I always have great days on Friday the 13th, and today was no exception. Out first stop was the crypts of Notre Dame (not a burial place but rather history of the site). However, I was unable to stay under ground too long because of the Pan Festival being held in front of ND. This is a bread (pan) making competition between top professional chefs from various regions of France, and it was a riot! You could watch chefs making dough, rolling out the various shapes of the bread or croissants they were making. Best of all, free samples while being serenaded by two old guys who sounded sorta Octoberfest-ish. Very charming and fun.

Next was the Pompidou Centre of Modern Art. This building is way cool, with all of the plumbing, ducts and construction on the outside of the building and you ride up six flights of escalators on the side of the building to get to the museum. Now I like modern art quite a lot, and some of it was great, but some just didn't seem worthy. Like a string of christmas lights hung in a scalloped pattern on the wall. Seriously? But, lunch on the roof deck was magnificent. Ultra cool setting with a great view. And the food was even good.

Got lost in the Marais so took the metro to the Opera and was propositioned by a guy who worked in a bakery I stopped at. He said you're from America right? And I said that I was. Then he said "you should have dinner with me tonight. I'm a really good cook." When I said merci but non merci, he said "but how will you ever see me again?" with a huge grin on his face. Like never seeing him again would surely be a fate worse than death. The lady behind me thought he was quite original. gotta give him credit. I told her she should have dinner with him, then. And, all this despite the Birkenstocks!

Gabriel came by to water our plants and chatted with us for a whike. He is such a sweet man and said that everyone in France is so pleased that bin Laden is dead and they think Obama is the best president ever for having achieved that.

The Louvre is open late on Fridays so we went. Last day of our Museum pass. Hardly anyone there. A special exhibit of Rembrandt's drawings of Christ was there a well. Walked the Grand Gallery and took in the huge paintings, almost by myself. Walked right up to Mona Lisa without another sole in the room! That was so unexpected and awesome. We stayed until they closed at 10pm.

Must got to bed...