05 June Paris-Vincennes

   Today was the day we were to go to Versailles but since John didn't really want to (and I have see it), it was up to him to make a plan for the day.  He did a great job!  He used the Rick Steves Paris 2009 travel guide and noted interest in the Bastille area.  There was a two mile walk through the area that seemed interesting, so that is what we did.  Of course we started with the bus and the Metro into Paris and getting off in the Bastille this time for the Marais Walk beginning in the characteristic quarter there, through that and the Jewish quarter, and ending in the artsy Beaubourg district. Our walk included:  Place de Bastille, Hotel de Sully, Places des Vosges, side trip to the  Picasso Museum (pictured Femme Bust, Bronze 1931), Rue des Francs Bourgeois, Rue Pavee, Camille Brassiere (for lunch), Jewish Quarter, Rue Ste. Croix de la Bretonnerie and a brief stop at the Pompidour Center.  It was a lovely walk and a lovely day.  We were not impressed with the art at the Pompidour Center.  It was listed as "Modern Art" but it was mostly things we either could not understand or seemed a bit grotesque or profane.  Many rooms came with warnings that the content of the room might be disturbing.  We did enjoy the few of the Paris skyline from the sixth floor.

   About lunch-My lunch was fish and ratatouille so it was delicious,  John continues to order things that he is not entirely sure of.   This time it brought him a pork sausage that had to be a sausage of "innards" (we asked the man sitting next to us).  We did realize it was pork, but knowing it was sausage would have made me wary.  John is the man though, as he ate it.  

   After this we took the Metro on to the Lafayette Galleries in hopes of a bit of shopping. However, the prices were so exorbitant we decided not to buy anything.  Time to head home and prepare for our trip the St. Avold tomorrow, D-Day.  There are many events going on all over France tomorrow, especially at the Normandy Beaches,