It’s All Maya!

Looking at the Seine on the Pont Alexandre III.

There are times when even after 40 years of living in Paris off and on (mostly on) I still love the beauty of Paris and what it has to offer as though I were seeing the city for the very first time.  Last night was one of those evenings.  It was the 8th annual event of La Nuit Européene Des Musées where many of the museums in France and other European countries were kept open late at night until early morning and best of all they were free.  We were among the more than two million people who took part!

The Petit Palais all lit up.

Patrick and I were like two kids in a candy store where your mom says, “Okay you can get one or two things, but no more!”  And you’re like, “I know, I know, I want a Reese’s Peanut Buttercup and a Mallo Cup!  No, no, I want an Almond Joy and a Snicker’s Bar instead!  Wa - wait, I know, I want….”  Well, you get the picture!  Patrick and I were doing exactly the same thing.  “Let’s go to the Rodin Museum and then to the Maison de Victor Hugo.  No, I know, let’s do the Musée du Quai Branly and then the Musée d’Art Moderne.  No wait, what about the Petit Palais….”

Talking with other Parisians as we waited in line, it was a great atmosphere.

What we ended up doing was going to the Musée d’Orsay which was wonderful. Such a beautiful museum and to think at one time they were planning on destroying this old train station and building a hotel instead!

People looking behind the huge clock.

We spent the entire evening there filling our eyes with paintings by Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Manet, Gauguin and the list goes on and on.

Petite danseuse de quatorze ans - Edgar Degas

Répétition d’un ballet sur la scène - Edgar Degas

Bal au Moulin de la Galette - Auguste Renoir

La nuit étoilée - Vincent Van Gogh

Les Raboteurs de Parquet - Gustave Caillebotte

We discovered a wonderful artist, Gustave Caillebotte.  Sorry for those of you who are great fans of his, but what can I say, we were not aware of this amazing artist!  His work is so life like and although he is listed among the impressionist painters, I would categorize him as a realist painter.

Doesn’t my photo almost look like an impressionist painting?!!!

Afterwards we decided to walk over to the Grand Palais. It was a little before midnight and as we made our way to the most beautiful bridge in Paris, the Pont Alexandre III, the Eiffel Tower started sparkling as it does on the hour, every hour that it’s lit. The weather was warm for the first time this month and people were strolling along the quai as we made our way to stand in line at the Grand Palais.

Nearing the Pont Alexandre III.

The Eiffel Tower sparkling at midnight.

Cherubs and Art Nouveau lamp on the Pont Alexandre III.

Getting in line at the Grand Palais.

Maya Muses:  It was one of those nights that you thank your lucky stars that you live not only in the most beautiful city in the world, but one of the most cultural cities in the world.  Here’s to Paris!!!

Cin-cin or Cheers!!!

Photo Credits:  Personal Photos and the last photo from Google Images