May 12 - Picasso, Claudia, Shopping

  

Maya Picasso by her father, Pabloe

 We started the day by walking into the Marais to the Picasso Museum. Nancy parted with the three of us there as she wanted to have some time to shop. Mark, Michael and Barbara spent about an hour and a half in the Picasso Museum. The museum is mostly the work that Picasso did when he lived near Cannes in a villa called La Californie. There was also an exhibit of his painting of his daughter, Maya, as well as some of her art work.

The building was interesting in itself. It was a house built around 1656 for a man who became rich collecting the gabelle or salt tax. It is considered to be on of the finest historic houses in the Marais.

At La Glue in Claudia's neighborhood

Claudia lives to the side of the Museum and her windows look down into the park there. She met us at the Museum. Michael took off to meet up with Nancy and we went with Claudia to a local restaurant, Le Glou. It was fantastic. We all started with a delicious fennel, arugala and orange salad in a creamy yogurt dressing. Mark had steak on a cauliflower puree and Swiss chard. Claudia and Barbara had hake also with a cauliflower puree. So so good. Mark vows to make the salad when we get home.

Then we went down the Rue de Vieille Temple and, amazingly, Michael and Nancy happened upon us sitting have a gelato on a bench. Nancy had tried on a dress she really wanted and was convinced to go back and buy it. It is a gorgeous, flowing, green dress, perfect for an upcoming birthday party in Miami. It is really a one of a kind. Then we all walked home together, first stopping to buy some sock. Nancy got some silk blends, Barbara got a pair of mostly cotton ones and Mark bought a pair, too.

Every evening, people gather for the sunset

Mark and Mike later went to get some Vietnamese food on the Right Bank and brought it home. 

We walked over 5 miles - again!