My night at the Opera (House)

Apparently, I have no control over where the pictures go in these posts.

 I have just returned from the Opera House, not the one that has operas, but the one that has ballets. I had found out that the ballet seats are usually sold out except for the cheap ones so I decided to pay 9 or 12 euros instead of paying 9 euros for a tour of the Opera Garnier, figuring I could always leave if the ballet wasn't good (seriously--I had that thought) and see the Opera House by way of a performance. When I went to get the ticket, all they had for tonight was a 9 Euro partially obstructed seat on the fourth balcony. I took it but when I got there, I noticed my view was totally obstructed--the French should be embarrassed to sell that seat. I was in a box and happy it was being held up by the column blocking my view but I could see only the left side of the stage where the peasants always hang out and I got only the left side of the story.  I could only see the aristocracy in the middle of the stage by bending my head down almost to my knees.  On the first intermission, I was able to move to the back of the box and so decided to stay for the whole ballet, L'Histoire de Manon (which is a lot like Manon).  The orchestra was superb, the dancers were superb and I don't believe there could be a better prima ballerina anywhere in the world.  Of course, they have two casts but I can't imagine tomorrow night's could equal this cast.  

Il pleut, pleut, pleut all day and every day I've been here. I know nothing about weather but I wonder why Paris gets so much hail.  I've seen it 3 times since I've been here.  I was caught in a downpour this morning, the one and only time I wasn't carrying an umbrella.

These are the good seats in the picture below.  The cool thing about the boxes is they have coat racks and fainting couches in the back...but I couldn't see from either location.