Tag Archive for France

The Louvre Lays Down the Law

November 6, 2008 Widowism One comment

When we were in Paris I made sure that I got to do much museum hopping.  The first plan of attack for the museums was for the Chef & I to hit up the Musee D’Orsay.  We hopped on our (rented) bikes and rode across the Seine to what we thought was the D’Orsay.  We waited in line and smoked many Galouisies.  It felt like three hours but eventually we were let in.  The excitement was building for me and then BAM!  I opened my eyes.  We were not in the Musee D’Orsay.  We were 2 the Grand Palais Museum at the Picasso & the Masters Exhibition.

I was hella excited however a bit concerned that we were not going to be able to fit the Musee D’Orsay.  The Chef assured me that no matter what I would get a day at the D’Orsay and we happily entered the exhibit.  I was shocked to be surrounded by all things Picasso.  Paintings, prints, sketches, drawings, words & letters.  You name it, I saw it.  After seeing some of his works I decided that I absolutely must take a picture of at least one painting.  The Chef shunned my idea and distanced himself from me as there were huge NO PICTURE signs every three inches.  I pulled out my iPhone and began to snap.  Hell I figured the French would just think I was texting.  Lord knows the iPhone hasn’t made it all the way to France.  Apparently I had drunk brain when I decided this was a smart move.

I managed to take some sweet shots of some art that I had never known existed:

I also managed to get threatened with French jail.  

Picasso interprets my Chef

A security guard came up to me as I was taking this shot (of the Chef) and let me know that my picture taking was not appreciated and she was going to arrest me if she saw me taking any more.  I tried to explain to her that I was just texting and I slowly touched the screen to go to keyboard.  Of course my dumb ass pressed camera and all my pictures showed.  I immediately shoved the phone in my pocket and began to walk away.  I heard her on her walkie talkie saying something about a blue Americana.  Of course I chose to wear a VIBRANT teal shirt that day and amongst the sea of black I stood out like the criminal I am.

Eventually I caught up with the Chef and we decided that it was probably best if we hurried thru the rest of the exhibit before my ass landed in the pokey.

 

 

Read more

Jim Morrison is Totally Alive & Living in Haiti

October 27, 2008 Widowism No comments

While in Paris I tried my best to shop.  As we were travelling with a group (whose main interests were wine & food) it became evident that I would have to make a break for it.  The boys planned a day of eating and drinking, that they titled ‘Research,’  so Madame Baker and I headed off to get lost in Gay Paree.  First stop was that cemetery to see our boy Jim Morrison.  Of course when we got there it started storming and black crows began to follow us.  We couldn’t find a map to the biggest (not to mention coolest) cemetery I have ever been in and walked up and down the streets for what seemed like forever.  We finally went back down to the beginning to take pictures on my iPhone of the map and headed back up, soaking wet but with spirits high.

Père Lachaise Cemetery Map from my iPhone

We finally found the man’s grave and guess what?  It was surrounded by stoner’s (surprised?) and it was hella boring.  And there was no graffiti and no bust of the lizard king.  Lamester.  Morrison’s probably laughing his fat ass off.

We left the cemetery, although it didn’t feel like that since we had to walk 10 city blocks to get out the the thing.  But we got out.  And we hopped on a bus that said Bastille and glued our eyes to the bus windows as we drove through the inner workings of Paris.  

We arrived at The Bastille about ten minutes later and had no idea what to expect.  We were absolutely starving so we headed to the nearest cafe and sat down.  After some french onion soup. a ham & cheese croquet, and a bottle of red we ventured across the street into this historical building looking courtyard.  It turned out to be a gateway  to fantastic boutique shopping.  Yipee!

The first store we went into was a designer jewelry store.  All of the jewelry was AMAZING and made by artists throughout Paris.  Of course I manage to find the most expensive ring in the entire store.  My heart just about broke as I picked up the 5 carat topaz and silver ring and read the 600 euro price tag.  Girls got a budget you know.  Thank god the Chef & I don’t use credit cards or I would have definitely bought it.

We kept on keeping on and eventually I found myself in another jewelry store.  This store was different though.  It was called Metal Pointus and it was all handmade & welded silver jewelry.  Madame Baker  & I spent some time in there and I eventually made my first Parisian purchase:

Imagine my surprise when yesterday I was perusing Cool Mom Picks and saw Metal Pointus featured. Fabulous!

The ring itself is pretty fucking awesome.  And it was very reasonably priced.  Waaaaaay under 600 euro.  So I was happy with myself.  And so was the Chef.  My shopping was complete….for that day.

For more info:

METAL POINTU’S

metalpointus@hotmail.fr

Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!

October 24, 2008 Widowism 5 comments

Being married to a Chef provides me with some really cool perks within the industry.  Travelling with a chef who happens to be great friends with a wine purveyor really opens the schwag (as in celebrity not the sticky icky) doors… While in France, I had the honor along with the Chef to spend the day at Henriot Champagne House.  A house that is normally not open to the public.  

The five of us, including my favorite wine purveyor Mr. William Barefoot of 55 Degrees, hopped on the TGV and headed north to Reims aka Champagne country.  We got in a cab, told the driver the address, and then drove around the city for an hour in search of Henriot.  Eventually our driver found the gated house marked only by a small gold sign.  We somehow arrived early even though we got lost in the cab and waited outside the gate for our host, Beatrice.  None of us knew what to expect.  All we knew is that we were surrounded by beauty and champagne.

Beatrice pulled in and led us behind the ten foot gate.  We walked into the courtyard to see two houses.  She led us in to one of the houses and we were immediatley taken back by this:

 

Entrance to the Henriot Crayères (a system of tunnels and caves that all of the champagne houses share)

Walking in and seeing a staircase that led down 500′ below Earth was pretty breathtaking.  When we heard that we would eventually be taking a tour of the Crayères (something NO tourists/tours/non employees are allowed to do) we almost dropped dead.  We were shocked.  Of course we managed to calm ourselves down after a few glasses of the Henriot.  The tasting itself turned out to be a very informative session.  Being the history nerd that I have turned out to be (thanks Dad) I was hella intrigued to hear the stories of how the champagne houses and Crayères were created ( a mix of the Roman empire, Viking Slaves, and Chalk).

Moussier Wine & I enjoy some Henriot Champagne

After we tasted some really awesome champagne we headed down to the Crayères.  The system of tunnels and caves are shared by all the Champagne houses so it was hard to know whose bottles were whose. Nonetheless it was badass.  Imagine being at least 500′ under ground, the walls made of chalk, and crates and crates of champagne bottles stacked to the top of the caves.  I was overwhelmed with the beauty of it all.


 

Surrounded by Champagne in the chalk Crayères

Once we had finished our tour of the Crayères, Beatrice informed us that she would be taking us to one of Henriot’s vineyards to taste a bottle of ’88.  Woe is me….

We squeezed into her Puegot (a car after my own heart) and drove through the mountains of Reims, the plains, and finally into the vineyards.  The sight was something my eyes have never seen before.  Looking out of all the car windows I felt as though I was watching a movie or flipping through a postcard book.  The magnificence of the countryside was shocking.  My eyes went crazy tyring to soak it all in.

Read more