April 27

One Postcards reader told me to go wandering and get lost -- literally. That’s a magical way of discovering a city like Paris. But I’m more of an agenda person these days. I go out on specific errands and stop by a museum or park or bridge on the way.

Today, I had to check out yoga classes on the Right Bank, so I took the Métro to Etoile-Charles de Gaulle, found the yoga studio, got a class schedule and went directly to the Musée Guimet, dedicated to Asian art.

It was blissfully uncrowded and contained several surprises, including an extraordinary collection of sculpture from Cambodia. Afterward, I took the Métro to the the Place Vendome because I wanted to check out the health club at the Ritz, which is said to have the best swimming pool in Paris. Wow, it looks great. But a day pass costs about $175. Meanwhile, there’s a vastly cheaper municipal swimming pool near L’Odeon, where I’ll probably be doing my laps.

Of course, while at the Ritz I had to stop for a kir royale, but not in the Hemingway Bar, which hadn’t opened. I’ll have to go back for a martini there.