onebaygirl

Slower paced and smaller than most big city museums, but worth visiting. The parking lot was full, but I was able to park very close by on the street. The ticket line was very slow, but once I was in, I enjoyed my visit. I went to see Cezanne and American Modernism which ends January 3rd. There were a number of Cezanne’s plus works by American artists who were influenced by him. I was impressed by the exhibit and recommend seeing it. If you can’t make it before the show ends, it is traveling to the Baltimore Museum of Art and then the Pheonix Art Museum. I also walked through some of the permanent collection, most of which I enjoyed.

We never made it inside. It was perfect.

taking everything in and listening to the audioguide which was very helpful. I also climbed to the top. I’m not usually afraid of heights, but I did feel a little anxious being up so high. At the first landing, the “Whispering Gallery”, I backed off from looking down at the nave. Instead I sat down to take a break and take in the view of the dome. Then I felt a little anxious going up those spiral iron staircases. I wondered if they were really designed to hold the weight of the continuous line of people going up, and tried not to look down through the staircases at the visible drop. Then at the top there were some narrow staircases I thought might be a tight squeeze for a heavy person. Before getting outside at the very top, there’s a small area which is the inside of the top of the dome where there’s a small window to look down on the nave. To get an idea of how high that was, the people down there looked like ants. I knelt down to look through it just long enough for a quick view and a couple pictures, because the metal plate surrounding the window didn’t seem very sturdy. Finally I went outside to the top of the dome where I got some great views and pictures of the city. I’m glad I went all the way up, but I only recommend it if you’re not afraid of heights and fit enough to do it. I saw some winded older people taking breaks on their way up.

I never saw so many Titians before! And Raphael, Bosch, Goya, Velazquez…Tire yourself out here and then treat yourself to a rest in the botanical garden next door.

great works. My advice is to go and see what you think. Aside from Picasso’s First Communion, there weren’t any works I was familiar with, but I still thought they were worth viewing. I enjoyed seeing his early works and how his styles changed later on. My boyfriend said he enjoyed Picasso’s earliest works more than any other Picassos he was familiar with, so go and decide for yourself!

We found this place because it’s next to the Prado Museum. After a long visit to the Prado, we decided to go here. It’s 2 Euros to get in. Not bad for a place to relax with benches, clean bathrooms (I was struck with mild food poisoning in Madrid, so that was important to me…), drink machines and nice scenery. We were even enterained by two stray cats chasing around some ducks.

We went because my boyfriend saw it on the Andrew Zimmern show. If you go, just get ham to go, because that’s the only thing worth eating there and if you get a table, the service is very slow. Madrid is full of good places to get authentic food and good ham. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

I recently visited Sainte-Chapelle on my second trip to Paris. I was urged to go by someone who said it was a must-see. After having been there, I agree. I can’t believe I was so close by to it my first time in Paris and completely missed it! Well, now I have gone and I’m glad. The stained glass is beautiful, and there is so much of it! You can definitely fit it in to your short or long stay in Paris, because it doesn’t take long to do. Well, the line was long to get in, but approximately 30 minutes later I was in. It’s not a huge cathedral that takes a long time to tour. You just go to the sanctuary where all the stained glass is, get your fill of it, and leave. Admission is covered by your Paris Pass, and you can buy it there. Sainte-Chapelle was my first stop this time, so I got my Paris Pass there. Very convenient!

It was an exhibition of installation art, both indoors and outdoors. I’m not a big fan of installation art, bit this exhibit was insteresting enough for me to say I enjoyed my visit. I believe the show is on through sometime this September. Regular admission is 9 pounds and student admission is 6 pounds. It’s easy enough to stop in if you’re doing something in that area (it’s near the London Eye) and I would rate it as a low exertion activity for a tourist. I mention that because I was in London for four days doing a lot of walking, climbing (St. Paul’s) and touring around. They have clean bathrooms and there were benches at one of the outside installations where I sat in the shade to relax before moving on (as did others) and a cafe at the end of the exhibit where I had a decent shot of espresso before moving on.

maybe not on your first trip unless you’re a big Delacroix fan or if this is something you think could peek your interest. I didn’t go on my first trip to Paris and I was there for 6 days. With so many possibilities in Paris, I had other priorities. I went back to Paris for two days this year and had it in mind to go since I didn’t make it last year.
You won’t find any of Delacroix’s famous works there. You have to go to the Louvre to see “Liberty Leading the People” and others, but if you’re going to Paris, you’re going to the Louvre anyway, right? The Delacroix Museum is a small museum. It’s Delacroix’s residence, a townhouse on a quiet street with a separate studio in the back with a small yard. The museum contains some original furniture, family portraits, letters and his works of art which are mainly small pieces. It takes maybe a half hour to go through and you can get in with your Paris Pass.
To me it was worth visiting. I think it’s interesting to see how people lived before our time, especially an artist. I wish I could have his kind of set-up!