David Around the World: October 31, 2014 Last Day in Paris, Museum de Orsay, Opera House, Sacre Coeur

Last day in Paris, stayed out last night until about...hmmm sometime this morning. I had to catch a UBER home because the subway to this direction had stopped. But, I got up about 8AM, showered put on my best go to museum clothes and headed for the subway. I knew right where I was going didn't even have to look at the map.
I'm going to one of my favorite museums in the world, even more than Metropolitan in NYC, if that's possible. Museum de Orsay, http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html
It has the largest collection of Impressionist Art in the world, with the largest Monet collection. I arrive by the subway too early to get in for 10AM opening. So I grab breakfast at the ...what else...Cafe de Orsay. Todays delight is quiche lorraine, salad, chocolate croissant, and double expresso. Now today I had the infamous crappy French waiter that refused to speak English, so we mimed my order. I had just taken my last bite and he was ready to whisk my plate away and left the check. I would have thought he wanted to get the table for the next customer. There were only two other people in the place. Get me out of here. I gave a $20e for a $16.95e fare and waited for my change. This dude wasn't bring back my change. Okay start my day pissing me off. So I go up to the cashier and ask for the waiter. He comes over with his smug look and I hold out my hand. He shrugs his shoulders and I say in English, "my change". The lead guy at the cashier table must have been the owner because he said something in French and the "bad news bear" forks over $1e, $2e and .05e coins. I smile and had him the 5 cents. I wish it had been a penny.
Okay, I'm feeling better because I didn't give in to the jerk. Time to go into the Museum. The location is right on the main river that goes through Paris, the Seine River. This morning there is a lot of boat traffic, about 2 tour boats/3 working barges. I go inside and plot out my walking strategy. Do the Impressionist on the 5th floor first? Or look at everything else and save it for last? Okay, first...I spend about 2 hours taking my time on the 5th Floor Impressionists Gallery. Monet, Manet, Pissaro, Gauguin (another one of my favorites, great story, google him), Degas, etc. The art is so beautiful, it makes feel like falling in love again. Um, is that a chick comment? Nevertheless, I finish and start looking at the rest of the floor galleries. I won't bore you too much, but there were a couple of new experiences for me.
First, Rodin. Now Auguste Rodin is probably the first artist, actually a sculptor, that I ever remember as a child. At the front of the Detroit Art Museum is a Rodin piece called, The Thinker (if you are not familiar, google it). What I didn't know was the other pieces that he created to include facades on some of several famous buildings in Europe. There must have been at least 50 of his sculptures throughout the 2nd floor of the museum.
Second, French Neoclassical Design. There was a special showing of some of the more elegant pieces of furniture, jewelry, canvas pieces and sculpture of this era. Here is a website that you can check out yourself, http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/decorative-arts.html
Okay there are some things I'm going to pass on, Japanese and Oriental, African and Indian Art...sorry just not interesting to me. Well time to head out, as I start toward the exit, I notice the elevator...yep, let's go up to the 5th floor for one more hour of Impressionism.
I finally make my way out, finally and decide to find the Paris Opera House. I head for the subway and try to determine where I would find the opera house. the Opera Station, well that makes sense. It just four stops away. Okay subway send me there! I come up stairs from the subway and at first I don't see anything, but then I do a 180 and there it was in all its ornate glory. It has so many lions, animals and gargoyles all over and around this building. Also, what is interesting, there are people sitting all over the stairs talking, juggling, singing, playing their instruments and having lunch. I also noticed there was a couple getting married on the front stair case. I have pictures, I'll post on FaeeBook later. I go to sit down on the stairs and pop, my belt buckle broke. I'm not THAT fat to have buckles breaking. But then again, I did buy it for only $5 at American Eagle. Okay where's a Macy's when you need it. I notice a men's story across the street. I should have realized what I was in for when I saw the Cashmere suit in the window for $2,100E. But, I go waltzing in, and I swear to you the brother of the waiter from this morning's fiasco waited on me. I say in English I'm looking for a belt. He refuses to speak English so I show him my unbelted jeans. I tell you the guy actually sniffed at me and pointed to the back of the store. He failed to follow me and so I walked back to the Accessories section of the store. Okay, $45e pair of socks, $180e scarf...ah the belts...they ranges from $95e to $300e. I could get out of there fast enough. "Sniffy" gave me a shit eating grin as I passed him on the way out. I need to get a belt because I'm starting to look like one of those kids that lets there pants hang half way down their butt. Now the good thing I think Ive lost some weight on this trip. Usually, I don't really need a belt for my 38 inch waistline. Aha! an H&M store. I go walking in and a nice customer service person helps me find the belt area. Okay 38 inch belt, wait a minute its showing in centimeters. Now I have to literally take each belt and put it around my waist for sizing. I find a belt that reminds me of an old boy scout belt I use to have, with a flat brushed silver buckle and a tan cloth material. I look at that price, marked down to $4.95e, I'll take it.
Now that my pants are back in their normal position, it's time to head to the apartment. This trip takes three subways, but I maneuver my way around like a subway rat.
Tonight I am atop the Paris hills in Montmatre. It's absolutely beautiful overlooking Paris at sunset. There is very little smog or clouds. The area atop Montmartre is full of restaurants, artist doing portraits, lots of music and speciality shops. I find a small cafe that has a nice view of the city lights. Tonight I decide to have veal with mushroom sauce, pasta, great bread (carbs) and crepes Suzette for dessert. Bordeaux as well. Top it off with a 15 year old Port.