The Impressionists created something new by, among many other things, looking at the normal daily life routines and showing how beautiful they were. It could be a walk in the park, a village scene, a group of bathers, or jut a nice evening sky on the harbor. It served as a good reminder on our second day in Paris to always see the beauty in the day-to-day.
The Musée d’Orsay was one of Siri’s key stops to see these wonderful impressionist artists and their counterpoints. Again, I was amazed to see these works of art which I studied in Art History, and here they were the actual works of art. One saw the collaboration with other artists and how each one progressed their work over time.
I thought about this relooking at your daily life to see the joy, the disruptions, the mundane, and to see what beauty and insight one gains from just observations and keeping an open mind.
Today we started early, but we found ourselves frustrated when our first stop didn’t open on time. Didn’t they know we had a schedule to keep and friends to meet? When we finally were let through one more security check, I had to make sure to stop, take a deep breath and enjoy one of the most spectacular stained glass churches anywhere, Sainte-Chappelle. Originally built in early 1200’s for King Louis IX’s own chapel off his palace to house his personal collection of holy relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns, it is now rather hidden behind the former King’s Palace and now the former palace of justice, all of which is sidelined due to its more famous landmark a block away, Notre Dame cathedral. After 10 years of restoration, the nearly floor to ceiling stained glass windows just illuminate and sparkle this surprisingly intimate setting.
As we waited in line, the first set of police vans went by telling us something was amiss. The strikes which have have consumed this country, at least the headlines, for several months, were back for the day and we heard they had shut down a major train station. This was confirmed when our former exchange student, Lola, texted that she may not make it since there were no trains to bring her into the city from Versailles, where she is staying. When she did just barely make into line with us as we entered the Musée d’Orsay, she told us of taking another train and then hopping a scooter, a first for her, and then zooming through the Paris streets for over 30 minutes. As we entered, we were greeted with the following notice – that due to the strikes , the museum would close early.
We felt we should be annoyed, but then we were in Paris, weather was fine, we were with family and friends, and we were just about to enter the museum with impressionists’ works inside. Why was I upset?
It was a theme that kept coming back to us. We reminded ourselves that that just the previous day our taxi had broken down on the freeway, inside a tunnel, and it all worked out. We got to meet a new driver and had a memorable and safe experience. When we arrived 30 minutes late for a walking tour recently, our guide assured us that life would still go on.
We walked along the Seine, and saw the fire boat patrol jump into action, the crews literally changed into their wetsuits as they jumped into patrol boats. When we asked the remaining officer on deck, it sounded like they were headed to help someone who had fallen into the very swift cold water.
As we passed under the the next bridge, we were greated by several homeless tents and one gentleman and his dog. Just another reminder that disruptions in our daily life are a relative thing.
We had a wonderful time at the Eiffel Tower, a first for all but Josiah. We were sad that my sister, Marianne and her family, who had bought tickets for the same day and time, couldn’t be there due to concerns they had about disruptions for their traveling. We took in the sunset as we descended, some by steps and others by elevator. As the lights came on in full force, we were treated with the Tower being covered in sparkling blue lights.
We had nice fast walk back along the Seine and passed the dinner boat cruises as the City came alive with colors and lights. A few disruptions could not dappen our spirits, as we finished up another full day.
Siri and David Adventures 