Funny I get up earlier than Mr sleepy head these days as I am the one writing the blog. Gary has the easy job of loading pix the night before. This is the view from my "bureau à domicile" home office in the morning while enjoying a cafe au lait and croissant while I am in my creative mode ah hmm.
Our apartment is within walking distance to a few main attractions including the coniergerie. This was part of the former palace of the Capetian dynasty. Charles V ceased using the palace in the 14th century and decided to house the law courts here. At the end of the 18th century , some 2780 prisoners were detained by the Revolutionary Tribunal here including Marie-Antoinette.
This is the hall of Men-at-Arms used as the guards dining room.
Also on the ground floor is a re-creation of Marie-Antoinette's cell spending her last days now widowed because the king had already been executed.
Let's go back outside for a brighter look at the Ile de la Cite. There's a beautiful flower market located in the middle of the island. Now I'm in heaven as the colours and the scent relaxes me while in middle of tourist crisis.
I think Gary's happy because I'm happy ;)
Of the 141 original 20th century subway entrances, this is one of only a few that survived. The curvy, plant like ironwork is an example of The Art Nouveau movement.
The clouds started to appear today and we decided its time to do the ultimate tacky tourist thing - Hop on hop off bus. I persuaded Gary this was a perfect transportation method to check out our restaurants. Hehe
Guess where we ended up? U guessed it - a restaurant . Okay by this point it was pouring outside do you blame me?
Gary actually ordered something French - French fries. Look how happy he is !
The rain stopped for a quick break and so did I - window shopping...........
In every trip we try to do something actually cultural like an Opera. Les Capulet et Les Montaigu.
MUSIC BY VINCENZO BELLINI (1801-1835)
When he adapted Romeo and Juliette, the librettist Felice Romani chose to go back in time past Shakespeare, to the Italian origins of the legend. He tightened the storyline, editing out Mercutio, the nurse, the moonlight and the nightingale... The drama becomes more sombre: the quarrel between the two families a veritable feud. The lovers’ first encounter is pushed off stage and the final reconciliation becomes impossible. In the very title that Bellini retained, the names Capulet and Montague eclipse those of Romeo and Juliette, just as the conflict poisons their love. But the opera also revives a scene that Shakespeare had omitted: when Juliette – whom Romeo believes to be dead– wakes up in the tomb, the two lovers are able to exchange words before falling into eternal slumber. And, for a moment, the music of these lives, which cross and intertwine, illuminates the world with an overwhelmingly moving light. Under the baton of Bruno Campanella, Ekaterina Siurina and Karine Deshayes lend their voices to the lovers themselves embraced by Bellini’s intensely dramatic music.
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I love that subway entrance, too cool!! Your opera sounds like it was very interesting, I like the adaptation description.
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