Alone in Paris

Finally! I was able to see the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit without waiting for two hours! As soon as I woke up this morning, I rushed to pick up my ticket and go to the Petit Palais for this great retrospective. I spent more than two hours looking at about 300 haute couture models than chronicled forty years of his creations. As "one of the greatest artists of the century", the exhibit did not disappoint. Oh, it was amazing! He was so talented. Just beautiful.

entering the exhibit.

hundreds of outfits later.. the courtyard of the Petit Palais.

After absorbing as much as possible from the divine knowledge of YSL, I headed down the Champs Elysées. Although I was very much in fashion-style mode, I did not buy anything.. good news for my credit card. Instead I had a café au lait and more macaroons (big surprise!).

Next I headed to the Pompidou for a modern art fix, and I definitely got one. One special exhibition is by Lucian Freud (Sigmund Freud's grandson), while the other is titled "Dreamlands" and includes works relating to amusement parks and World's Fairs. Both exhibits were interesting, as were all of the more permanent collections. I am always excited to visit modern art museums, but for some reason I leave in a melancholy mood. I am much more affected by modern art than the more traditional pieces found in older museums. Strange.

The top floor of the Pompidou offers great city views:

to the south. Notre Dame is in the 2nd quarter from the left. see its spire?

to the southwest. that's the Eiffel Tower in the middle.

to the northwest. you can see Sacre Cœur very far right.

Mom left Mississippi today to fly across the ocean and meet me! I am so excited that she will be joining me and experiencing some of la vie douce française. I have tried to plan an overview of the city's sites so that I will not wear her out in the week that she is here. Tomorrow should be an adventure, traveling to Charles de Gaulle airport, but once we return to the apartment we will have a great week!