Day 106, 18 October 2012, Musee de l'Orangerie, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Montparnasse Tower - Paris - she continues. If it is physically possible to drown in fine art then we are on the precipice of doing so. We started the day at Musee de l'Orangerie on the banks of the Seine and just inside the Tuileries Gardens. As might be inferred from the name, this building gave winter shelter to the Tuileries orange trees back in 1852. It now houses around 144 post impressionist works from Monet, Cezanne, Picasso, Modigliani, Renoir, Derain, Soutine and Utrillo. The last two named are our new artists of the day as our world is constantly expanding. Speaking of world's expanding, the latest scam to be foisted on gullible types was tried us on as we left the museum to cross the footbridge to the Musee d'Orsay. A woman of uncertain age (that's French for middle aged.... but to say le moyen-age actually refers to the Middle Ages...) found a gold ring on the ground in front of us. And immediately offered it to us for good luck. Why merci beaucoup madam... you are too kind. Big, gorgeous, hallmarked brassy gold thing.... lucky us eh. But two seconds later she was back on us like a fat kid on a cupcake (before I could even check the hallmarks. honestly.) And suggesting, demanding in no uncertain terms that we give her money in return for her gift so she could buy coffee and something to eat. We gave her back her "gold" ring and suggested she sell it. Merci, and Au revoir.... Last seen badgering the next group of likely lasses. Good scam though. Wonder how much she nets in a day and how many Parisien jewellers are asked to value brass rings. Onwards and upwards and very briefly the sun shone and the sky turned blue. We indulged in a sit by the Seine before retuning indoors to feast upon the delights of the Musee d'Orsay over the bridge on the Left Bank. This museum was installed in the former Orsay railway station and the building itself is the first work of art on the agenda from the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris. With it's two massive clocks overlooking the Seine and the huge vaulted ceiling it contains works from 1848 to 1914 including Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir (yes, I know... more of them), Courbet, Van Gogh and Gauguin. Not to mention sculptures by Rodin and stunning decorative arts by Glassmakers Galle, Daum and, wait for it, works by Gaudi sourced from Casas Batllo and Mila in Barcelona. Our knowledge of history, art and religion is expanding daily and it's only as we learn new things that we realise how much we simply did not know all of 3 - 4 months ago. We saw the queue at the cafe on L2 and decided to go to the cafe on L5 instead... which was very much more a restaurant, but it was gorgeous with golden lights and set behind one of the massive clocks, so we indulged in a delish lunch and continued on through the decorative arts for another couple of hours. We finally made it to Notre Dame Cathedral, made famous by Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In 2013 it will be 850 years old... it was actually on the verge of demolition until Hugo's work inspired Parisiens to save it. The power of the written word in action. We had wanted to explore the crypt but it is closed due to preparations for the anniversary. Final stop of the day was the Montparnasse Tower - 59 floors above the city it is called the ceiling of Paris. Still a few people around on a rainy, cloudy day and whilst "just a tower" an excellent look out point. And completely on the other side of town from home - 44 minutes on the metro to get back was the record for the longest trip so far. Dinner was a nutritionist's nightmare - A bordeux and cheese and potato crisps. Too tired to descend 2 floors and come out for real food. Tomorrow? hmmm... odds and ends we think prior to Versailles on Saturday.