A Very Rainy Day in Paris

Dear Family and Friends,

When we looked out our hotel window this morning, we got a glimpse of what would lie ahead today.

While having breakfast we decided that today should be an inside day.  Chuck suggested that we go to the Paris Catacombes.

We took the metro and checked out the entrance.

However, the line of people waiting to enter went almost all the way around the block.

We decided that this is something we should do on another trip....maybe in a November or January or most any month that would not be tourist season.

But on the bright side, on a day like today, you can easily find a seat outside at a sidewalk cafe.  Yesterday, when the weather was beautiful, all the tables were full and it was almost impossible to find a place.

We went around the corner and found a pedestrian street that was lined with all kinds of street front stores selling meats, cheese, produce, just about any type of food.

Here is Chuck checking out a wine store.

I salivated as  photographed this delicious looking bread encrusted with cheese.

Fresh vegetables and produce store.  Everything was open to the street.

Fish store.

Here is Chuck posing with a statue of a Holstein calf outside a cheese shop.

And a butcher shop.

We went back to check at the catacombes and yep the line was still there, maybe even longer.

It was time to think of Plan B.  We decided to go to Musee du Quai Branly, which is a relatively new museum in Paris.  It has been built since we were there about 10 years ago.

But first things first.  Did I use it?  Yes indeed and so did Chuck.  We were happy to find this toilet.  It is clean and free.

The museum has collections of artifacts from all over the world, Oceania, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Once inside the museum I took literally over 100 pictures.  We spent about four hours viewing the artifacts.

I decided for this post I would limit sharing only pictures I took of masks.  It seems all cultures have them.

After leaving the museum, we had to cross a bridge over the river Seine to get the metro back to our hotel.

I think every bridge on this river is full of locks.  Most have names and initials of lovers.

Here is a large house boat that is tied up (rather permenantly I suppose).  They have a nice deck with picnic table on the top of the boat and a grand view of the Eiffel Tower.

Speaking of the Eiffel Tower, I am so glad we went to see it yesterday.

That is about it for today.  Tomorrow we take a train to a little town outside of Paris for Chuck to have his hands repaired.

Love you all,
Nancy