Paris in springtime – beautiful, but a bit chilly! Europe is having a very cool spring this year. It just hasn’t felt like spring for more than a day here and there.

The tulips and daffodils were done in Paris, but the purple irises were gorgeous. They came in many shades and styles and were the show flower last week for sure.

 

The highlight of the 5 days we got to spend in Paris was a cooking class. Bob and I had found this very tiny restaurant back in October. The owner, chef, waitress, etc. is a Canadian born woman who has lived in France for over twenty years. She went to Paris to further a career in design and wound up as an interpreter at a cooking school. Strange how life’s paths take a turn! There were 4 FedEx women who took the class with me and we made some delicious dishes that we sat and enjoyed mid day with Catherine the chef.  My sister asked me how it differed from the class we took together in Tuscany. It was quite different – in Italy we were all much more relaxed and laid back, joking around a bit and conversing a bunch. Here, it was a bit more serious. When we started taking photos and chatting the chef would remind us things were cooking and jobs needed doing. Much more serious, but equally fun.  We boned a chicken and cleaned and prepared artichokes, which were both new to me. Bob and another husband came back and joined in our lunch, which was delicious, and a wonderful way to spend half a day.

 

Profiteroles - Yum!

The cooks at "Reed"

 

One of the beautiful statues atop the outside of Opera Garnier

We had the chance to take a tour of the Opera Garnier, the old opera house in Paris. I had seen it many times from the outside, but it was so worth it to go inside. The tour guide we had really had such great knowledge of the entire place and he told so many interesting details we never would have known just walking about. The views from the outside balcony were worthwhile and as we sat in the theater workers were on stage working on sets. They rolled out a huge 30-foot statue on a flatbed as we were watching. Really cool. The ceiling around the huge chandelier had been redesigned and restored by Marc Chagall. It was unique to see something so modern set inside such an old building. The ornate decoration inside is difficult to take in all at once and it is everywhere, especially outside the performance area. The guide explained that in its day the common areas were like a stage themselves where you went to be seen on a public stage of sorts.  Seeing the opera here is very expensive because they have so many subscription holders. I think it is easier to see a ballet (and less expensive too).

Chagall ceiling decoration