Chapter 1: The Beautiful and Free
(Author's note: "Ki-Tan" is short for Kia and Tanya, my wonderful best friends who prohibited me from blogging - er, I mean, who made my days even more fun this past month. This is Chapter 1 of a five-chapter saga. Welcome.)
I'm not a museum fanatic. To be sure, I visited Paris 4 times last spring, and have now lived 30 minutes outside of it for 8 months, and I haven't even gone inside the Louvre yet. I think I'm saving it for a special occasion, like when some visitor of ours will offer to buy my entry ticket. I can wait.
But in the past week I've been digesting Rick Steves' Paris 2008 (thank you, Kia Gibson) tour book, and I am warming to the idea of viewing the art that is all around me.
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| Look, I'm reading! |
This 16th century "hotel" (read: big house) is full of everything you could possibly want in a Paris museum: it's the one dedicated solely to the history of Paris.
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| So rich and so famous. |
The whole place is an experience in time travel, with signs from forgotten store fronts, marble staircases, jewelry displays, musical instruments, archaeological finds, and antique furniture galore.
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| A grand late 19th century Parisian party. |
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| ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME. |
We had an absolutely smashing time with both Kia and Tanya while they were here. You will continue to see this truth in The Tales of Ki-Tan blog series.
The Tales of Ki-Tan
Chapter 2: To Mob, Or Not To Mob
Chapter 3 VLOG: Le Printemps en France
Chapter 4: Holland & Coats
Chapter 5: The Color of Monet
Just to tell you Christy ... do you know that some parisian museums are free each first sunday of the month ? (Julie)
ReplyDeleteSince leaving Paris I've heard a lot about the musée Carnavalet but I didn't know of its existence while I lived there for TEN YEARS! I should try and go next time I'm there, but there's never enough time to do all I want in Paris...You're right about the resemblance between Marc and Napoleon!!! That's funny. Thanks for linking up again!!
ReplyDeleteHey Phoebe! Oh, the Carnavalet is my absolute favorite, even after 4 years of now lots of museums! Love the link-up, thank YOU! :D
DeleteI know very little about Paris, only been there ermmmm, well let's say a good few years back as a teenager. Really must take the 5 hour drive up and go with hubby some time soon, the museum Carnavalet sounds right up our street! Loving this #AllAboutFrance linky
ReplyDeleteIt is totally worth it! And in the best neighborhood of Le Marais anyway! Thanks for stopping by via the link-up!
DeleteWe've found the museum fatigue is a real thing after living in Europe for 3 years! (I enjoy museums, but really can tire of them.) But free always makes me perk up a bit! Victor Hugo's house is over by the Carnavalet and while it's on the smaller side, it is free!
ReplyDeleteThere. Are. So. Many. Museums. Right!? I've been to Hugo's home since, and it's a pleasant walk-through! I just love that whole area! Thanks for commenting!
Delete'Free' usually perks me up too, and to find out it's also worth the effort makes it a must-do. A museum would be a change too, as I now have church-fatigue (not so many differences between stained glass windows after all).
ReplyDeleteThe Carnavalet will be a nice change of pace as it feels like you're sneaking around several wealthy people's homes! :) Hope you get to go soon!
DeleteHi Christy. Having developed 'museum fatigue' many years ago I did not visit any in Paris when I was last there in Jan 14. However!! I have just been to St Petersburg and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of hours in the Hermitage Museum and now have the 'bug' again. The Carnavalet sounds delightful and I guess will not be too heaving with tourists!! Yes, it's now on my To Do list.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! I was so afraid of the museums at first because of the exhaustion factor! But yes, the Carnavalet is more like museum snack time than a full meal. :)
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