Our basket arrived on time with all the goodies. I am going to have a letdown when we get home.


Today we went to Opera Garnier. We had to take the red A line which is in the Gare du Lyon. Huge train station and metro it 3 floors below. We got off at the Aubar station and saw the sign to exit for the opera and you had to swipe the card again. We have never done that so we were trapped. Dow asked a lady, having coffee with her friend, and she  took us to the exit and used her card. She was so nice. We saw everyone using their Navigo card to exit and we thought it would cost a ticket on the pass to get out, but we found out later you just need to show your pass to exit!


Stopped at Galeries Lafayette. I bought a scarf and that was it. We could have bought a lot more but, only so much to carry home.  Beautiful store – partially decorated for Christmas with more to add.


We had a reservation for the 2:00pm tour in English. Great guide! This place is so big you can put the the Arc de Triomphe inside the opera the stage! Think about for a second and you will realize this place is more than huge.

In the late 1800's when it opened a full subscription ticket cost more than 20,000 €. That is one subscription season ticket. The value is around a three quarters of a million in Euros today.  Only the rich could afford the subscription. They would go to all performances to get their money's worth.


The tour lasted over and hour  and a half and was very informative. Unfortunately (for us) they were rehearsing for tonight's performance of Mayerling, so we could not get into the auditorium, nor could we see Box #5, the Phantom's box!  If we tour again we will make sure we choose a date without an evening performance.  Who knew?


2024

Galeries Lafayette
Only in Galeries Lafayette
Can you believe !
Remember this is a store
Dow's Christmas outfit before Paris
Opera Garnier
Huge entrance hall
One staircase
belle dame
Marble staircase
Our English speaking guide
Jean Lewis Charles Garnier put his name in the ceiling - can you see it?
Original print
Diagram of the Opera Garnier.
costumes for Romeo and Juliet
More costumes that were used
Ballet is held there
Main staircase
entrance to one of the boxes
Where is box #5?
box entrances
the library - was once a smoking room for men
guide showing a photo of the ceiling inside - done by Marc Chagalll
Our cute guide explaining a school for male dancers
hall where people go during intermissions
A former restaurant for drinks before the concert
ceiling of hall
restaurant where we ate dinner - opens at 7
Menu
studying the menu of the French language offerings
Kir
escargot served in a crust
Rabbit Pate- front and escargot - Rear
Leg of rabbit in wine sauce with mashed potatoes .
coquille saint jacques
rum raisin dessert
So many people eating outside

Day Nine

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