Flexibility, that's the Ticket! - Wednesday, 7 May

We had optimistic plans for this morning – to get up early and go over to the Musée d’Orsay to see a fabulous new van Gogh exhibit.  We even bought tickets in advance so that we could go in the “fast” line right when the museum opened at 9:30.  We all awoke around 8:00 (oops!); I had been awake until long after midnight, so hadn’t had enough sleep for my legs to recover from the previous day (ouch!).  The good news: the museum let Liz & Michal in the fast line even though they got there a bit late.  The other good news: they tell me that the exhibit is outta sight, focusing on some of the work van Gogh did just prior to his suicide. I’m really looking forward to seeing it.  People here are very gracious towards the even-slightly handicapped, so I’m hoping that they will take pity when they see me and my cane approaching with a 2-day-old ticket on Friday!

Just a quick aside regarding the graciousness of the French.  At the long passport check line at the airport, they saw me coming with my cane and offered me the shortcut line – this usually happens.  But the nice airport employee also asked if Liz, Michal and I were an “ensemble” – I said yes, and she directed all three of us to the shortcut line.  Sweet!

Liz enjoying the gardens outside
Notre Dame

In the afternoon we had planned to go to the tiny Polish Library and Chopin Museum on Ile Saint-Louis.  Liz had even called a couple weeks ago to make sure that we knew their limited opening hours.  We got there, the door was locked, and there was a hand-lettered sign on the door saying it was closed May 7 and 8.  We learned later that this is a long holiday weekend in France, for WWII Victory Day.  Who knew?  Not us!  Oh, well, we were close to the Berthillon ice cream mother ship (yummers), a Laguiole knife shop (tempting), Notre Dame (awe-inspiring), the sparkling Seine with even a couple swans (gorgeous), and ancient Saint-Séverin (peaceful - one of my favorite little churches, right in the center of the Latin Quarter).  And it was a lovely afternoon to stroll through the just-now-flowering summer gardens along the way. 

Michal snapping Liz at the
Saint-Severin Cafe

And we could grab a bite at one of the many casual eateries in the Latin Quarter.  And the Saint-Michel Metro was on RER train line B for a quick trip up to Gare du Nord for our wonderful evening’s entertainment at Theatre des Bouffes du Nord (more about that in my next post).

How you'll often find me!

I’m kind of enjoying this middle ground – having a plan so I’m not totally winging it, but not stressing out (as if I ever do!) when things don’t quite work out.  In a place like Paris there are delights to be encountered around almost every corner.  And you don’t have to work very hard to find them!