28 January 2009, Wednesday—Found an apt quote from City of Falling Angels, that I was reading while wide awake each night, about the many Americans who are involved in groups to save Venice:
Americans don't go to Paris to save Paris do they? When you see a five-hundred-year-old Venetian building, it may be a bit shabby and possibly even in danger. But you can't describe it as 'decaying'. It has endured five hundred years! The 'decaying Venice' is all a big myth. That's what I mean about Save Venice - Forget it, Venice will save itself. Go save Paris!
This was day three of the four day Museum Pass. I was up early and walked across the Seine to a pastry shop for a raisin pastry. On the way I took several photos of the many bike commuters coming in the city (below). It's impressive how many people now use bikes for transportation, thanks in part to the Vélib' bikes and the new bike lanes.
I continued on to St. Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris, completed in 1732. The church was prominently featured in both the novel The DaVinci Code and subsequent movie. Afterwards I once again stopped by Fat Tire to check email, then went to the Delacroix Museum, tucked away near a small square on the Left Bank. In his backyard studio was an exhibit showing the influence of photography on his drawings. Later I toured the Picasso Museum (see also the Wikipedia Picasso Museum page). I was disappointed that it appeared that many drawings and some of the best paintings were on loan to the various Picasso shows on exhibit around the city. The museum is in a wonderful old mansion, the Hôtel Salé. The collection of artwork was donated to the state by Picasso's family after his death in lieu of paying inheritance taxes.
 |
 |
 |
On the way back to the hotel I walked around the Place de Voges (below), site of many galleries and restaurants. 
It was a very cold day and I was freezing so I stopped into the Carnavalet Museum to get warm. This was one of the advantages of having the Museum Pass. In the museum the history of Paris is depicted in many excellent works of art, mostly paintings. After getting warm and touring most of the collection I headed back to the hotel. The day before and today dinner consisted of tuna sandwiches, chips, yogurt, and a drink from the corner store; a sad commentary on my finances but satisfying nonetheless. Tonight I splurged on a liter of hard cider, reminding me of the many afternoons spent in pubs in England as a youth.