Abroad in 2012: A Year of Travel: June 2012

Sunday, June 10, 2012

LAST DAY IN PARIS PHOTOS

So this is end of the line. In some cases, we took too many photos. In others, probably not enough. Our last day in Paris was Wednesday, June 6.

Outside Musee d'Orsay

Inside the museum, which was once a train station

And off we go...

An interesting display

Only in France...Andrea was enchanted by the fact this dog was not only let into the restaurant, but that it could be right at the table!

Rodin sculpture in the Impressionist gallery at d'Orsay

Sacre Couer from the museum

Musee d'Orsay

Andrea and Olympia

Bateau mouche sur la Seine

Centre Georges Pompidou

My sister, Leslie, asked me yesterday what were the highlights and lowlights of the trip for me.

5 Highlights:
1. Roland Garros
2. Flight to and from USA
3. Rome: our hotel, the long bus and metro trips between it and the city center
4. Seeing Roger in Florence
5. Venice: our hotel and the city

5 Lowlights:
1. Versailles: the entrance line, the music/water show, that we didn't see the Grand Trianon
2. The overnight train from Venice to Paris
3. The mistakes I made between Fondamenta Nove and the hotel in Venice
4. Perceived French snootiness
5. Lunch and dinner on the day we visited the Vatican

Here are some photos from Versailles.

Approaching the palace

The chapel

Looking onto the gardens

Roi du Soleil - Louis XIV

I was faskinated by the window and door hardware

Le grand bassin and le grand canal at Versailles

Hall of Mirrors

Professor Rusnock entranced by Versailles

Because I like those statues with different kinds of stone and marble

Andrea in front of a painting by Elizabeth Viget Le Brun at the Little Trianon

AT ROLAND GARROS PHOTOS

Monday, June 4 is a day I looked forward to with great anticipation. Being at Roland Garros was a dream come true. Today, June 10, Rafa is playing Nole, but play was just suspended due to rainy weather, just like we had all week. Rafa is up two sets to one when play will resume Monday, June 11.

WAT in front of Suzanne Lenglen Stadium before match play

My next tennis destinations

Two spectators

Rafael Nadal turning on the crowd

Camp Nadal

Rafa serving #1

Rafa serving #2

Yes Andrea, that's Rafa about to serve a mere 30 yards from you!

SUNDAY IN PARIS PHOTOS

It's time to play one of my favorite games what was I doing one week ago, two weeks ago, three weeks ago? (The other is: guess what is the price of gasoline)

Three Sundays ago, May 20, we were still in Rome. We spent the day using the tourist bus pass the nice lady at the Marriott gave us. It was a rainy day. We visited the Doria Pamphili palazzo and the Palazzo Massimo.

Two Sundays ago, May 27, we were in Florence, and went to the Accademia, then crossed the Fiume Arno to visit Santo Spirito, saw the Brunelescchi frescoes and the Palazzo Pitti before walking over the Ponte Vecchio.

And last Sunday, June 3, we were in Paris. We went to the Museum of Middle Ages, where we purchased the two tapestries, among other things, and then we went to the Musee Rodin, still a favorite of mine.

We didn't take a lot of photos this day, but here are a few...

In the basement of the Musee des Moyen Ages

Ivory triptych Andrea liked from the Middle Ages Museum

Ceiling in one of the rooms of the old abbey that is now the Middle Ages museum. This room contained some of the panels of the life of St. Stephen that I liked so much.