29 March 2014
Today, Grace and I had our first Metro experience. We walked from our hotel to the Saint Paul metro station where we bought tickets. We agreed that if we got separated we would meet at the very next stop. That was a very good thing because the trains were very crowded and although I made it on, Grace did not. I turned to see her face outside the train window. We both mouthed, "Next stop." We easily met up at the next stop and boarded the train together. We switched trains at Concord and then got off at Pigalle. This is the metro station. The doors open when the train is ready for boarding, but you'd better be quick as you only have about 10 seconds to board.
This is Tissue Reine on rue Saint Pierre. I was looking for Liberty of London fabrics and found 2 tables of bolts. Still quick expensive, but not as much as in the U.S. If you look closely, you can see the very petite doll like figures to show how the fabrics will look make up into garments. We had to secretly take a photo because they do not allow photos taken in the store.
Just up the street from Tissue Reine is Sacre Coeur. It is on a hill overlooking Paris. Today was Saturday so the park in front of the church was mobbed with people. There were musicians performing, guys with cases of beer walking around selling bottles of beer, and vendors with their wares laid out on blankets.
There was also an Asian bride getting her photo taken with her new husband. We could not help but notice that she isn't touching him and he barely touches her.
On the way up the hill, we passed girls playing with their bunny. He was dyed blue and violet. Perhaps he is the Easter bunny.
And we saw our first Paris cats. Lucky for the gray one, some ladies were putting food out for him. The black and white one had a perfect spot in the sun overlooking the park area next to Sacre Coeur.
People in Paris use creative ways to earn some money. This couple spread out their rug with a hat on the corner and danced a tango. We have been serenaded in the metro by women singing, two men playing clarinet and sax, and twin blonde women playing guitars. The first two merely boarded the train with their pig amp and Walkman on a wheeled cart and began their act. One of the men continued to play clarinet while the other walked around with a paper cup collecting coins.
Our final stop of the day was the Moulin Rouge. Grace pointed out that there is no pink elephant.
