This morning my mission was to visit the Musée de l'Orangerie, where Monet’s giant Nymphaea (water lily) paintings stand. When I stopped for breakfast on the way there, I met an Australian named Matt who’s on a vacation that makes mine sound pretty humble: he’s on a 3-month tour of not only Europe, but also the US and a couple other stops as well. I haven’t had as much conversation since the girls left, so it was a fun chat. The museum didn’t disappoint: the Nymphaeas fill up two big oval-shaped rooms, and they span the entire circumference (except for doorways) of each room so it really feels like you’re surrounded by a boundless mix of water and color.
Continuing with the music from last night, tonight I found a local concert with an unsigned band called “Fleur Offwood & the Conifers”. They’re kind of a bossa nova / rock act with a silly sense of humor. I’m not sure why, but in an auditorium built for about 150, only about 6 people showed up to listen. Being the brash American I sat in the front row, so it was as intimate a musical experience as I’ve had in a long time. And the band sounded really good! Fleur sang mostly in French and I couldn’t understand a word, but that didn’t detract from the fun. They’re not on iTunes yet but they do have some recordings on myspace.