Trip to Paris

[look 171]

Shuan, were those photo taken with your cell phone under museum lighting? They look awfully bright and perfect. I am surprise they are so brilliant if done without flash since flash isn't allowed

[wdfifteen]

It’s great to see you so pumped about this discovery. Go back, and make time to run up to Rouen.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Jeff, these pics were taken with my old Panasonic Lumix LX-5. Leica lens, it's a fantastic low light level camera. Could never have taken these pics with a phone. Love this camera, wish it were more than 10 megapixels, that's all.

[PorscheGAL]

Curse you, Shaun!

Those pictures are great! My husband and I were there 20 years ago for our honeymoon. You have reminded me it is time to go back.

I'm glad you had a great time in a great city.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Jeff, these pics were taken with my old Panasonic Lumix LX-5. Leica lens, it's a fantastic low light level camera. Could never have taken these pics with a phone. Love this camera, wish it were more than 10 megapixels, that's all.

Thanks, I know nothing about photography. I just remembered no flash in any museums, learned about that 20 years ago in the Beijing museum. Those photos you posted just look so full, and brilliant.

[Yorkie]

Surprised the PARFers have not got on this to spurt their hatred of all things French. VFW must have a 2fer.

France is a fantastic country to explore. I’m fortunate my better half is French and I truly enjoy every moment I’m over there unless the trains are on strike or some yellow vests are on heat.
What I truly enjoy about France is their love of food and wine. It’s so ingrained in their culture. They are not snobs per sa, more like enthusiasts. They care who makes what and how it’s served. Above all, they take their time to enjoy the consumption process. You will go back.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Surprised the PARFers have not got on this to spurt their hatred of all things French. VFW must have a 2fer.

France is a fantastic country to explore. I’m fortunate my better half is French and I truly enjoy every moment I’m over there unless the trains are on strike or some yellow vests are on heat.
What I truly enjoy about France is their love of food and wine. It’s so ingrained in their culture. They are not snobs per sa, more like enthusiasts. They care who makes what and how it’s served. Above all, they take their time to enjoy the consumption process. You will go back.

You have to admit, it is sad a man flies 9 hours + to Europe and cannot put aside his politics, like it rules his life.

I was in Ireland last year, politics never crossed my mind.

Heading to Greece in a few months, can safely say politics will be the furthest thing from my mind.

Sad that someone would let it consume their lives.

Here is my embarrassed of Americans story.

Every year we spend a week in our timeshare in Atlantis. We have owned it for 15 years. We know the drill in Nassau, you are on island time, nothing and I mean nothing happens fast.

We (my wife and I) took the Condo shuttle to the local grocery store. While there we visited the deli counter for some cold cuts.

When we arrived there was a lady ( using term lightly) from New Yawk ordering and berating the girls working, she was annoyed by how slow they were working and telling them they would never survive in New Yawk.

I was honestly mortified. When it was my turn and the wench was gone I apologized and told her that was a NY thing us southerners are more laid back.

Saun your negative experiences concerning crappy Americans is indicative to mine. I have found Yankees (New Yawkers in particular) to be the rudest of them all.

I was recently in NY I was walking into a deli in Chelsea, I held open the door for a lady coming up behind me, she was flustered, she felt I should go ahead of her in line since I lost my place holding the door for her.

I insisted she went first.

What a sad commentary of the mindset of progressive New Yawkers. Refusing to hold a door for a lady in order to get 1 place better in line.



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[stuartj]

Wow. look at the weather you had. Musée d'Orsay's Van Gogh collection is mind blowing. Personally, I think Paris is the most fabulous (like, literally fabulous) city in the world. I bet you'll be back.....

Although, Ive pretty much given up on French wine.

[javadog]

I find it interesting that you were doing pretty much the same thing I have planned to do in the next year or two. I would be curious if you found any bistros worth eating in that had prices more suitable to ordinary working Parisians.

I hope to resume my painting career later this year. One of the things on my list as to create three or four paintings using the techniques of several of the old masters. One of the paintings planned is a portrait of my youngest son done in the style of van Gogh, as represented by the very self portrait that you viewed in the museum. Of all of his many self portraits, that one is perhaps my favorite, as I think it is most representative of the painting technique he used in his later years.

You appear to study a painting in much the same way I do. One question I have always had about his work is just how often he reloaded his brush. Any opinions on that?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Although, Ive pretty much given up on French wine.

Heresy!! Pray tell, why?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by stuartj

Wow. look at the weather you had. Musée d'Orsay's Van Gogh collection is mind blowing. Personally, I think Paris is the most fabulous (like, literally fabulous) city in the world. I bet you'll be back.....

Although, Ive pretty much given up on French wine.

I have traveled a lot but nowhere near as much as Richard (motion) but I may agree with you. The combination of the history, people, culture and 6-7 story architecture make Paris a very special city.

