Just about to go to sleep at midnight last night (still on Greenland time) and the fire alarm went off. I stuck my head out of the room but couldn’t smell anything so called reception and asked, he said a guest set it off and we could come downstairs if we wanted to. Since it didn’t seem to be a big deal I thought about it, then decided to pack up all the valuables into the backpack just in case. By the time I had done it, the alarm stopped. Just as well it wasn’t real, we’d probably have burnt to death.
Had a light breakfast, still full from last night (and we’ve booked the same place again for Monday night) then left the hotel to go to the Monet museum (Musée Marmottan Monet).
Got on the crowded metro and within 5 minutes some guy stuck his hand in my pocket. Unbelievable! He plead ignorance but at the next stop a guy got on and they spoke to each other, I suspect they were operating together, seemed too much of a coincidence.
Anyway, the museum holds the largest collection of Monets, bequeathed by one of his descendants and some other benefactors. There were also some other artists including Julie Manet, the daughter of Eduard Manet. Very interesting and some wonderful paintings, the museum was pretty busy.
Spent a couple of hours there, then got a metro to the Rodin museum. Spent another couple of hours there, including looking around the garden where there were 3 famous works – The Thinker, The Gates of Hell and The Bourgeois of Calais.
Walked back to the metro and walked past so many cafes and restaurants, people sitting outside. Paris really is unique.
We were feeling a bit hungry as it was now about 16:00 so headed for a Seafood restaurant so Song could get her fix.
I had a Cod fillet in a herb crust with baked cauliflower, Song had the seafood platter. Mine was good, not fantastic, but Song’s was spectacular – 2 half crabs (I don’t know why they don’t say a whole crab), prawns, oysters, whelks, scallops, crayfish, and several other shellfish varieties. I had a few prawns and a crab claw and that was enough for me, I don’t like shellfish. I also had a wine.
Song said hers was very good. Cost about 219 AUD all in. Eeek.
Went back to the hotel and watched a movie.
Tomorrow is a public holiday here, but I think most things aren’t open, and we haven’t any plans. We might do as the locals do and set a couple of cars on fire.
