24 Dec 2013

DSCN0684 A rainy windy 24 Dec DSCN0685 did not however prevent us from pursuing Francis's walking tour DSCN0686 The storm was named Dirk and killed several of our umbrellas DSCN0687 Greg's had wind vents so it survived
DSCN0688 In the Marais we passed an outpost of Swiss culture DSCN0689 saw some lovely store displays DSCN0690 Our goal was the Hotel de Lamoignon DSCN0692 Several buildings around this courtyard comprise this edifice
DSCN0693 which houses the Historical Libary of the City of Paris DSCN0694 The great-great grandfather of Nikki and Vivianne was once Director of this library DSCN0695 Francis had donated some of his grandfather's papers to the Library earlier in the week DSCN0698 and had arrange a private tour for us
DSCN0697 Here was the map room DSCN0696 with many copies DSCN0700 of very old maps of the city DSCN0699 Our guide was Marie-Françoise Garion, conservatrice of manuscripts and archives
DSCN0703 The tour proceeded through the main reading room DSCN0702 We then slipped through the room, quiet as mice, to a huge painting on the far wall DSCN0704 which showed Paris as it was before the Revolution DSCN0705 La Bastille and the Canal St-Martin were out in the countryside then
DSCN0706 and La Place des Vosges was a new housing development for the noblesse DSCN0707 We went into the Commission's meeting room, dominated by this map DSCN0710 to see the notes of Francis's grandfather, Marcel Poète DSCN0708 All of his notes glued onto pages
DSCN0709 so that future researchers can consult them DSCN0711 Marie-Françoise, our guide with Marcel Poète's great-great-granddaughters DSCN0712 Paris in the era of the kings on the wall behind DSCN0714 A little enclosed balcony off the Commission's room
DSCN0713 gave views down the adjacent streets in the Marais DSCN0715 which were suitable decked out for Christmas DSCN0717 We passed through La Place des Vosges DSCN0716 and halted for a family photo by Mary-Jo
DSCN0719 before moving across to the Latin Quarter DSCN0720 Nikki and Austin taking a break in front of Shakespeare & Co., a bookstore made famous (again) by Woody Allen DSCN0721 no comment needed DSCN0722 The free public toilets in Paris!
DSCN0723 You need to be carefully about when you enter lest you get caught in the wash cycle! DSCN0724 no comment needed, either DSCN0725 The Pantheon, for "Big Men"! DSCN0726 We caught the RER out to the southern suburbs to visit the school attended by both Francis and Nicolas Leclaire, about 50 years apart
DSCN0728 Lycée Lakanal DSCN0731 As explained here, it is a veritable city for students, built nearly 130 years ago. DSCN0729 The place is actually showing its age these days DSCN0732 The one-and-only E. Galois came from this town (Bourg-La-Reine)
DSCN0733 We were searching for the place where Claire and Francis lived in 1964, when Christine was 5 years old. DSCN0734 in l'Hay les Roses. DSCN0735 Francis recalled this church DSCN0736 Christine remembered this school
DSCN0737 especially recess outside DSCN0738 The daughter thought that they lived in these high rises but the father was less sure. DSCN0739 These buildings could've been here in the 60's. DSCN0740 A white Christmas had invaded the place before the Town Hall.
DSCN0741 Snow men and penguins DSCN0742 Frosted trees and national "devise" - Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité DSCN0744 Back in Paris, Christine and her sons-in-law DSCN0746 Nikki and her grandfather
DSCN0748 Lounging in front of the tree DSCN0749 telling stories and waiting for Santa to arrive DSCN0750 They are entertained! DSCN0751 while Vivi appears shocked, shocked, I tell you!
DSCN0752 La Veille de Noël I DSCN0753 La Veille de Noël II DSCN0754 Christine whipped up a Christmas Eve dinner DSCN0755 pretty much single-handedly
DSCN0757 but we tucked into it with gusto DSCN0758 enjoying the onion soup DSCN0761 and dessert with a carton of rum DSCN0759 post-prandial activities
DSCN0760 The tree, staged for Christmas morning