This one picture, for me, illustrates Paris best and something I saw at all hours of the day. It's a picture of people talking. The most surprising detail of Parisian life is that no one, and I mean no one, is on their phones. I walked the city for miles every day and you just never saw anyone staring into their screens. Instead, you saw engaged conversation everywhere. It was beautiful, I couldn't get enough of it. Last year the French government banned phones from schools. We have to do that too, one way or another, but obviously doubtful it will happen.

One of my big takeways from Parisian—and most likely, if not more more so, French in general—life is the focus on humanity, for lack of better term vs. the U.S. is all about making money and buying cheap Chinese junk. There was advertising but it was minimal. I never once saw anything close to a big box store, or even a big store, though I am sure they are in the suburbs. Instead, small stores, butchers (with a huge variety of meats and sausages in the window), etc. all line the streets of Paris. If I were the French government, I'd outlaw Amazon in France. In a heartbeat.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by javadog

I find it interesting that you were doing pretty much the same thing I have planned to do in the next year or two. I would be curious if you found any bistros worth eating in that had prices more suitable to ordinary working Parisians.

I hope to resume my painting career later this year. One of the things on my list as to create three or four paintings using the techniques of several of the old masters. One of the paintings planned is a portrait of my youngest son done in the style of van Gogh, as represented by the very self portrait that you viewed in the museum. Of all of his many self portraits, that one is perhaps my favorite, as I think it is most representative of the painting technique he used in his later years.

You appear to study a painting in much the same way I do. One question I have always had about his work is just how often he reloaded his brush. Any opinions on that?

JR, I ate in a wide variety of restaurants, from working class to Michelin 1 star. My next trip will mostly be Michelin 2 and 3 star. I'll put all the restaurants up in one post.

On van Gogh's brushwork, I honestly wouldn't even begin to able to answer that and I think the only way you could is by looking at his palette for each work.

As I said earlier, this trip was to eat and see van Gogh. In the end, it became a practice trip, I learned a lot to make my next trip substantially better. My best piece of advice is if you don't already know French, take a professional expat training course, or work with a tutor over a year and speak and speak and speak. Everyone I met was extremely warm and gracious that my French was limited to a few phrases, but it was so limiting, on my end. My goal is to be fluent in a restaurant or just out and about, before I go again. The French respond so well to civility and grace, they are your best tools if you don't know the language.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I never once saw anything close to a big box store, or even a big store, though I am sure they are in the suburbs. Instead, small stores, butchers (with a huge variety of meats and sausages in the window), etc. all line the streets of Paris. If I were the French government, I'd outlaw Amazon in France. In a heartbeat.

I love that picture. I spent many hours in sidewalk cafes sipping wine and people watching in Paris. I would sit from after dinner to after midnight and just watch and listen. Amazon is a great resource for rural people. I wouldn't take that away from them if they want it.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Last of the van Gogh, though obviously many more works present. I could have done 10+ sets of these essays for each painting with a proper tripod and better camera though the LX5 really does not disappoint. I would happily pay a few hundred $ to have the space to myself for an hour or two. Or say with 10 others in the two rooms.

[Rtrorkt]

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/travel/paris-on-foot.html

[Shaun @ Tru6]

A few flights up, the 5th floor is filled with Impressionism. Before I forget, one interesting detail about the day was everyone, something like 90% of visitors, were French. Obviously Americans travel all over the country and go to museums, I'm doing DC this summer, but I found it interesting that it was probably 90% French, 9% Asian (must have been a Korean bus tour) and 1% everyone else. Only heard English by a group of 5 women, one woman who was clearly a professional art historian, leading them around.

Another thing, this was a Tuesday at the end of February. Not a lot of international tourists. Museum filled up pretty well during the day. Again, if you go to France and don't want a typical American experience (you would have to hold a gun to my head to take a tasting tour), go slightly off season. Fewer tourists means better access to everything.

The 5th floor was staggering in it's beauty and depth.

[Zeke]

Your pics alone have given me an appreciation of van Gogh that I didn't have. Good work. I almost wish I could accompany you in DC this summer but I'm not going to DC in any summer.

Love the Au Pere Tranquille. I bet I coulda stayed around there for a couple days.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Toulouse-Lautrec. No zooming in on these.










And some touristy museum pics.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

2 last van Gogh. I think I went back into the rooms 4-5 times.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Toulouse-Lautrec. No zooming in on these.

That’s probably best. His drawing ability was his greatest strength, not so much the painting. I bet he was an interesting character, I would’ve loved to have sat next to him while he sketched something.

Renoir, on the other hand, is probably my favorite impressionist. I can look at any of his paintings for days, he had no peer when it came to technique. Those of you that have not seen his work up close and personal should avail yourself of any opportunity to do so. His skill was otherworldly.

Thanks for the post. Any thread about food or art gets my enthusiastic appreciation.