It was bound to happen, it is August after all. The forecast was calling for a 90 degree day and so we flipped the script and made plans for inside stuff. It could have been worse, it was a record 120 in Sicily!
So we pivoted to shopping inside at Galeries Lafayette and then visitng the Centre Pompidou for some inside art.
Galeries Lafayette was as glamorous as always. I managed to find an exact replacement for the wallet I had bought here five years ago. So happy! And it looks like the store was celebrating my birthday as they had decorated the famous coupole with a big giant “A”!
I’d like to think that anyway!
After paying a visit to the food hall in the basement to gawk at the case filled with French butter not to mention all the other incredible edibles they sell.
And the spice selection was enviable too.
We set off for the Pompidou.
Designed by Renzo Piano, it has been critized from its’ opening as being unattractive. National Geographic described the reaction to the design as “love at second sight.” An article in Le Figaro declared “Paris has its own monster, just like the one in Loch Ness.”
Over time, though, the architecture world has grudgingly accepted that the Pompidou was daring for its time and did its part to change architecture.
Can you tell what this is? It’s the arm of a cheerleader holding a pompon.
As a visitor I can say that the exterior was the most interesting part of the visit. The galleries were dull and tired looking inside, and did no favors to some of the masterpieces hanging on the walls. Might be time for a refresh. Still some notable art to be seen, however!
Warhols “Ten Lizes” is fantastic. You really can’t stop looking at it (although only six fit in the photo).
The Winter Garden by Jean Debuffet. Brutalist art!
We made our way through both floors of modern and contemporary art, then hopped back into a taxi to scurry back to our hotel to refresh for dinner.
