My name is Page. I'm traveling the world. So, you won't find Page at home.

This morning, I said “a bientot” to Avignon and returned the rental car at the TGV Station. I grabbed breakfast at Starbucks in the station (the American chain in France) and later realized that I could have had breakfast at Maison Kayser (the French chain that has branches in the US). Tout le meme chose. 

I hopped on the TGV, and 3 hours later, I was in Paris. It’s a miracle! I took the bus to my hotel which is on the Left Bank between Notre Dame and the Pantheon—so it’s a really great location. My room was not ready, so I headed toward the Seine, stopping for a lunch of soupe a l’oignon — which I had been craving since before I left for France, but it’s really more a dish of Northern France than the South, so I had to wait until I got to Paris. The soup was good, but I’ve had better. (In fact, I make a pretty good French onion soup.)  

After lunch, I walked a block to the banks of the Seine, with Notre Dame directly across from me. The repairs have started, but it’s going to be a while. 

I had hoped to cross to the Ile de la Cite where Notre Dame is located, but the yellow vests were having a march, so almost the entire island was barricaded by the police. (Cue “One Day More” from “Les Miz.”) The Pont Neuf was open, so I got in yet another famous bridge. I walked to the metro at Chatellet on the right bank, and headed to the Place de la Concorde, where I got my first views (this trip) of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. 

I went to the Musee de l’Orangerie  — which I’ve never been to before. It houses Monet’s massive water lily canvasses. It also has a collection of other mostly impressionist paintings, but those galleries were closed for renovation. 

I then headed back to the hotel where I checked into my room in the garret of an old hotel. Kind of like Christian’s room in “Moulin Rouge,” only with no view and no Toulouse Lautrec getting all up in my face. The room is nice and comfortable but tiny. Tomorrow, I may sleep in because I’m super tired. I hit the travel wall today. I’m also sporting a spectacular NEW bruise on my upper right arm that I acquired from walking into a doorknob night before last. (I know what you’re thinking, but no, I had not been drinking.) I look like someone beat me with a board—except for my face, which remains unmarred and exquisite as usual. 

I have nothing on the agenda until Monday when I have tickets to the Da Vinci 500th anniversary exhibit at the Louvre. But I also know that I have no self-control, so I’ll probably run myself ragged again tomorrow and acquire even more battle scars. 

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