Experiencing Paris

Today I did not see a single museum!  Though I did decide I really want to see the Pompidou Center, with the Musee National d’Art Moderne, filled with Picasso, Chagall, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, and more.  But I did not have it in me to see another museum today, so I’ll go with John when I am in Paris with him at the end of the trip.   

Today, I simply experienced Paris.  I went up to Sacre Coeur in Montmarte, saw the beautiful views and the various entertainers.  I had packed a lunch with me, of bread, blue cheese, fruit, and a macaroon, all bought from different little shops near my hotel, and all wonderful.  I enjoyed this on the steps of Sacre Coeur, while enjoying the spontaneous shows.  I then wandered the Montmarte area, gawking at all of the artists doing their work.  It was filled with people and had a very fun vibe. 

Next, I wandered the Marias neighborhood, spending quite a bit of time people watching.  I had a long dinner, consisting of multiple courses, all of which were wonderful.  I spent a long time talking to the older French couple at the table next to me.  He spoke a little English, she spoke pretty good Spanish, and I speak very little French.  So, we conversed mostly in Spanish, with us using either English or French if we came to a word we didn’t know in Spanish, then tried various synonyms and pronunciations until the other person could understand what we meant.  We were able to discuss quite a bit about life in that way.  Who said language barriers are really a barrier?