I enjoyed Wednesday's lunch in an outdoor cafe, Chez Plumeau, where a bass player entertained the patrons with popular tunes and recorded accompaniment. I have prepared an audio recording (152 kilobytes) in QuickTime format for you to download and enjoy.
After lunch I enjoyed a visit to the Salvadore Dalí exhibit "The Phantasmagorical World of Dalí" where many of his sculptures are displayed. Years ago I performed at the opening of the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. I have found his work fascinating ever since. This exhibit in Paris was special for me because many of his familiar surrealistic images are rendered in three dimensions rather than the two associated with his paintings. I enjoyed this glimpse of a lesser-known aspect of the work of the Catalan master. "Space Elephant", seen below, embodies a typical Dalínian philosophy, "Moving through space, legs stretched out towards the heavens, the Elephant seems weightless. It carries, however, an obelisk on its back, a symbol of the progress of technology in a modern world and the weight of responsibility it requires."
Space Elephant, by Dalí
I then took the Metro to the old Paris opera house which is under renovation. In a nearby plaza I enjoyed the music of the organ grinder seen above. I have prepared an audio recording (87 kilobytes) in QuickTime format for you to download and enjoy.
The organ grinder was assisted by a dachsund and a cat relaxing together in a bed. Dogs and cats sleeping together. What is the world coming to!
