Paris 22 June 2016 : Caspar Institute

Not a cloud in the sky this morning when we awaken. It finally quieted down about 5am, and, blessedly, the construction across the street was relatively quiet this morning.

We did some research about better food, using a lovely website called Paris by Mouth that had a list of "Not Terrible Near Notre Dame." (Their "Near Louvre" list only had dinner places.) So we crossed the Seine, to the Île de la Cité, and then to the next island upstream, Île Saint Louis, and had a delicious lunch. Let it be noted that the Seine is still in flood.

. I am out of superlatives. Our regimen of delicious lunch and lovely home-made salad has been a great way to keep sane.</p>
<p>This lunch, at Mon Vieil Ami, started with bread and actual butter, the first we have seen on this trip in a restaurant. Next, I had a classic, carrot and raisin salad, but with parsley, dates, and a lovely vinaigrette that raised it to a new level. I had a beautiful ragout of spring vegetables in a perfect brown sauce with a boneless lamb hock. Rochelle had stuffed chicken thighs over a memorable kale and cabbage sauerkraut in its own chicken sauce with creamy mashed potatoes. Both sauces were the best sauces yet. To finish, a nice (but not spectacular) chocolate tarte, and, for me, a cup of espresso.</p>

I hope you're not tired of delicious lunches. I am out of superlatives. Our regimen of delicious lunch and lovely home-made salad has been a great way to keep sane.

This lunch, at Mon Vieil Ami, started with bread and actual butter, the first we have seen on this trip in a restaurant. Next, I had a classic, carrot and raisin salad, but with parsley, dates, and a lovely vinaigrette that raised it to a new level. I had a beautiful ragout of spring vegetables in a perfect brown sauce with a boneless lamb hock. Rochelle had stuffed chicken thighs over a memorable kale and cabbage sauerkraut in its own chicken sauce with creamy mashed potatoes. Both sauces were the best sauces yet. To finish, a nice (but not spectacular) chocolate tarte, and, for me, a cup of espresso.

And then, the obligatory visit to the Louvre. Why? you ask. Good question. Because it's there?

We had enough trouble finding the entrance -- they move it, and the entrance you used last time you came isn't there any more, or there's construction, or those gates are locked. The French apparently have a horror of proper signage here as well as in the countryside. Let me just say that by the time we finally fought our way in, we were not ideally predisposed to enjoy great art.

We had tickets purchased online, and that made entry fairly easy (once we found the door.) Then it took a while to figure out where the paintings we wanted to see were. Again, since the French were all here just last week, they know such things.

For those of you who want to prolong the agony, I have prepared a disrespectful gallery here.