It's hard to believe that today is our last day in Paris. We have been very busy and everyone is having a great experience. Today we are experiencing another great French tradition--a nationwide transportation worker strike. The government wants to increase the number of years required for a full pension from 40 to 41. Obviously the workers don't want that, so a strike. It was announced last week, so everyone had time to adjust their schedules and is not too stressed by it. For us, we don't need to buy anymore metto passes!
We had an especially nice day yesterday. First we went to the Picasso Museum. It is in an area known as the Marais. There are many nice shops and private art galleries in this district. The Picasso Museum houses the work that was left in his estate when he died. Some say it represents many of his favorites, others say it is the stuff he couold not sell. Who knows? Likely un peu de toute. One of the appealling things was a temporary exhibit of photographs-mainly portrtaits of Picasso and his work. The photos were made by many famous Frenceh photographers including Brassai, Cecil Beaton, Dosineau, Cartier-Bresson and Man Ray.
After a good sandwich in a typical deli we went over to the Place de la Concorde and visited the l'Orangerie. There we viewed a spectacular art collection donated to the French state by the Guillaumes. We also visited the "Waterlilies"-a series of paintings by Monet. These are huge paintings installed in a sort or diorama fashion that was planned by Monet. It is a transcendent experience to sit in a room surrounded by all the beauty and just let it sink in.
In addition we have seen some spectacular photography exhibitions and all are busy writing reports regarding those. Tomorrow we go to Dijon. I look forward to trying the mustard.
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