I posted the photos of the Musée dOrsay in Paris and wrote a travel experience story with it which subsequently got lost. Heres a remake of the thoughts. Maybe this will make those photos more interesting. The Musée dOrsay was built between 1898 and 1900 - an amazingly short time for such a monumental and beautiful building. It was one of several great train stations that was designed to be a stop-over place for the travelling elite, with a 5 star hotel for the aristocracy and haute-bourgeoisie of the Belle Epoque. It included a 5 star restaurant and a ballroom, both of which are illustrated by my photos, both of which have been restored to their magnificent beauty. Susan Falk and I spent 6 hours in the museum and only left because the doors were closing. Mid afternoon, we took an hour break for lunch in that wonderful restaurant, modernized in its table settings, but otherwise so elegantly furnished in an Art Deco manner. It has tall mirrors at either end of the huge space that are perhaps 30 feet high. (How did they get them in there in one piece?!!) They are magnificently framed in a flourishing Art Nouveau style, mostly white with gold decoration. Above the doors are cameo paintings and the ceiling is painted as well just like they did in that era with lovely images of bodies floating in the sky, their clothing swirling around in the clouds. The waiters let you stare at everything before they come to ask you what you want. They must know that we need time, not only to choose a meal but to absorb the surroundings as well. As it turned out, the group of ladies at the table next to us were being served some beautifully arranged lunches and we ended up just discreetly asking what they were eating, and we ordered that too. Not that we couldnt read the menu. It was, if I remember correctly, both in English and French. We stayed long enough after our meal to do a drawing of the exquisite space. Coute quil coute? (Money, no object!) It was one of the highlights of our trip. As Susan says, Ill just have to sell another painting!
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 19:44:49 +0000
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