Paris, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down* **

Second night in Paris.  I can't sleep.  At 4 AM I don't want to wake hubby, so I get dressed and go down to the lobby to read, blog.  The lobby--which consists of a computer and 1 cafe table and two chairs, is dark.  The concierge is asleep on a bench.  What can one expect for $200 a day?

So...I trudge back upstairs to the hallway in front of our room and take out my book and read for about five minutes...until the lights go out.  I take off my clothes and get back in bed to toss and turn for another two hours.

Again I dress and go down to the lobby--which is open now.  I walk down the street and pass a meat truck with sides of beef hanging in the back, ready to be delivered to neighborhood markets.  Of course, I don't have my camera with me!  A few people--very few, considering it's now Monday AM, are walking the streets as I go in search of a cup of cafe au lait.  Nothing is open.  I walk back to the hotel and the concierge directs me to the nearest Starbucks, which he says should be open.  I get there at about 6:30 to find that it opens at 7:30.  So, I go back to the hotel where the concierge tells me that the cafe up the block should be open.  It is not, but, as the door is open, I walk in and I was told to come back in 15 minutes, but was graciously offered a cup or coffee to go.  For only 2.80 euros, which is a bargain, considering, til now the least expensive I've found is 5 euros.  But, that is not a problem as I am on vacation!

So, here I sit, blogging, sorry if I'm grumpy, but I'm much happier now that I've had my coffee.

*The title of a book that I brought to Paris with me, very entertaining, written by an American business man living in Paris.  Highly recommended.  The author is Rosencrans Baldwin.

**As we check out of the hotel on Tuesday afternoon, I see a sign that says "coffee and tea 24 hours a day".

I am in Paris!

I'm trying something a bit different this time.  I'm reporting live from Paris--though you won't see it til I get home.  I don't like to publish my whereabouts and I did not bring my card reader for pictures.  But--you will get more of Paris and somewhat less jewelry, which may pleae some of you.

We stayed in a very small hotel on this lovely street filled with fruit and flower markets and watched the real Paris stroll by!

                                             

We've actually covered quite a bit of ground, already.  Our first stop was La Tour Eiffel--just a short walk from our hotel.  From there we walked and walked and walked and walked to La Musee D'orsay,with a stop for lunch.  I dined like a Parisian on cheese and a cafe avec chocolat.  After having the coffee I realized that wine might've been better, but the coffee was much needed and wine would've definitely put me to sleep, as I'd, at that point missed most of two nights sleep.   And the coffee was topped with real whipped cream and chocolate.

                  

            

                                                                                        

 In the evening we went to see L'Arc de Triomphe and climbed the 280 steps to the top for a spectacular view of Paris!  Fortunately we took an elevator down!  I wanted to see it lit up but, unfortunately, at 9:30 Paris is still daylight and we weren't going to make it awake much longer!  So...that was day one in Paris!
                                                           

Oh yes...how could I forget?  We were dining at a sidewalk cafe and a parade started, I'm assuming in our honor, because nobody could tell us what it was for!

                                                                 

Back to Shanga...for just a minute!

Travelling back to Shanga, www.shanga.org,  for just a minute to show you what I made with beads that I purchased there.  Some are Shanga beads, some are my own glass bottle beads and the regular, light strand are purchased African--I assume bottle beads.

What do you think?

And, to my facebook friends, I apologize for this coming up on facebook again!

Next stop...Paris!

Well, (again!)  I haven't done much bloggin'.  I've made some jewelry, not much.  Didn't yet even do my tribute to Seminario.  I have too much of a one track mind and already I'm Paris dreamin'.  Not too long from now--although it seems like it's been years since our last trip--we leave for Paris.  My wonderful hubby bought me three nights in Paris for my @!5$&th birthday a few months back.  After that, we join Grand Circle on a cruise from Paris to Normandy.

Besides all that Paris has to offer, some of the highlights of the trip, for me will be the cliffs of Entretat, immortalized by Courbet and Monet, the Benedictine Order Castel at Frecamp--no, I'm not religious--or into monks but this is where they make Benedictine liqueur.  If I remember correctly, the Belgian monks made one heck of a beer too.  Well, I guess they're allowed to drink...

We'll visit Giverny, where Monet lived most of his life and Vernon, where Van Gogh lived for three months from his release from the Asylum, until his suicide and where he created "Wheat Field With Crows" along with almost 80 other paintings.

We'll also spend some time on a river boat, where we'll have a lesson in French cooking and probably some great entertainment.

If I remember correctly, some of the GC  tour guides put on quite a production on board!

I'm sure I'll return with lots of ideas and be back in production soon!

Thanks Robin!

 www.evenbetterimages.com

Finally

Finally my dragon is finished.  Sorry about the photo--but I'm shipping some pics off to Robin www.evenbetterimages.com today for some major improvements.  And I've got to start studying my camera manual--which I can't find--in preparation for my class with Doug Baldwin http://www.dougbaldwinphoto.com/ in June.  But--I digress.

I've also decided that she's pretty obtrusive to wear EVERY day, so I want to make a stand/display for her, now that I've decided that she's good enough to warrant one.

So, with my one track mind I haven't even thought about my next country to visit on my blog, but I will keep you posted and let you know how my display is coming too!

So..what do you think?

                                                                        

Ready to Fire!

My dragon's almost ready for the kiln.  I need to build up the back of the eyesocket and attach a wire to attach the eyeball to after firing and I need to add  a loop and clasp to add the chain (flames).  Then she goes into the kiln.  I'm waiting to hear back from Gordon Uyehara
https://www.facebook.com/#!/metalclay4u on the best way to fire this piece.

I hope that all the scales, teeth, etc are properly attached.

Thanks Gordon for your great metal clay tutorial and all your help.  I can't wait to get your book!  I guess this means I'm not yet done with metal clay!