We stopped at a bank and bought 2 Euro starter kits – I gave some of the coins to people I work with. The front of the coins are the same in all 12 member countries, but the back is unique for each country. The Euro goes into effect as currency January 1, 2002 (it has been available as a financial instrument since 1999).

Ticket for entry to the Louvre

We headed to the Louvre today for our second visit. We got a bit of a late start. My feet are killing me – I’m glad we’re leaving in two days. We started at noon and didn’t get a pop, apple tart and a seat ’til 4pm. The lines have grown long – we’re glad we got in when we did, as we only waiting about 10 minutes.

We went to the Richelieu wing of the Louvre and saw the apartments of Louis Napoleon III; “better rich (BR)” as Lily Kramer says. Then we moved on to the Northern European and French paintings. There is a whole room of Rembrandt’s which are quite nice. I’m surprised the Calvinists would allow the Dutch painters to paint female nudes. Saw the two Vemeers (woman sewing and man touching a globe). The collection is simply amazing! Bosch’s “Ship of Fools” is on display – it is smaller than I thought it would be. It was also a little dark from age, but worth seeing. The Northern European collection is outstanding. We moved to the French collection. We saw David’s “The Assasination of Mamet”.

We crossed the Siene in the cold wind and drizzle and walked down Rue St. Peres to Palladio, a store that sells Italian goods; Aviva bought a nice piece of yellow Murano glass on sale (its the end of the season, apparently).

Business card from Palladio, an Italian gift shop

We walked around after that in a shopping area in the 6th that we hadn’t shopped before.

We ate at Dedicace Cafe, which was very nice.

Dédicace Cafe business card front

Dédicace Cafe business card back

I finished reading Brunelleschi’s Dome and started Leading Change by John P. Kotter.