10 10 Thur

Today, after coffee and croissant at my new favourite morning bistro, I walked to the Musee de cluny, the museum of the middle ages. Most of it was closed today, but 4 galleries plus the famous lady and the unicorn gallery were open and free. I am here now, I thought, so why not.  I saw lots of  carved alter pieces, plates, some furniture. They had a nice idea that i have not seen elsewhere-  instead of putting 'please do not sit here' signs on, e.g, an intricately carved chest or chair, they had put a piece of a dried flower.. The outside courtyard area was open and quite pleasant to sit in.  

Next I went back to saint Suplice. The odd thing  i was looking for was a Gnomon ( hopefully I will catch up and put some photos here in the next few days), an astronomical instrument commissioned in 1727 by the parish priest who wanted a better idea of when the March equinox would be and hence Easter. Somehow the light hits a sphere ontop of an obelisk and somehow the light is measured in relation to a line  on the floor . Apparently it features in a dan brown book, but what is said in the book is not true.

Also in the church are 3 large eugene de la croix murals. These are unusual because all 3 are a bit violent and, apparently, paintings in churches are not usually violent. Trouble is there was a crowded tour in the chapel with a very quickly speaking French guide so I didnot stay long.

Next stop  was the church Saint Germain des Pres. Last year i went to an organ recital there. I like the coulours in the church . But the only concerts they were advertising in october all started at 8pm at the earliest. Too late for me.

Then I had a latish lunch at one of the bistros near me.

I forgot. When I was leaving my apartment block in the morning, a guy outside said to me ' Do you speak a little english?' I replied, yes, I speak a lot of english. When everyone has a rain jacket on it is harder to tell French from non French , plus, he was American . He was going to rent an apartment in the building and wanted to know about the building and the security. Very good - I showed him.