Today's adventure took us to Sainte Chapelle and a revisit to Musee D'Orsay. Don is interested to see Sainte Chapelle and the Musee D'Orsay so that is our itinerary for the day. Sainte Chapelle is an 11th century medieval royal chapel that has some of the oldest and most beautiful stained glass in existence. We looked at going yesterday but the lines were so long and the weather hot so we decided today would be a better likelihood. Of course we didn't count on the massive taxi strike against all the Uber cars who are eating into their incomes. Uber is not regulated and therefore not subject to the same working conditions as the taxis, for instance the license for
each taxi is around 250K euros so overhead is pretty stiff. Then there are the limits on what a driver can charge to take a customer around Paris, Uber is not subject to that as well. So many times Uber is cheaper, but on many occasions it is much more expensive. So basically Uber can skim the cream when things are normal and leave the high expense times to the taxis who are regulated. A very delicate situation and one that has turned violent a couple times, with beatings and overturned cars.
So we took the metro down to St Michel and got of there then walked back to get into the line for Sainte Chapelle. The metro was very crowded as one might expect on a day where taxis were on the warpath. But we got there and the line was about 15 minutes to wait and then in, so very reasonable we thought.
Sainte Chapelle is so beautiful, it's not very large and is constructed on a dual level plan with the lower level for the less exalted in French society of the time and the upper level, where all the stained glass is installed, for royalty and high nobility. While the lower level is sumptuous the upper level is simply spectacular! So much glass, so many beautiful colors literally a feast for the eyes, there are 13 windows around 3 sides, basically illuminating the books of the old and new testaments with the fourth side containing a large rose window depicting the apocalypse. Not large but almost overwhelming nonetheless. We then headed for the Musee D'Orsay with a stop for lunch on the way. Our path took us through the latin quarter and then through the Cour de Rohan, a 17th and 18th century series of courtyards leading into the passage where La Procope is located. La Procope is the oldest coffeehouse in Paris. It has hosted Thomas Jefferson, Benj. Franklin, John Adams, and many of the leaders of the French Revolution, such as Robespierre. It's a little too rich for our blood now but we ate next door at a little cafe serving crepes.
We made our way to Musee D'Orsay and along with Don went through the rooms containing the Impressionists and then rooms containing Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Not crazy packed with people and not too hot so very enjoyable. After the museum we walked over to the Tuileries and sat in the shade for several minutes to get cooled down. We then made our way to the bus and back to the apartment, where we again cooled off before going to one of our favorite restaurants, Art et Science Reunise, for dinner.
Today's adventure took us to Sainte Chapelle and a revisit to Musee D'Orsay. Don is interested to see Sainte Chapelle and the Musee D'Orsay so that is our itinerary for the day. Sainte Chapelle is an 11th century medieval royal chapel that has some of the oldest and most beautiful stained glass in existence. We looked at going yesterday but the lines were so long and the weather hot so we decided today would be a better likelihood. Of course we didn't count on the massive taxi strike against all the Uber cars who are eating into their incomes. Uber is not regulated and therefore not subject to the same working conditions as the taxis, for instance the license for each taxi is around 250K euros so overhead is pretty stiff. Then there are the limits on what a driver can charge to take a customer around Paris, Uber is not subject to that as well. So many times Uber is cheaper, but on many occasions it is much more expensive. So basically Uber can skim the cream when things are normal and leave the high expense times to the taxis who are regulated. A very delicate situation and one that has turned violent a couple times, with beatings and overturned cars.
So we took the metro down to St Michel and got of there then walked back to get into the line for Sainte Chapelle. The metro was very crowded as one might expect on a day where taxis were on the warpath. But we got there and the line was about 15 minutes to wait and then in, so very reasonable we thought.
Sainte Chapelle is so beautiful, it's not very large and is constructed on a dual level plan with the lower level for the less exalted in French society of the time and the upper level, where all the stained glass is installed, for royalty and high nobility. While the lower level is sumptuous the upper level is simply spectacular! So much glass, so many beautiful colors literally a feast for the eyes, there are 13 windows around 3 sides, basically illuminating the books of the old and new testaments with the fourth side containing a large rose window depicting the apocalypse. Not large but almost overwhelming nonetheless. We then headed for the Musee D'Orsay with a stop for lunch on the way. Our path took us through the latin quarter and then through the Cour de Rohan, a 17th and 18th century series of courtyards leading into the passage where La Procope is located. La Procope is the oldest coffeehouse in Paris. It has hosted Thomas Jefferson, Benj. Franklin, John Adams, and many of the leaders of the French Revolution, such as Robespierre. It's a little too rich for our blood now but we ate next door at a little cafe serving crepes.
We made our way to Musee D'Orsay and along with Don went through the rooms containing the Impressionists and then rooms containing Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Not crazy packed with people and not too hot so very enjoyable. After the museum we walked over to the Tuileries and sat in the shade for several minutes to get cooled down. We then made our way to the bus and back to the apartment, where we again cooled off before going to one of our favorite restaurants, Art et Science Reunise, for dinner.
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