Monday, November 14, 2016

Paris Finale


My last post on the Paris trip.

TOC


Cluny Museum and the Unicorn Tapestries

If you love medieval art, you'll want to check out the Cluny Museum.

Door to the Cluny Museum

It is, perhaps, most famous for its six unicorn tapestries. One tapestry represents each of the 5 senses and the last tapestry is something of an enigma. It represents "My desire", but it's not clear exactly what that means.

Whatever it means, these are very lovely tapestries!

Sight

Hearing

Touch

Doggie detail

Mon Desire
I love that I caught Diane E taking a pic!

If you have a chance to see these in person, you should.

The museum has other interesting things to see, including a Roman bath, stained glass, and sculptures.

In the legend of St Denis, he's said to have walked some distance carrying his severed head.

A park next to the museum


Printemps Haussmann

After the Tilton tour was over, a member of our group mentioned that Printemps Haussmann, a large department store in Paris, had unveiled their Christmas windows.

I decided to check them out!

They had two types of window displays: some contained animated vignettes, including two windows that featured Jimmy Choo shoes. I made a video of the shoe "planes" flying around the tree, but I can't seem to find it. They also had some interactive windows that take a photo of your face and superimpose it on a poster.

My face on the little boy

And on the little girl with pigtails

A few shots from the animated windows.

Printemps Haussmann consists of two stores. There is a cafeteria on the 9th floor of the main building and the terrace features amazing views.

At the top of the smaller store, on the 6th floor, is the restaurant they refer to as the "cupola". Margy and I planned to meet there.

I walked in and... OMG.

The stained glass ceiling reflected in the mirrored table

Lunch

A few more random shots in Printemps Haussmann.

The Printemps bathroom is worth checking out. Decorated with rolls of TP, it costs 1.50 euro to use the facilities, but it's worth the experience


Stravinsky Fountain

Once I learned about the Stravinsky Fountain, I had to see it! This fountain contains a number of colorful creatures, each one representing one of Stravinsky's musical pieces.

In solidarity with my endowed mermaid sister


Google Paris

I couldn't resist. I had to check out the Google Paris office! I stopped by for lunch and a quick visit.

A Lego Eiffel Tower

I tried this dessert after lunch and it was strange! I didn't finish it.

Near the Google office


Window Licking (and Street Wear), part 5

Just look at her coat!

In a yarn store

An interesting fleece wrap!

Grommets are king!

Beautiful plaid duffle

I like the bold pockets

I just loved the back of this woman's coat in Printemps Haussmann. I didn't even see the front!

A faux fur poncho!

I loved this stylish couple in the Marais


More Pics, part 5

I was walking by myself when I saw this guy in a park

The covered passages in Paris are very cool, though this one is completely vacant

I'd been told the try the colorful macarons in France. I tried this version, filled with Italian ice cream. Then local friends informed me that the San Francisco bay area has these same Amorino stores. Oh well!

Paris street cleaning machines are so darned cute!

A display in Bon Marché

Enjoying my new glass buttons featuring Paris scenes

I first saw Tzuri Gueta's jewelry in the Met Museum gift shop last July. I googled his name and saw that he has a shop in Paris, so I had to check it out! It's located on the Viaduct des Arts—a street near the Bastille full of art studios

He works with silk and silicon. His pieces are very lightweight.
He makes organic, fantastical sculptures as well as jewelry

So much fun!

A patron saint of motorcycles? ;)

A children's clothing store

Towards the end of our trip the holiday decorations were going up.

Les Halles underground mall adorned with a string of giant reindeer


Final Thoughts

I returned home this afternoon. After being away for almost a month, I need to get reacquainted with my sewing room! At some point I'd like to write a post on my travel wardrobe and lessons learned, but it may take awhile.

I had never been to Paris before and I can't imagine a better introduction than seeing it with the Tiltons. It was a wonderful tour with the right amount of museums, shopping, and free time. They shared their favorite sources, restaurants, and shops. We became pros at using the Metro—both the subway and surface buses. Paris is a very walkable city, with beauty around most every corner, and we logged 5-6 miles per day. I fell in love with several neighborhoods and I definitely plan to return, sooner rather than later!

Thanks so much, Marcy and Katherine, for a wonderful, bucket-list, unforgettable trip!

Complimentary water on Air France. Really? Christian Lacroix?

Tomorrow, I return to work. My shoes aren't even unpacked yet and I'm trying really hard not to go to sleep now, at 6:30pm. Playtime is over!

48 comments:

  1. at least 3/4 of your photos currently show up as broken links... just wanted to let you know... as I usually so enjoy the images you share

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It should be fixed now. Thanks!

      Delete
    2. ah... lovely photos, thank you! Welcome home, and it has been a real treat wandering a bit through Paris in a virtual way via your images

      Delete
  2. For me too. I'm just now catching up on your posts and there were only a handful of pics. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll get it figured out as you usually do! Meanwhile, enjoy your trip(and most of these are on your instagram, so I feel pretty informed)

      Delete
    2. Yes, it should be fixed now. Thx!

      Delete
    3. Yes, fixed. Thank you for taking us to Europe with you. It was a wonderful experience.

      Delete
    4. I knew it would be worth to come back and check, and you have outdone yourself with this post! The shame walk St Denis ALONE! Oh, this was a hard week and this is such a present! Thanks thanks thanks

      Delete
  3. Same here -- and I was so excited to see another report. Pictures, please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It should be fixed, Paula. Thx!

