Christmas Morning

Yesterday was a walk-around day - just exploring and getting lost in Paris.  We stumbled onto the Pompidou museum - something you either love or hate (Jeff the former, me the latter).  The building really brought modernism architecture to a new place - put all the guts of the building on the outside of the building, keep all the nuts and bolts exposed, etc.  I think it's a hot mess, as maintaining it has proven to be impossible.  In only 40 years the plexiglass is etched and cloudy, and the architectural components are stained, weathered and look beat to hell.  But - it certainly evokes a response, and in that regard, the building is a huge artistic success.

Here's a pic I took from inside one of the galleries; you can't argue with the way the new and the old go together here.

Last night's dinner cruise was an utterly unique way to celebrate Christmas Eve.  The boat sailed up and down the Seine while we were dining.  Everybody was dressed to the nines; there were even men in tuxedos.  High point of the evening was when we sailed past Notre Dame, the singer, a guy with a beautiful Irish tenor voice, started singing Shubert's Ave Maria.  It was one of those moments that brings out the goosebumps. 

I've been amazed at how late dawn arrives in Paris, so I checked our latitude and learned Paris is a bit further north than Duluth, Minnesota... the exceptionally short days might explain why we're STILL struggling with jet lag?