Ownby Visit: Days 5-6

So anyone who knows how to count has probably realized that my previous post about this trip (Ownby Visit: Days 1-3) was actually FOUR days; my apologies. We turn now, therefore, to day 5 of the trip. It was Sunday, their last day to be able to use their 4-day museum pass, and use it they did.

The day began with a return to Les Invalides (Napoleon's tomb) for my mother and father; my mom simply could not leave Paris without paying her respects to the little man. Richard and I, however, took a trip to the Orsay Museum, home of French art from about 1850-1920... Most importantly, that includes the Impressionists. Unfortunately, they have changed the rules since I was last there, and photographs are not allowed. Richard and I managed to slip this one in before scary lady (entering picture stage right) scolded us. And my parents joined us there when finished at Invalides.
I then headed home to relieve Chris and feed Oliver, and my parents and brother continued on to visit the Medieval Museum, home of the famous Unicorn Tapestries. That was a highlight of the trip, especially for my dad, as the Unicorn Tapestries were a favorite of my grandmother, his mom, who passed away earlier this year.

That evening (after church which meets in the afternoon), we visited one of our favorite Paris restaurants: Carmine's, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. They have great food, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere; what more could you ask for??
The following day (yes, that's right, day SIX), we toured Montmartre, the Bohemian capital of the worlds of art and music. L'Eglise du Sacre Coeur (Church of the Sacred Heart) tops the hill with its white-domed majesty.
The windy streets are full of artists, creperies, and tourists.
This scene happens to be a famous painting by Utrillo (minus my family, of course), an impressionist artist who specialized in scenes of Montmartre. Apparently, this "free spirit" (i.e. drunk) artist once exposed himself to passersby and claimed, "I paint with this!" Just a fun fact...
One of only two windmills left in the Montmartre area and the scene of Renoir's famous painting.
The other windmill still standing in Montmartre, one familiar to many thanks to Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.
That afternoon, we walked a little in my neighborhood, making a necessary stop at Cafes Richard, where we bought my brother a little espresso cup bearing his name.
This is the same street (the major one that runs behind our neighborhood); it is one this street that I do most of my daily shopping, etc.

It was such a joy to share those things with my family, especially the stuff close to home for me. After 25 years of living so close to my family, it's been strange these past six months that everything I do is foreign to them: they didn't really know what my apartment looked like (pictures can only do so much); they had never seen my neighborhood; they had never shopped where I shop weekly, and it's all in a different language! It can make a girl feel a little lonely sometimes... But no longer! It was FABULOUS to share it with them. One more post on their trip coming soon...