Sailing On The Pond Du Luxembourg

It was on our first long stay in Paris, in 2014, that we spotted the sailing pond at Luxembourg Garden as something to interest our then- three-year-old grand-daughter. Indeed it did. We've been in the Garden on numerous occasions since then--our apartment for the past three years is 255 steps away, by Vicki's count--but haven't done the sailing thing in a while. Vicki and Penelope were sure to see we did it again in 2025.  

2014, with Marie de Medici's Luxembourg Palais in the background
(now the French Senate)

Fast-forward

Grandpa joins the action

Parisians love their parks...and nothing of size is as close-in as Luxembourg

Penelope in the doorway of our apartment building on
Rue Jean Bart

Louvre Couture, 2

Show stopper #2; "if I only had a brain..."

Similar gold inlay?

Cutting a wide swath #2

Rags and riches

Time-out to see whether another pyramide might fit

Definitely!

LV, of course

Would look great in a Cybertruck

I though it was a beach towel

Waistcoat with drawers (apologies to Dali)

Vicki and I watched The Da Vinci Code (first time for me) after P
rejoined her parents; ever since, we now genuflect (genuflect! genuflect!)
whenever we pass by the place in the Carrousel where, according to
Dan Brown and Ron Howard, Jesus' wife is buried...resquiescat in pace...
sorry about missing out on the Queen of Heaven thing...

Louvre Couture, 1

Our next outing, June 1st, took us back to the Louvre for its special exhibition Louvre Couture, which Penelope had indicated was of special interest. The exhibit--dresses and accessories from the great fashion houses, displayed throughout the Richelieu's decorative arts division--was devised to demonstrate the strong relation between art and fashion. So the "artistic statement" said. And in many cases, one could see a relationship between a dress or such and a tapestry or painting or sculpture or whatever. A key to understanding the thing, I surmise, is that the exhibit was less about the Louvre's collection than about art and fashion more generally. Mostly it reminded me of the V&A's special exhibition last year of Taylor Swift's "Eras" costumes, sprinkled about that huge museum. Interesting dresses in a museum. OK. But the V&A's exhibition was mostly a marketing ploy, to get a certain segment of the population into the museum. Louvre Couture was much more serious and substantive, and way, way over my head. The 38 pix in this and the next post represent my best if feeble effort to convey what it was all about. I'll try to help via email with any questions...

Click to enlarge and read the "statement pieces"

The interpretive signage was great, and I endeavored to
photograph most of them...but mostly the couture...

I'm seeing Byzantine but also Klimt...

Did you know that the French word for "rags" is chiffon

Show stopper and personal favorite: "Gothic"...
"let me slip into something more comfortable..."

Inspired by the vision of St. Eustache...but note that
that the dress is pure Bambi/Disney!

The vision of St. Eustache, FYI; obviously some bad mushrooms at
work here...

Moving right along, cutting a wide swath, #1

Not sure this was part of the show...silver, bronze, gold...
had to be welded on...

Gold bracelet with inlaid scenes of the Assumption, or
possibly the Ascension, the Annunciation, the Assimilation...
part of the permanent collection, not the show...I was
nonetheless impressed

Puces De St. Ouen And Basilica St. Denis

The next day, May 31st, we took P to see the Puces de St. Ouen, aka, the Puces de Clignancourt, and further, the Basilica of St. Denis. St. Ouen/Clignancourt is perhaps Paris' best known market for brocante, collectibles, antiques, and such. Much high-end stuff, once you get past the blanket and awning retailers. In particular, we were thinking P might enjoy the jewelry, since she is now herself an apprentice jewelry artisan. We were right, and we never got beyond the jewelry stands and shooting a few curiosities. Previous visits to St. Ouen are here and here. We have visited St. Denis and its basilica three or four times. St. Denis itself has one of the largest markets in France, and the Basilica is the original Gothic church; and also contains the tombs of nearly all France's kings and queens. P knows enough French history to appreciate the latter bit, although it was a challenge to get her to go into the (creepy) crypt. Among previous posts on St. Denis are this, that, and thisandthat.

At the Ash Trays And Stuff shoppe

At the Antique Insulators And Stuff shoppe

Interesting ceiling presentation, whatever it is

Coffee grinders, etc.

We were always members of the Camping and Caravanning Club
(the friendly one) (UK)

In the Metro; note royal necropolis signage

A little urban futbol on the forecourt of the hotel de ville and the cathedral

The scaffolding suggests they're still intent on rebuilding the
north tower 

That's abbot Suger, inventor of Gothic, supplicating
in the archivolt

Nave view

Helpful model of what it looked prior to the Revolution

Now in the creepy crypt

Nicer part of the crypt; Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

If you want to see any Romanesque funny faces, you
have to go to the crypt

P recovering, actually in a little warming hut for guards in cold weather

Chancel, the oldest bit, the Sugerian bit

Altar, Jesse Tree window on the right

Now back in the nave, looking at some of the larger royal
monuments

"Ping pong, anyone?"

And now, the exciting conclusion...some French artiste has thought up
this clever little golden hut, out on the main floor, whereby the visitor can retire,
recline, and reflect on the experience of being interred in the great basilica...

Seriously; I am not making this up; no one could make this up
[click to enlarge and read (in English too)]; this is more French
than a baguette; and not the first time we have encountered such a thing;
nor the first time I have accepted the challenge...

Of course I had to try it, resting, reclining, reflecting; 

the pose is not quite right; but then I am not royalty, nor much

of a believer; somehow, the grand-daughter was not horrified; 

as far as I know...a great sport, and a great sense of humor...