I found an affordable hotel very cose to the Place de la République for my three day adventure in Paris.

These were the views along the rue de Turbigo from my 4th floor windows. My room was small and clean with a very comfortable bed.

The Temple métro station was nearest to the hotel although it was handier to walk a little further to République where there is a choice of five lines. I especially liked walking past the entrance to Temple and admiring the Art Nouveau metalwork.

On my first afternoon I took a taxi to the Musée d'Orsay to view an exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite Photography in Great Britain. I wanted to see those wonderful photographs of Jane Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti's muse and model. I don't believe there has ever been a more singular face than hers in British painting.

There was no question of staying strangers when Mary Ann and I finally met at her fabulous holiday apartment in the rue des Archives, part of the Marais district. We 'met' about 3 or 4 years ago on each other's blogs. Mary Ann is a talented artist who gives on-line art courses while also teaching junior school in Los Angeles. We had so much to discuss!

As evening fell, we walked through the squares and little streets and over the Seine to Le Trumilou restaurant.

My Canard aux Pruneaux was excellent, accompanied by a carafe of Burgundy and followed by a perfect crème brulée.

Click on the pics!