I finally opened the Patrick Roger chocolate cocoa pod. It was packed with a few solid dark and milk chocolate fish, a caramel-filled bell and several pieces filled with praline, including an oyster (yes!). I still have a little bit of the shell left.
I just finished reading "Sympathy for the Devil" about The Rolling Stones and I have a whole new appreciation for drummer Charlie Watts. Did you know that he met his wife before he joined the band and that they're still married? When the Stones were invited to the Playboy Mansion, he spent the whole evening in the game room, away from the women. And my favorite anecdote: late one night in a hotel, after a drunk Mick Jagger called him and asked, "Where's my drummer?," Charlie got out of bed, shaved, dressed, went to Mick's room and punched him square in the face. "I'm not your drummer, you're my singer!" Heh. Jagger's an ass.
I enjoyed seeing an exhibition called "Les enfants modèles" (Child Models) at l'Orangerie, which ended earlier this month. Works by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt and Pierre-Auguste Renoir (among others) were shown, using the artist's own children, or the children of friends or family, as models. I was particularly touched by a watercolor called "Les Cinq enfants de l'artiste, avec vue sur Capri " by Guillaume Dubufe. The children had the most amazing eyes; one girl in particular had piercing grey eyes. I'm not a morbid person, but these kinds of exhibitions make me wonder about how these children grew up, what their everyday lives were like, and how their lives ended. The arc of life. (Pictured: La Boxe by Maurice Denis, 1918).
Before I entered the museum, some guy tried to con me with that ring trick, where they pretend to find a gold ring on the ground, give it to you and then demand that you give them money. I guess that's how it works anyway. This is the second time someone's tried that with me since I've been here and of course I just keep walking. Who actually falls for this crap? I should have challenged him to a boxing match. I would have won.
Cool museum tour...and I don't think it's morbid...it wonder the same kinda of things too. Having fun with chocolates, huh. what a SWEET treat! Thanks for "sharing". And the ring trick is actually something I wondered about after Rick Steves (American guidebook writer) cited a warning about it in the France guidebook a couple of years ago. How funny that it has happened to you TWICE! Do be careful.
Posted by: Jenny N | March 26, 2010 at 12:59 AM
Hi Jenny N, thanks for your comment. I like Rick Steves. Now I'm curious as to what he said. I wish I had taken his advice about what footwear to use in Rome...I remember he said to wear "sturdy shoes" and mine weren't good enough. I paid for it later!
Posted by: Jennifer K | March 28, 2010 at 01:44 PM
Rome? When did you go to Rome? I guess i have to check out your "archives" huh? Sorry for the worn out tootsies but do tell.
Posted by: Jenny N | March 28, 2010 at 11:36 PM