Musee Marmottan Monet
Rather than take the metro to Musee Marmottan Monet we took a cab (looking at the metro map the evening before I was a little intimidated by all of the line switches!). The museum is located in a lovely untouristy residential area. It contains the best collection of Monet's paintings and sketches, including several classic water lilies from his garden in Giverny.
In Rick Steve's France, the Musee Marmottan Monet was scheduled to open at 10:00am. However, it didn't open until 11:00am. Fortunately, there was an incredible park and playground adjacent to the museum. Elisabeth and Kate played on 2-3 different playgrounds until the museum opened. Elisabeth's favorite painting was La Barque (1887). Kate's favorite painting was Les Tuileries (1876).
Lunch?
After touring the Musee Marmottan Monet we walked to find a restaurant for lunch. Unfortunately, I turned the wrong way on Chaussee de la Muette. We had a longer walk than planned. The first restaurant we found at 1pm was rather upscale for us, but it was the only one in sight. We entered in jeans, mud from the playground and sat at an elegant table with very nice white linens. The girls ordered chocolat chaud and penne pasta with parmesan. The tablecloth was a mess after the hot chocolate - there were a few chocolate chaud near misses on the lovely couch that the girls were lounging on during lunch - at one point the whole tablecloth with plates, cups, etc. started moving off the table. Luckily, I caught it before a crash!
Since moving to Brussels Elisabeth insists upon only Cheerios for breakfast, Kate insists on only spaghetti bolognesse for dinner. So, I ordered the cassoulet in an attempt to demonstrate being open to new foods. Cassoulet is a slow cooked bean stew or casserole originating in the south of France. It contains meat (typically pork sausages, pork, goose, duck and sometimes mutton) and white haricot beans. I ordered it earlier in the week and it was very good. Unfortunately, the cassoulet didn't look or taste like what I expected. I think the waiter said that it was made with veal cow vertebrae (which is what it looked like!). The girls were having a hard time eating their penne pasta so I tried to be a good example and eat the cassoulet (except for the meat). So much for trying new foods...
College Visits Already?
We walked back to the park near the Musee Marmottan Monet and played there in the afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon in Paris (although cold!). Elisabeth and Kate wore their sunglasses. The other moms at the playground were dressed in fur hats, full length fur coats, and fur wraps. I felt a little out of place in my old winter hat that I bought in Chicago 10 years ago and my plain winter coat! C'est la vie!
Elisabeth is very good-natured and makes friends easily. Elisabeth made a friend, Andrew, on the play ground. Andrew was a very polite 9 year old who spoke impeccable English. Elisabeth showed him a few tricks on the monkey bars. He showed her a few tricks on his scooter. Andrew and Elisabeth pretended to visit colleges with Kate. He insisted that they visit Harvard. Kate and Elisabeth wanted to go to the West Coast and visit California colleges (since moving to Brussels they really miss the sunshine!). Perhaps Elisabeth and Andrew will meet again in college in a few years... By 3pm Kate was pretty tired out. Andrew and his Mom walked us to the nearest cab stand. Andrew was a gentleman and opened the cab door for us. If only Elisabeth and Kate's future boyfriends could be so well mannered....
We arrived at the apartment late in the afternoon and watched a video. After the video we bought fresh bread for breakfast at the patisserie, ate dinner at one of the local brasserie and called it a night.
