Paris Day 5 (20 July)
Went for a walk around Ile St Louis this morning. We have both always loved this spot. Not too crowded which is surprising given was a stunning morning. Went into some shops and found much clothing that was cheaper than the artisan shops near us. Will guess because the artisan bits aren't mass produced or.... the 11th is a bit hipster/trendy and some very similar looking things are being sold for quite inflated prices. Saw packed tourists boats plowing up and down the Seine. Glad weren't on them. Also got to see a very sad looking Notre Dame with much scaffolding around it. Saw the English bookshop Shakespeare & Co on the left bank where we ended up but as was a Saturday and was packed didn't go inside. Decided on catching the metro back to hotel. I had 2 tickets left from a previous trip (I am now so frugal having been trained by a Scotsman for some 30 years) to retain such things) and they still worked! Metro is as easy as ever. Back to favourite boulangerie for some lunch and more fruit from the markets. Lunch in the shade at Square Trousseau.
Yikes got TV on and is showing 41 degrees for Wednesday. Last day in Paris may be spent keeping cool.
In the afternoon visited a brilliant museum - Musee de la musique. Located in the 19th arrondisment so a bit of a wander but easy to get to on the metro. It's in the Parc de la Vilette which has a number of concert halls and theatres and museums. Bit of a cultural hub. We think we have been there with Will some 18 years ago to visit a science museum. Anyway the Music Museum was recommended to us and we were both blown away by it. 5 floors on the history of music.
The museum provides you with an audio guide and you use this to listen to experts talk on the development of and changes to music throughout history. The museum is also full of a vast array of instruments and the audio guide allows you to listen to pieces of music played by the instrument nominated by you - from the earliest instruments to synthesizers to music from non-European cultures such as Africa, Middle East and even Australian Aborigines. I left the exhibition with the sound of a didgeridoo playing in my ears. I think listening to the instruments was our favourite part. You can listen to single instruments, groups of instruments or entire Symphonies. Stephen had to prize me away from listening to Beethoven's 3rd symphony. We both just kept hopping from one instrument to another. We were also fascinated by the changing design and beauty of the various instruments. Some of the early keyboard instruments were just stunning. To top it off there was a violinist playing some Bach and Telemann on a baroque violin for about 20 minutes on one of the floors. If I lived in Paris I would return again and again and again... When we handed back the audio guides, the lady told us there were some 96 hours of music and information recorded on the guides. Given both of us love music, it was a very good pick for us.
Yikes got TV on and is showing 41 degrees for Wednesday. Last day in Paris may be spent keeping cool.
In the afternoon visited a brilliant museum - Musee de la musique. Located in the 19th arrondisment so a bit of a wander but easy to get to on the metro. It's in the Parc de la Vilette which has a number of concert halls and theatres and museums. Bit of a cultural hub. We think we have been there with Will some 18 years ago to visit a science museum. Anyway the Music Museum was recommended to us and we were both blown away by it. 5 floors on the history of music.
The museum provides you with an audio guide and you use this to listen to experts talk on the development of and changes to music throughout history. The museum is also full of a vast array of instruments and the audio guide allows you to listen to pieces of music played by the instrument nominated by you - from the earliest instruments to synthesizers to music from non-European cultures such as Africa, Middle East and even Australian Aborigines. I left the exhibition with the sound of a didgeridoo playing in my ears. I think listening to the instruments was our favourite part. You can listen to single instruments, groups of instruments or entire Symphonies. Stephen had to prize me away from listening to Beethoven's 3rd symphony. We both just kept hopping from one instrument to another. We were also fascinated by the changing design and beauty of the various instruments. Some of the early keyboard instruments were just stunning. To top it off there was a violinist playing some Bach and Telemann on a baroque violin for about 20 minutes on one of the floors. If I lived in Paris I would return again and again and again... When we handed back the audio guides, the lady told us there were some 96 hours of music and information recorded on the guides. Given both of us love music, it was a very good pick for us.
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