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The verdict is in, and I have decided on my favorite museum that I have visited in Paris.  While the list is long, and I have enjoyed all that I have ventured into ( even including my FIFTH time at the Louvre- which btw, is more than plenty of times), I had an epiphany while visiting the Rodin Museum.  

"This is what a museum should be like!"

-Not too large or overwhelming.
-Just the right amount of art and ambiance.
-While it is mostly a sculpture museum , there are a handful of beautiful paintings as well.
-The garden. Oh my goodness, the garden is magnificent.  Absolutely beautiful and well groomed. A pathway of trees on each side, with statues along the way, and then a fountain in the middle directly out from the museum. There is a cafe as well for snacks or a nice lunch.The garden in front of the museum is where you can find "The Thinker" along with many other statues and beds upon beds of roses. 

There aren't really words to describe how peaceful, intimate and gorgeous it is.

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View from the back of the museum, from the garden.
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"The Thinker" greeted you almost as soon as you got through the ticket line, seated off to the right inside the garden.  This is a larger cast of the original. 

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A peek at some of the highlights.
 
We have been inside Notre Dame many times since being in Paris, and have walked by it and picnicked near it even more times----however, it took us 8 months to finally make our way up into the tower. 

I've always adored "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as a kid, and never thought that I would actually see the famous gargoyles first hand.  From up inside the towers, it is a wonderful view of the surrounding city, and of course the Eiffel Tower.  (We obviously HAD to snap some pictures of the little creatures and the E. Tower in the background.)

Overall, the never ending spiral staircase to the top was worth it, and my love for poor little Quasimodo has grown even bigger now.  =)
 
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It seems crazy to me that it is still August and so many leaves are already on the ground! I am not complaining, as I love to smash around in the leaves... =) I have just had a hard time wrapping my head around it because the summer wasn't a typical "hot" summer like I am used to, and now suddenly it feels like fall!

Maybe the trees are just different here, who knows!  Here's a peek of Boulevard Hausmann all littered in crunchy brown leaves.

Happy Wednesday to ya'll and make sure to enjoy the seasons as they come...because before you even realize it..Poof. Gone.
That is certainly what happened to me, anyhow.



 
First of all, I have been meaning to add this since the first week of August, because we truly did notice a HUGE difference in the city compared to normal.
We were told by friends that Paris in August is dead. That it's like a ghost town.  We expected it, but I guess we never realized how different this month could be than all the others.  Let me tell you, all those friends were right. Paris is so empty, dead, and quiet in August.  AND I LOVE IT!  Who knew such a busy, bustling city could have such a calming feel to it!  Why is Paris so calm, you might ask?  Well, because the French are AWESOME and most all Parisians take the entire month of August off for "holiday"(aka vacation).  It still amazes me how much the people here value their vacations...I mean most American's couldn't even fathom their employers giving them an entire month for vacation...unless however you are a teacher =).  Here though, it is just known, and expected almost. 

So there you have it, people here take the entire month to travel and leave Paris, all the while everyone else from around the world comes here to be tourists.  Oh, did I fail to mention that not ALL of Paris is calm in August.  But as long as you stay away from the touristy areas, it's a peaceful as the countryside. 

Here is some living proof of the awesomeness that is "owning a Paris shop/boutique/restaurant":
(And can I just say how much I love that some of these are hand written! It makes you realize how individually owned these businesses are.)
Whilst all the true Parisians are vacationing at the beach and other lovely places, I find myself truly enjoying the city in the summer.  Nice, quiet, and perfectly deserted.  I guess this proves that I am not meant to be a full time city girl. =)