Maria & Brett's HUGE Trip 06-07-08-09-?

ok, so the Socceroos lost in 'that' penalty against Italy; Adriatic summers aren't long enough (bliss!); and we found that you should never use the term "Eastern Bloc" when talking to a Czech (Central Europe, please).

C'est la vie à Paris!

There are [62] photos in this gallery.

A long weekend in Paris was just what the doctor ordered - well, we thought it was a good idea anyway.

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In the country for all of 5 minutes and Maria's already gone-baguette! Views[34] This maître d' guy didn't say much about the daily menu... and he smelled kind of... old. Views[26] Lunch at the Pompidou gallery (like museum of contemporary art). We sat at a cafe and cracked out the baguette, cheese and proscuitto - and within seconds the waitress was on us The foyer of the Pompidou - loved all that open space. Views[30] Maria taking a break from the art and checking out Sacré-Cœur on top of Montmartre in the distance Views[31]
 
One piece we liked: bullet-ridden mirrors overlaid on a grainy crime-scene. Look through the window closely... Views[26] Loving the colour. Looking as if this is what we get up to every other day. Hah! Views[26] Couldn't resist a giggle at this couple who were so transfixed by this... blotting. Ahhhh.... Views[28] Looks like Maria took the whole appreciation thing a bit too far... Views[25] ... til you realise what's actually on this 'blank' canvas. Tiny series of numbers. Views[24]
 
Ok now these 3 panels really ARE blank. We challenge anyone to explain how this can be 'art'. Go to the art shop, buy three blank canvases and then chuck 'em up at the Pompidou??? Are we missing something here??? Views[25] This piece was only part of a whole room filled with colour that was designed to flood your senses with colour and light. Very cool. Views[29] More exhibits - that one in the front-right looks just like Maria. We were stunned! Views[30] Loved this one!! A plane made out of straw with all the 'things that were never meant to fly' - sharp objects that are illegal to carry onto planes. If you look carefully you'll see them sticking out all over the place. Loved the irony in this one. Views[28] Ok, so this one was in the same room as a load of pieces by Matisse and Picasso. Again, EXPLANATION PLEASE!!! Views[31]
 
Sun came out after a drizzly afternoon. Top view from the Pompidou. Views[29] Down the external escalators of the Pompidou - our heads full of 3 levels of contemporary art! Views[33] The Centre Georges Pompidou - built in 1977 in the 'high-tech' style of its time, it turned the museum world upside down for its 'stuff you' attitude to looking like one of them. This place was buzzing with students and colourful artsy folk out to enjoy one of Paris' famous landmarks. Views[29] Dinner at Le Tambour: delicious steak with blue cheese sauce, and lamb which we hadn't eaten in aaaages. Views[28] A plasti-scene Le Tambour. Look carefully! And note the 2 little kiddies staring in through the window from outside the bar. What skill - not to mention too much spare time for whoever sat down to make this. Views[31]
 
One of the many many many covered alleys that make up one of the many many many different markets that altogether make up the Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt - or the Saturday markets as we'd know it, only the things for sale here are what you'd normally find on the cover of Vogue or House & Garden, or even Antique Today. These markets have been around for centuries, and it's not cheap!! Views[34] Peering in to one of the 'stalls' Views[22] This stallholder barely lifted his head when we looked interested in his wares... Not fussed by a coupla foreigners from Downunda! It was, afterall, a French dog. Views[33] Hanging out at the entrance to the markets - can still smell the roasting chestnuts over the oil barrel lid! Mmmmm. Views[25] Some of the more garage-y things we spotted. Views[28]
 
Down the alleys... Views[31] More market shops... Views[28] Very funky part of the markets. Stallholders in the left were hanging out together sipping wine and nibbling on a communal cheese and grape platter. Much of the markets seemed to close around lunchtime as stallholders retired to upstairs rooms or were visibly Funny how someone invented a gnome that needed a stand to hold him up... Views[28] Someone's trash is a another person's... Views[22]
 
Maria about to go postal: Up on street level, a whole bunch of kids were loving the huge gusts of warm air that were coming out of this grille from the underground Metro, deep, deep below the ground. They were putting their caps on the grille and watching them fly into the air when a train passed. Cool. Views[219] Up it goes! Views[23] Hanging out at the Moulin Rouge. Though we were tempted to witness naked women swim in see-thru pools with snakes, the 169 euro ticket price made up our mind for us. We opted for a cool wine bar a few blocks away instead. Views[28] Sunday markets at the old Bastille. What a throng of people. Gotta get there early to get the best deal and the best catch! Views[29]
 
Mmmmmm....... Views[20] Mmmm! Easy to drop 30 euros on smelly French cheese without thinking about it. Ooops! Views[30] Escargot... or garlic snail if you prefer. Been there, done that. Not today! Views[21] The result: an arvo apartment picnic with all the trimmings you need, including a 5 euro bottle of bio bordeaux merlot (was rather tasty!). Views[32] Out and about on Sunday afternoon. Mmmm, roasted chestnuts in hand. Views[29]
 
Self-portrait attempt no. 1... Views[23] Self-portrait attempt no. 2... Views[26] Self-portrait attempt no. 3... - with a kind-of Pont Neuf in the background. Too cold to keep mucking around with this. Time for some more roasted chestnuts! Views[25] Walking past Notre Dame cathedrale, we noticed there was an organ recital going on - or rather a full-blown service in progress with a full-blown organ piece which was absolutely fully-blown. Transfixed up at the back of the hall, we waited til the end of it and the whole crowd/congregation/audience stood up and gave a standing ovation, turning round to squint up to where the organ and player were sitting above them. Views[31] Wandering near Sorbonne uni area we bumped into this cool street sculpture. Views[26]
 
Couldn't come to Paris without standing in the middle of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and staring down the traffic... Views[30] ... which is even better when you turn your back. Views[32] Mmmm, our last day and a trip to La Fayette was in order. Delicious pistacio criossant thingy was heavenly. Views[27] The coffee bar at La Fayette. Make it last! Views[30] Ok, so we wanted to take a bottle of wine home with us to Prague (Cz Rep not being know for the best reds in the world!). But we had trouble picking between these bottles.. (look at the price tags!) Views[27]
 
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