A night at the opera (house)

Last night, we attended a performance of the ballet Sylvia in the Garnier Opera house.  This ballet, music composed by Leo Delibes and choreographed by Manuel Leris, had its premier here at the Palais Garnier in 1876.  The Opera house is a gorgeous building that built from 1861 to 1875 and reflects the ornate tastes of the times.

Much of the exterior of the building is under restoration and shielded by wrap.  What remains exposed is still lovely.

Inside, the auditorium is beautiful and a little over the top at the same time.  The musically themed ceiling is fairly modern. It was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964.

Chagall's ceiling

We were seated under the Magic Flute (La Flute Enchantee)

Ceiling art

Box seats

Photos are not allowed during the performance, but cameras came out for the curtain call.

Place Igor Stravinsky

Today was a cloudy, wet day in Paris, but there are always plenty of things to see and do, even when it is raining.

Including enjoying the animated fountain structures in the Place Igor Stravinsky.  

Notre Dame in Paris

Today we arrived in Paris via TGV train.  Three pleasant hours of travel that would take us about 8 stressful hours by car.  

Although we have taken many cab rides from the Gare de Lyon station to our hotel, today's was exceptional in that we crossed the Seine twice.  Our hotel and Gare de Lyon are both on the right bank of the river, but the taxi driver's GPS took him across the river twice to get here.  We had a good look at Notre Dame along the way.

After lunch, I went walking back to Ile de la Cite, the island on which Notre Dame is located.  I crossed 4 bridges to access the island, cross to the other side of the Seine, and return.  Here is some what I saw.

I didn't go inside Notre Dame today.  There were really long lines streaming in and out of the church (and time admission tickets are required).

Notre Dame from the west

From the SSW

Still under restoration

From the SW

The Seine, just south of Notre Dame

The Conciergerie, a former palace and courthouse, on the north side of Ile de la Cite

Adieu to Arles

Today is our last full day in Arles.  So I'm sharing a couple of photos from today.

Street art, that translates to "Feel the prose"

A door into une petite jardin

A European goldfinch

My last cup of cafe creme in Arles

J'adore Arles.  À l'année prochaine.