Last day in Paris

So Dad decided to not join me today and have a quiet day around Montmartre. Turns out he went to Pere Lachaise cemetery where Chopin, Wilde, Stein and Morrison are all buried. I headed down to the Musee D'Orsay a grand collection of 19th and early 20th century art including works of Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir, Rodin and Toulouse-Lautrec. Like I've said before, more of a sculpture person than a painting person, but there were some notable exceptions here. Partly, I think, because this was a time where there begins to be more texture in the paintings, literally being able to see the layers of paint  on the canvas.

The Orsay is housed in an old train station which is magnificent in and of itself. Have I mentioned that I generally visit these types of galleries for the architecture of the building more than anything? You're not supposed to take photos in the museum, but I couldn't resist a few. They are all from my phone, so quality not great, but you'll get the picture. This is the main gallery...

I really liked that you can see through the main clock and see up to Sacre Couer on Montemartre. Even with all the kidlets in the way.

As I mentioned in my Montemartre cemetery post, I feel like I grew up surrounded by Degas. This is one of my favourite paintings of his.  I also loved the sculpture work of his and how he was able to capture the amazing movement of a dancer's body. 

And of course, Van Gogh's Self Portrait, St. Remy.

From the D'Orsay, I wandered back to the Ile de Cite where I went to the Conciergerie, which had been closed on Monday. This is the former prison connected to the Palace du Justice. It was the last stop before the guillotine for Marie-Antionette and Robespierre. It is a very real connection to the horrendous things that happened during the Reign of Terror. 2780 French citizens were sentenced to death by the guillotine and the Conciergerie was the last stop before execution for each of the.  Doesn't look much like a prison from the outside, and not really from the inside either, but you do notice little things like the massive spikes aimed down on the women's courtyard that demonstrate what kind of place it would have been.

There is a chapel built by Louis XVIII, brother to Louis XVI (M-A's hubby), and the first king to reclaim the thrown after the revolution. The chapel is built on the site of M-A's cell and honours her memory.

From there I headed to the right bank and had lunch near the Pompidou, the home of modern art in Paris. I skipped actually seeing anything here, except going up to the top to see the views. 

On to some shopping. Which wasn't very successful, just overwhelming. 

Last stop planned for the day - the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The walk was busy and when I got to the Arc, they weren't letting anyone up to the top. So I sat down for a bit, took some more photos and then security guards came along and moved us all to the exits, just as sirens started arriving. Still don't know what was going on. 

Back to Montemartre and dinner with dad for our last night in Paris. And Rebecca, I finally got to wear my Paris dress.