D'Orsay and an old friend.

I play hooky from the afternoon sessions with blessing from President Margaret and go to the Musee D’Orsay with Shireen. We have a few hours to get there and see what we can see before we are expected back at the Residence Maxim’s for a reception with Soroptimists from the Paris clubs.

The weather is perfect, sunny, not too hot, breezy, not too cold along the Seine as we walk from the Metro to the museum. We decide to stick together and start up top with the pre thru post Impressionist era since that is the strength of this museum and also holds some of the “greatest hits” we don’t want to miss.

Like my dad I spend some time trying to figure out how they turned this building into galleries and balconies from a train station with rails and smoke and locomotives. Unlike my dad, I only dwell on this briefly and enjoy seeing a Van Gogh self portrait, Whistler’s Mother, Monet, Renoir and so much more.

On our way out to make it on time to the reception I catch sight of the Art Nouveau rooms and I’m glad the museum is open late on Thursdays so we can come back. As I’m consulting the map, fruitlessly as it turns out as I get us a bit lost (we end up at the US Embassy #2 Rue Gabriel instead of 42 where we need to be) what do I hear but my name called. It’s Dan Strong (Emmy nominated writer of Recount) in town for a film festival. I haven’t seen him since a Mira Costa 50th All Class Reunion. We reminisce briefly but they are headed into the D’Orsay and we are destined to be late for our soiree so we exchange mobile numbers and say Au Revoir!

A public service announcement is warranted here. When the Musee D’Orsay says that it closes at 9:45pm. That does NOT mean you can stroll the galleries until 9:45, check out the giftshop for a few minutes and then leave. What “closes at 9:45pm” means is that you will be standing outside in the cold, with no souvenirs or children’s art books at 9:35pm. I think it’s so that the museum staff can make a 10pm seating for dinner so don’t ask for an extra minute to look at the postcards, you won’t get it – even if you ask in French.

I DID get enough time to se the Art Nouveau. rooms and would love to install almost every piece in my little Culver City bungalow. Also, this amazing marble statue that would look great in my front yard.

** I seem to be having trouble uploading images, I'll have to try again later. Stay tuned...**
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