Lists

I love lists.  I like reading lists.  I thrive on making lists.  Today I discovered a list of lists, perfect for those of us who especially like the end of the year, decade in review kind of thing.  From Fimoculous.com comes Lists: 2009, an aggregate of all lists related to 2009.  Topics include architecture, art, automobiles, books, film, gadgets, photos and travel.   Now I'm inspired to begin my own list of 2009 and decade favorites.  I think I'll start with books (of course).

My Last Night in Paris

Following an early afternoon touring the ancient Egyptian collection at the Louvre, the largest of its kind outside of Egypt, I treated myself to lunch in Cafe Richelieu, overlooking I. M. Pei's pyramid. Afterward I walked through the spectacular Royal Apartments of Napoleon III. Then it was time again for an art break, so I headed outdoors into the Jardin des Tuileries. There were chairs surrounding the central fountain, and I sat for over an hour watching the comings and goings of both tourists and residents. The Louvre has Wednesday evening hours, so I returned at about 7 p.m. to see a few favorites still on my list. I'd read that the evening hours would be less crowded, but this was not the case. I believe the crowd increased in size, with many Parisians visiting after work. At about 9 p.m., I said goodbye to the Louvre, serendipitously finding a seat along the fountain wall with both the Louvre pyramid and the distant Eiffel Tower in view.