was of interest:  the Figurative Mondrian.  The paintings shown were mostly from Mondrian’s early period as I’ve shown below.  Some were stunning in their beauty but only a few, in my opinion.  Interestingly, Mondrian had the habit of painting flowers every morning even after he entered his abstract period.  It was an exercise for him, and a way to make money.  I’ve included one below.

Mondrian: a self-portrait

The abstract art we associate with Mondrian.  

A flower a day….. 

See the caption below…. 

See below

We like to try different versions of ‘mille feuille’ — literally a thousand leaves.  The American version of this is called a napoleon.  It has layers of a thin pastry with cream in between and on top. It is amazing as to how many versions of this there are.  

The day we went to the Musee Marmottan was raining Here is the view from where we were waiting for our bus — looking across the Seine, to the Grand Palais dome which is on the left in the background.  It was built for the World’s Fair at the turn of the century and now serves as an exhibition hall for extravaganzas and art shows.  

There is a custom now for a bride and groom (he was lurking in the shadows) to come to Paris to be photographed prior to their wedding.  Here is one… I can’t imagine dragging that beautiful train through the dirty street.  Maybe these are rented just for the day… You can see the photographer right behind her.  She was having a very good time.    

Although Halloween is not observed in any big way here the chocolatiers cannot resist having some fun.