Bird's Eye View

You might say we got a late start on Sunday, having been dead to the arrivals of Lynn, Robb and Bonnie (as well as to the world in general) while snoozing away until after noon. When we finally got a move on, we headed to Centre Pompidou. Along the way we stopped at a bird market, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like with a few rabbits and chinchillas thrown in. One realizes when looking at these tiny creatures how many of their furry brethren it must take to make even a small stole. But that's morbid, right?
There is an impressive and overwhelming amount of modern art to take in at the Pompidou. While we took in a Matisse special exhibit and small portion of the permanent collection, we mostly took in champagne on the open aired rooftop of this incredible museum. Joined by Rob, Bonnie and their very sweet friends John and Jennifer, we thoroughly enjoyed the sites and sounds (and Veuve Clicquot) from a height mostly enjoyed by the many pigeons of the city.
Out in front of the museum was a huge area full of artists, musicians, mimes and onlookers. Also amongst this crowd were my favorites: the guy who did unbelievably accurate bird calls and a very tiny, old, wrinkly woman who sat with her small cat and dog (both chained to a sewer grate) while she scraped a bow along a crumbling stringed instrument with no knowledge or care of creating anything harmonious or music-like. You might call her a strange bird.