Some pigeons in the Paris parks are obese. A classic case of too much carbohydrate as they eat baguettes and croissants fed to them by tourists. Chestnut trees are everywhere in the parks, and some streets, and there are chestnuts everywhere lying on the ground. Tempting to pack a few, they are expensive at the Prahran market. In fact it is tempting to do my market shopping here and bring it home with me. Certainly the quality is better. I think they pick the fruit ripe so it tastes heavenly on the day you buy it, the beans are tiny and tender and the black figs and melons are perfection especially with the ham.
A couple of days ago I enquired about a beautiful bowl in a small shop. The bowl was glass with enamel and painted iris on it. When I asked comme bien? the woman smiled in a patronising way and answered in French. It was four, fourteen or forty thousand euros. I didn’t ask for clarification. Once I heard mille – game over.
This evening we went to the big Monet exhibition at the Grand Palais. The queue was not bad, about half an hour. Then when we got in we had to wait almost as long to check the umbrella. The delay was caused by blinding incompetence, both systems and personnel. The French have a serious fault, they are very patient. When we finally got our tickets they were very beautiful, each one a perfect little print of one of the paintings. And the exhibition is huge and wonderful. Paintings brought together from around the world - even a contribution from the National Gallery of Victoria.
There is a plaza new the Petit and Grand Palais which has war and political references. Charles de Gaulle and Churchill are there and I wondered where Stalin was, an ally after all. Then I thought I saw him but it was Clemenceau, it was the big handlebar moustache that tricked me. Roosevelt has an avenue rather than a statue. I suppose it would have been tricky for the sculptor to do a wheelchair.
The French are still very keen on cheques and write them in supermarket queues. It seems everyone still has a chequebook – must add a lot to banking costs. And our friends paid cash, in euros, into a local bank account and was told it would take four days to ‘clear’.
Today with my friend Penelope as a guide I checked out some vintage shops in the Marais district. I bought a divine 1930s tea dress in good condition – all I need now is a garden party – anyone? I think that has to be the end of the shopping. My suitcase is stuffed and so am I. I will be pleased to be home next week although I am planning to enjoy the next two days.
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