Well, where is this good weather then? Grey sky and torrential rain again.
So another rethink of activities. Museums sound great in such conditions, but will everyone else have the same idea. Many are free on Sundays too.
First off I went out to look for the Armenian Cathedral. It is only open either by appointment or on Sunday: I did not want to disturb a service so aimed to get there after a service but before they shut. They have some concerts coming up and I wanted to see what it looked and sounded like. I’m after atmosphere, being picky I don’t just want a concert hall experience.
Few maps go into sufficient detail to look at all the little streets around here so I went onto Google, make some notes and off I went. Seemed straight forward enough. But of course I could not find it and had to ask. But not until a French taxi driver asked me for help! Wow. And I could help him. Big-headed now. Several people helped me, all very friendly, and one couple wished me a “Bon Dimanche”.
I got there in the end and even taking my time getting there it worked out well. A few people were still hanging on talking etc. after the service so I did not feel I was disturbing anyone but it was still open:
It might do for an evening concert, what do you think?
Then on to the Musee Carnavalet. This is free all the time and just round the corner from my flat. On my way I passed a school, the Victor Hugo school, with this plaque on the outside beside the front door:
A timely reminder.
There are two monuments in this area to the Jewish people deported and exterminated during the War and I hope to get to see them. Perhaps hope is the wrong word: I mean I intend to get to see them if I can stay sufficiently organised. Time to make lists of places and days left.
The Musee Carnavalet was quite full: both locals, Parisians and tourists. It was a wonderful experience and a superb museum. So much so that I shall have to post specifically on the museum itself. Suffice it to say that it is housed in a magnificent Hotel, which was owned by the Marquise de Sevigny, that great letter writer and salon hostess. This was the first museum in the world to recreate whole rooms rescued from other houses, and takes you from prehistory, through to the present day. It is very atmospheric with its recreations of differing times and the display on the French Revolution is quite without parallel. I had no idea that so much stuff had survived and was available.
When I had exhausted both myself and the opening hours I made my way home. I shall have to go back as I had to miss out a couple of galleries. Trying to walk through the packed small streets, full of jostling people in the pouring rain was no joke. Several of us decided to walk in the road, moving over slightly for the odd car or taxi. Then we heard a loud noise ahead, like a brass band, and the crowd of people bunched up and were moving even more slowly. Cars behind us hooted but there was nothing they could do.
I finally manged to make my way through to see what was happening. There were several people, women I think but am not sure, in skimpy clothes sitting in wheelchairs, covered in red velvet.
These were being pushed by men in scarlet velvet coats, all carrying umbrellas, and preceded by a mime artist. Following them was a band playing loud ‘oompah’ type music, very vulgar!
It all seemed rather burlesque to me. At one point in the Place des Vosges they stopped for a few minutes while the women in the wheelchairs got up and cavorted, writhed, wriggled about!
Lots of shouts which sounded like “Aquaristes” but which mean nothing to me! At one point a woman in the crowd seemed to join them, they all embraced her, danced with her, and then lifted her up on to their shoulders. I’m afraid I cannot enlighten you at all unless Blanche can help me this afternoon.
There was a great feeling of celebration and defiance: I finally left them to it and walked home another way just to meet them coming towards me having come round the block.
My photos are bad because no one would stand still, it was raining hard, and people kept pushing me or pushing in front of me to take photos themselves. Anyway, I have put them up here because they are impressionist and what could be more suitable? Definitely painting material. Make of them what you can.
Actually, I think the jostled photos give the sense of the chaos that surrounded the scene. Have you learned yet what was behind this? I did hear on the news of women in Ukraine protesting while topless against violence aimed toward women. Seemed counter-productive to me. Perhaps this was some type of similar awareness project? Or maybe a perfomance art project of some sort?
In any event, love the prospect of hearing about the concert in that church-what are the paintings (so huge) hung on the walls? Also the museum does sound quite intriguing. I tend to avoid museums for the reasons you listed-crowds and the resulting exhaustion.
Good work in directing the taxi driver!
LikeLike
I loved the impressionist feel of some of the photos with the rain, the reflections, the blurred shadows. I reckon I have found out what was happening now, see latest post. Museum was stupendous:)
LikeLike
The Cathedral looks good for a concert Sweff, high ceilings would be good for the sound.
Aquaristes translated – appears to mean people who keep fish. Doesn’t match really does it.{:)
LikeLike
No, and now that I think I know who they were, I still cannot match it. Clearly it was a slang term that I misheard! Love your photos of goldfinches on teasles, by the way. And you certainly managed to make the most of a grey day: I zoomed in on the pix and the colours suddenly appeared!
LikeLike
I am loving all of your pictures!!! But I am curious- in this posting, were you trapped in an episode of America’s Next Top Model? 🙂
LikeLike
If you think they would every consider exposing themselves for free, outdoors, in the rain:)
LikeLike
I will be interested to read your post about the museum. I’m curious to learn more about life prior to the French Revolution since that seems to be when the last of my ancestors left France.
Curious to hear what you find out about the wheelchair ladies…
LikeLike
Burlesque dancers in the street????? Oh man I gotta get to Paris!!!!! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh yes, and all for free:)
LikeLike
Quite an experience all round then – and to meet them again, well, it made me laugh when I read it!
The time must be going very quickly now!
J x
LikeLike
It is, so much to see and do, I am feeling quite desperate:)
LikeLike