      Delete
    2. Yep, it's fixed. Thanks so much for the travel report. BTW, you might want to check out the Manual for the Invisible knitting patterns on Ravelry. I think you will like them.

      Delete

  4. Sleep well! I look forward to seeing the pictures! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rose! Bummer, it's 10:30pm and I've woken up already! Anyway, the pics should be fixed now!

      Delete
    2. Thank you for sharing the different pictures and flavors of Paris. I enjoy seeing what captures your eye.

      Delete
  5. Loved all your posts, Shams. Now that I've met you, I enjoy them even more and look forward to your latest creations. Thank you, too, for letting me see Paris through the eyes of a newbie. I now realize how many different Paris's there are: shopper's Paris, historical Paris, artist's Paris, foodie's Paris, and so on. Welcome back to the good ol' US of A. I'm always so happy when the customs guy at Dulles says "Welcome home."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jeanne! That's exactly how it felt to me! There are so many aspects of Paris to enjoy. One can decide what floats her boat and focus on that! I felt the same way at San Francisco customs. :)

      Delete
  6. These are wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, how incredible! I was transported by your pictures and words. Thank you so much for sharing! The Tilton Tour is now on MY bucket list :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have so enjoyed your blog and really looked forward the your travel postings. I rewrote my bucket list to include France and Germany. Thank you for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank-you for sharing your amazing trip. I wish you a gentle re-acclimatization.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Irene! At least this is the "easier" direction!

      Delete
  10. Everything is so inspirational and fascinating - I especially love the street pics. I've wondered if you speak French and, if not, did you find that challenging? In other words, I'd love to go but maybe a visit back to Manhattan is more manageable (if I am tour-less.) Thanks so much, Shams!! I've loved every minute of your trip!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Robyn! That's a great question! I took 4 years of French in high school many years ago. So, no, I do not speak French. But I was amazed at how much came back to me! Words, phrases, sentence structure. Enough to shop, get from point A to point B, etc. And, of course, many people there speak some English. I gather that if you leave the city, that can be tougher. It felt good to use some of my bits of French!

      Delete
  11. Hi, Sharon, just loved your Paris tour. I love your photos, esp that they are close-ups! You have such an artistic eye when taking your photos. I enjoyed seeing your me-mades on tour, you looked fab, quite as much as what is in the photos!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Do you, by any chance, remember the name of the shop with the woven coat\wrap....above the yarn store picture?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi corkpop. No, I'm sorry, I really don't! It was maybe in the Marais, which is not much help. Paris shops tend to change their windows quite often!

      Delete
    2. Thanks anyway. This is the second picture I've seen of this coat, oddly enough! I just can't get it out of my mind.

      Delete
  13. Is it wrong to muse what a lovely long jacket one of those unicorn tapestries would make? ;) Thank you for sharing Paris as seen through your eyes. Your photos are truly amazing. Cindy (Creative Hormone Rush)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOLOL, Cindy! Anathema, but I get it! And thanks!

      Delete
  14. Shams, you look like a fashionable local in Paris. Thanks so much for sharing all these photos. So much beauty! And I especially loved the photo with you and the endowed mermaid with that huge wonderful face looking over the scene. Such a wonderful (first) visit you had!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was an amazing first visit, but it won't be the last. :) Thanks, Elle!

      Delete
  15. What wonderful glimpses into your fabulous Paris tour. I feel transported!
    By the way, your wonderful new Tzuri Gueta neckpiece looks like a fitting tribute to Leon Russell. Very cool.
    Ellen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ellen! I didn't actually buy that necklace. I bought a bracelet and earrings that will show up on my blog eventually. :)

      Delete
  16. Welcome back! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. I think I'd be like a kid at Christmas just seeing all the sights, window displays, etc. Loved the different clothing photos. Such a beautiful city.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mrs K, I *was* like a kid in a candy shop! I am eagerly thinking about another trip. And thanks!

      Delete
  17. Thank you SO much for sharing your sewing and travel adventures. I have the same two passions and am delighting vicariously in all of your blogs. Your willingness to share is a wonderful gift!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for taking the time to share your pictures with us. I enjoyed seeing what you were up to in Munich and Paris. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Welcome home.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Loved seeing and hearing about your travels. Felt like I was there at times. You seemed very comfortable getting around and you saw SO much. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I loved your pictures of Paris and so reminded me of my trip with the Tilton sisters in 2009. What a trip to remember. As you were posting about the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries I was thinking about a book that I just read by Tracy Chevalier called The Lady and the Unicorn. It is mainly fiction but explained it the story of the tapestries and why they were each named such. It did an amazing job of talking about how they were woven. I think in the near future if I get back to that magical city I am going to read the book again so I can see the tapestries in a whole new light.
    Thank you for the memories.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I was lucky enough to spend an entire April in Paris in 2014. Your wonderful pictures and commentary brought back some terrific memories, as well as tickling my interest in a revisit for things I obviously missed. Thank you so much! Did you catch Nicholas Flamel's gravestone on display at The Cluny?

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an incredible trip!!! Now that you're back home, let the inspiration sink in. I think there was enough to keep your mind rolling for years to come :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Shams thank you so much for letting me experience your journey. Fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  24. YAY...photos are fixed! Because not seeing your mermaid sista would have been tragic....she is AWESOME!!!

    I WANT to go to Paris so keenly now!!! Ditto what Kathy says. It was a fantastic armchair trip!

    ReplyDelete