Okay family and friends..... Big announcment...we have decided to stay here in Paris forever!!!! Not really, but this is sure one amazing city. We just decided to stay "local" today and not hit any of the tourist sights so those will come up later in the week.
Let me back up a bit and start where we left off yesterday. Let's see where were we? Oh yes... on the train. What a fabulous way to travel. Once I got the idea out of my mind that we were actually traveling through a tunnel UNDER the English Channel, the rest was just pure relaxation. The meal was a dainty little offering of Smoked Salmon, Pasta with Herbs de Provance, Fresh Crusty Rolls and Carmel Custard. 
Sometimes I wish I liked wine because it always looks so good when other people are drinking it but I just cannot enjoy it at all. I am sure it has nothing to do with a little "incident" at a Halloween party many years ago.... But, I degress. Arrived at the Hotel at about 11:00 pm local time (lost yet another hour due to time zones) so it was pretty much straight to bed..
The hotel we are staying at is the Henri 4 and is a real throwback to years gone by. I would call it "quaint" but truly in the best spirit of the word.
It is classically European with small yet richly ornate rooms, floor to ceiling drapery and large double windows that open onto wrought iron ledges with window boxes. Okay, so it may be only about 30 degrees here (not exactly "open=window" weather, but you get the picture.
We had breakfast here this morning which was just perfect. A basket of fresh rolls, croissants (I told you..one a day, everyday) and crusty baggettes. hot coffee, butter, marmelaide, nutella, jams and fruit compote. The fruit compote, as it turns out, is basically apple sauce, but fruit compote sounds sexier. After breakfast, Jim went out alone for a few minutes and returned with a big bouquet of red roses for me. 
That man is a "keeper" for sure. He can be romantic and amazing in ANY language! The area we are in is not right in the tourist circle, although only minutes away via the subway. After a brief morning nap (jet lag, you know) we strolled along the streets window shopping and and enjoying the old-world archtecture. 
Much to my excitement, there was an open=air farmers market going on this morning! 
Rows and rows of beatuiful fruits and veggies, artisan cheeses, silk and cashmere scarfs, nuts, shoes, clothing, flowers and Christmas trees. We stopped in for a hot cup of cappacino to warm ourselves 
This is one of the rare pictures of myself I actually like. I resemble my hero Ina Garten (aka Barefoot Contessa) Hahahaha.
We picked up some fresh baby tomatoes, Fresh Buffalo Mozzerella Cheese and a warm baggette along with some really cool varieties of mustards (blackberry, balsamic vinegar and honey, tarragon and green pepper) and headed back to the hotel for an indoor picnic 
. A bottle of Sparkling French Limonade rounded out the meal nicely. Another little nap and it was back out on the street. We were in search of a bakery so tomorrow Jim can go get me some hot..... yup, you guessed it....Croissants for breakfast. He is awesome. We enjoyed looking at all the store windows and unique items that the time just flew by without us even buying anything. It gets dark here it seems, much earlier than at home and with the weather on the chilly side, we called it a night and headed back to the hotel. Oh, except for the incredible Neapolitan Pizza shop we just HAD to check out 
So thats it for today. Tomorrow we plan on seeing some of the more well-known attractions. until then. Avoir.
Bit of a late start today but still managed to pack it full! Started with a cozy breakfast that Jim went and bought at the local bakery (which is CONVENIENTLY just around the corner). Can you guess what it might have been? Yes! you nailed it. Croissants! 
And in case you are wondering... no, we are not tired of them yet :)
We decided to stay above ground today and took taxis everywhere. First place we visited was the Museum D' Orsay. 
This museum concentrates on the Impressionist and Post Impressionist artist. We viewed many, many classic works by Van Gogh, Cecanne, Pissaro, Gauguin, Monet and Manet. Also discovered a few artists that I didn't recognize so easily such as Sisley and Henri Edmond Cross. Obviously, photographs were not allowed in the galleries, but we managed to snap a few of the courtyard area. 
Across the street, well more acccurately, across the Seine River is the Louvre. 
We decided that spending 4 - 5 hours standing in line to view the Mona Lisa was not the way to spend the rest of the day so we by=passed that.
Next we headed out to the must-do stop, The Eiffle Tower. 
Jim is so much more adventuresome than I am, but today I gathered my courage and ascended all the way to the TOP with him! What an amazing experience. We took the lift up and when it stopped on the first observation deck we marveled at how high above the City we were 
We soon were directed into another lift that seemed to continue going up forever. And THESE are the views that awaited us from the TOP 
After a glass-topped taxi ride through downtown Paris, we haeaded back to hotel. Ran out for a quick supper at a local cafe (incidentily, bar food in US, pretzels and peanuts... in Paris, Sea Salt Carmels and Croissants!... just saying. Then back to relax and plan tomorrows adventures. Rest up folks... it is going to be a busy day.
This morning started with Joyce heading down to the open air market to pick up delicacies for us to dine on in our room this evening. Even with getting the smallest portions possible we were set for quite the feast.
We then headed out to Auvers sur Osie, a quest to see what Van Gogh saw during the prolific last 70 days of his life. Jim grew up with a copy of "Houses at Auvers" hanging in his house, which we now have in ours, so he especially wanted to see if that scene was still anything like what it was when it was painted. We took a taxi to the train station and then caught the commuter train to the first stop on our journey. After realizing that we were on the wrong line and getting the information on the correct ones (note: A helpful station attendant that does not speak English is much more helpful than a snooty Parisian one that does) we were back on our way.
We arrived at the Auvers station without further incident. You can see the top of the church that was the subject of "The Church in Auvers" from the station. 
Even the railroad underpass 
is artistic in Auvers.
We left the station and headed for Auberge Ravoux, 
the place that Van Gogh lived, for 3.5 francs a day, his last 70 days. It has been preserved as it was when Van Gogh lived there and is still open for business, but unfortunately not in December as it is closed for the season. This is a theme that was to repeat throughout the day. It seems that most of the town closes up for the winter.
Near the Auberge Ravoux we found a placard with a listing of many of the painting from Auvers 
along with a map of where they were painted. 
Armed with this guidance Jim headed out in search of the point of origination of "Houses in Auvers". As it was a couple of miles each way Joyce decided to wait at a local cafe. The streets along the way looked (give or take a few telephone poles) like it may have back in 1890. 
Eventually Jim came to the street from which the scene was painted,
but it did not look much like the painting
, mostly because the straw thatched houses had been replaced. Disappointing if not suprising.
After meeting back up we came across the location of another painting "la Mairie d'Auvers" 
. Jim then walked to the other side of town for a not to be missed shot of Church of Auvers 
It appeared to be exactly like it was when it was painted, without the vibrant colors only available when seen through Van Gogh's eyes.
We headed back to the station, but we just hit the dead spot between 3:00pm and 5:00pm when no trains stop at this small station. Standing on the cold platform (everything around including the station was closed) brought memories from long ago of wondering if that train/bus was going to arrive before you turned into an icicle. Eventually the train arrived and we made our way back home.
It was good to enjoy the bounty
that we got from the market this morning. We continue to nibble on this buffet while we make our preparations for our trip to Barcelona and points South.