To Avon, Then Fountainblue, Then Ftttttttttttttttttt

Taking the train to Avon, then a bus from the station, then a lovely walk peeking into private gardens as the electric gate closes. 

I asked for directions and my fake French took me in the back way to the Grand Fountainbleu. I knew I was on the right track by the horse drops. To the left is a small lake/pond and the usual trapping of the wealthy. 

Arriving at the back door, I found my way to the cashier,

Paying my entrance fee took me through a very narrow hall with what as first I thought was a fire place.  I'm not sure and with no audiophone to listen to, it is a mystery. 

A lovely hall with windows on the left.

Upstairs is where the queen slept (or whomever was the lady du jour). A beautiful room with several windows and soft colors. The bed was big enough for a child with two steps on the side for the queen to climb into bed. 

Another long hall with parquet floors that were in near perfect condition. To the right are floor to ceiling windows and to the left

The glass in the doors have blue skies and clouds painted on them. You can see the reflection of the outside windows.

The first time I saw one of these signs, I thought it was showing the guy running to the toy lette.  Poor guy ran this way and that way sometimes showing a flight of stairs. I knew the feeling...

Finally I found the front door of Fountainbleu. It would be better to see this grand palace on a PBS. My pictures could not do it justice. I wish they had put price tags on the cost to build this place to say nothing of th fine workmanship down to the door knobs. (there will be a special blog on door knobs)

From the palace I walked downtown and found the merry-go-round. This was a two story go-round with music and excited children. 

The train ride from Avon back to Paris...   My fanny started talking and I thought I could do a one cheek sneek. CAUGHT! A little girl said to her mother in French that I farted. OMG, my hearing loss is terrible, I thought it was a sneek. Her mother told her to try not to notice. I tried not to be embarrassed. Does the rest of the world live from toot to toot? To end the day with a fine meal. I ordered lamb with legumes forgetting it meant beans... I have no idea what kind of joke it was, but I skipped the back pile of beans, thankyouverymuch.  

The aged traveler at the end of the day.

Dazzling Delights to Dismal Sameness

After a half hour bus ride to the American Library, a stop at a little tiny (4 tables) bakery/deli for a bite. Using croissant dough for the top, then ham and a combination of warm cheese and mustard with a crispy bottom crust. It's the first time I ever ignored the ham and scraped out the cheesey mustard. 

Wandering through the neighborhood, I looked over and saw this beautiful building.

The front door was especially lovely. I wish I'd had a tripod to steady the camera.

The intricate art worked in the door with animals was breath taking.

I thought the Eiffel Tower was close by, then I turned away from the beautiful door and there is was.

A few block walk to the river Seine and there were boats for riding around town. 14E (euros) $22.50 to ride, getting on and off at will.

Seriously? Yes, a Mississippi paddle boat on the French river Seine. It seemed so out of place...

The one thing they don't mention when getting on the boat... there are no 'facilities.' Additional liquids like Coke are for sale though. Just step right up and insert your euros. I rode the boat up the river (or down maybe?) until I finally had to find some facilities. I asked the person who blared out each stop in three languages, "Toilette?" She gestured vaguely but could speak no Anglaise. I hopped off the bateau (boat) and followed a group of children on a field trip. Surely they would know. Fields of poppies, herb gardens, vegetable gardens, an iris garden, a zoo, a natural history museum, and on I trudged asking Toilette, Toy let? Non, non in the park. 'Merci,' I said. MERCY, I thought! Finally, 

I saw a McDonalds. Surely nestled behind their processed food... Yes. a toilette. The dismal sameness struck me as I entered the door of the 'toilette.' How can a multi-billion dollar business have bathrooms around the world dismal, dirty and the French version? Seat covers but No seat. I want to leave you with an upbeat thought, the poppies were beautiful.

Fire and Fine Dining...

On my way to the store the other evening I came around the corner and much to my surprise there was a fire in one of the oldest buildings in Paris.

They quickly tied off the area by stringing the tape from a parked car to a chair to keep people back.

The fire trucks were small, unlike their American counterpart. Of course they would have to be because the streets are so narrow. 

Those shiny balls in the windows are firemen. They wear what appear to be metal hats.

But, best of all... See the plastic boxes sitting on the ground? It's lunch! In the boxes were loaves of French bread and fixins' to make sandwiches.

See the fellow eating? There were more standing around eating and watching the fire. I was too shy to take their pictures, but I have to tell you their food looked delish! No donuts for these guys.

People sat in the park watching the fire while enjoying a sandwich. It was fascinating to see how efficient the firemen were. There were no sirens, no police, no one yelling. It was quietly taken care of.
The next day the businesses reopened. Big dumpsters were lined up across the street and clean-up had begun.

Too Hungry for Dinner at 8?

If you get too hungry for dinner at 8, stopping for a glass of wine and bar snacks can be a thinning experience. Yes, this is a tiny small glass of popcorn. I didn't think to take a picture until we had already eaten a third of it. I wanted to tell the waitress to bring out the damn bag and stop teasing.

Across from the cafe with the 'petit' popcorn snack was a cute little neighborhood merry-go-round in a park. 

Interesting this would be an Edsel and not a Peugeot.

Space ship and a motorcycle? 

The fascinating buildings, little balconies, intricate iron work. There is a little shop in my neighborhood that custom makes and repairs ironwork.

I wish I had taken picture of all the people out walking around at 11 pm on my way home from dinner. A mother pushing a baby stroller with two kids walking along looking in shop windows. Old women (me) out alone, the streets were comfortably full of people enjoying a balmy summer evening in May. Monday is a trek to the famous cemetery with famous people buried in it... 

In Search of the Gypsy...Found A French Thief

While in search of the gypsy, look who greeted me as I stepped off the bus. America is Back! Where did it go? Are we a pair of shoes? A sports team? Huh? What does the world think?

Well, never mind. Being on a mission I saw an open air market and hoped the gypsy was there.

This French mon was selling a new kind of slicer/dicer scissors. I couldn't resist. Zeee act saunt sold to me the see zorss. It came with a hair pick too. Such a gadget to behold!

















So many hats, so few heads wearing them. Wait 'til you see the gorgeous girl who modeled for me at BHV.

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This is the hat sales lady. While she was busy with customers,

This man put a hat on his head, pretended to look at hats, then sauntered away without paying. I couldn't remember the word for Stop, let alone thief, so I kept the camera clicking. Maybe some day he'll be on 'Most Wanted' and I can say I saw him in Paris.

No luck finding the gypsy at the market. With plenty of time and tired of crowds I walked several blocks to see the cemetery. So many little houses and each has interesting stained glass and alters inside. Some have kneelers so people can step inside and say a prayer. I would have to pray; #1. that I could get back up from the kneeler and #2. I wouldn't get my butt stuck in such a tiny space.

I kind of liked the idea of using an old flower pot for a candle holder. The green branch was plastic. I love one of the little 'houses' with a step ladder leaning against the wall inside. Was it a ladder to heaven, an escape route, it reminded me of a spoon shaped like a ladder that is put in a pot of beans so the toots can climb out. Who knows, the French are clever ones...