We woke up early, caught the metro, and headed for the Seine and coffee. We had an espresso at a local bistro. We then went for a walk along the river, heading in the direction of the Notre Dame. Paris is best seen on foot. It was a cloudy day, the sun only showing itself a time or two, as if too shy to make a full appearance. A steady mist followed us most of the day, making the walk even more authentic.
We walked across "lovers bridge"; couples attach locks to the bridge. In hopes their love will last forever, they toss the key into the river.
The Notre Dame was crowded with tourist, but even they couldn't distract from its glory. The gothic architecture is stunning. I lit a candle inside the cathedral and listened as a local choir sang beautiful melodies.
We decided to stop at a nearby brasserie for lunch. Mercedes had the salmon quiche and green salad, both equally appealing. I enjoyed the croque monsouire, also accompanied by a green salad. We ate outside; enjoying the food, people, and glass of Bordeaux. Lunch lingered; unlike in America where we feel rushed to eat, Paris is a place meals are savored and appreciated.
Next on my must see list was Laduree, the famous macaroon bakery. A hidden gem I was unable to locate, but I did stumble upon a great shoe store in the process. I bought the perfect pair of loafers that will be great in the fall. Luxembourg gardens appeared in our vicinity and we made our way in that direction, a beautiful spot for a picnic. Still on the hunt for macaroons, we stopped in a local boutique to ask for directions. I was advised of where Laduree was located, but told that Pierre Herme, three doors down, was the real macaroon genius. Trusting a local, I headed to the store. I got two macaroons, both delicious, but a little rich for my taste.
After an afternoon nap, we headed back out for dinner. We hit up a brasserie in our neighborhood. We both ordered an avocado salad and pomme frites.
Day 2
Thursday morning we took the metro to a pastry store. I had an amazing, buttery croissant. We had coffee at the bistro next door. We went to the Musee D'Orsay after breakfast. I particularly loved the Van Gogh and Neo-Impressionist exhibits.
We walked along the river until we arrived at the Eiffel Tower. It is much larger than it seems. We took a ride on the merry-go-round; when in France....
We headed for lunch, not far away, at an outdoor cafe. I had an omelet royal and Mercedes had the vegetable salad.
Tonight, we are going for pizza, because every pizza we have seen in Paris looks heavenly. Tomorrow, we head back to the states. Epic trip indeed!
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