Paris Part Trois

     This is how our third day in Paris started...

so much for taking macaroons home to everyone! 

     We decided our last day in Paris was going to be a shopping day. We circled a lot of shops and areas on our map while we were on the bus tour and had a list of places to shop from talking to people that had been to Paris before. We started the day off walking to one of the islands in the middle of the Seine, Ive Saint Louis. This little island was so perfect and filled with small shops, cafes and restaurants. We had not had any crepes yet while in Paris and that was something we wanted to check off our list for sure.   

     We found a small creperie on a quiet street with just a few people inside. After we sat down,  I did a little a lot eavesdropping and realized we were in a little local neighborhood place. Everyone knew each other, the owner was siting at a table with someone and talking to everyone and locals would stop in the doorway while passing by to say bonjour.   

     I am not a big breakfast food person, but this day was definitely an exception. Who is going to turn down french omelettes and crepes, perfectly made and delicious?

     

      After eating, Hubs and Barrett consulted with each other and came up with our game plan. I know it looks like I did absolutely nothing to help them on this trip - and I 100% did not.  These two are quite a map reading pair and there is no room for someone like me to try to add to their system.  I do not speak their language when it comes to things like this and they never hesitated to let me know I was just there to look pretty puffy!  

    

     The Shakespeare and Company bookstore was awesome. One of Barrett's friends, who knows her very well, suggested we not miss this place.  It has a lot of little rooms filled with shelves stuffed with unusual books and comfy old chairs in the corners.  There were also a few cats wandering around inside.  (It is located near Notre Dame.)

     Barrett had some other friends tell her about the Merci store. It reminded me a lot of a Crate and Barrel store in the US, but french style. 

      "Merci" had a coffee shop inside of it that was wall to wall bookshelves. I definitely noticed a book home decorating theme in Paris and this one picture does not capture its beauty. I immediately started redecorating our den in my head after seeing this! Just think, no paint colors or wall art or knick knacks to pick out because it is wall to wall books!

    I mentioned in the previous post, Art and I are not big museum people. We love local culture more. Whenever I travel, I really seek out local and simply things. One of the things I LOVE to do is always look for a grocery store.  I love walking through them and comparing them to ours in the US.  Let me just say that yes, the Parisian grocery store had cereal, cookies and other boxed (processed) items, but not rows and rows of them like we have. There was even a small frozen dinner section, but it looked nothing like our mile long frozen processed section in the US.  It was all gourmet meals or local produce already prepared in vacuumed packed plastic with dates stamped on it. Their produce section, although very simple was to die for!  Evidentially radishes were in season because they were everywhere and everyone was buying them.  (I have read several places that fresh radishes and butter is served in the schools and at home as a snack.)

     On our way to dinner we stumbled upon my kind of shop.  It was a shop full of local pottery and kitchen textiles.  I wanted it all!  ALL!  

     I collect small local pottery bowls from the places I travel to and this was my spot to select that bowl that was coming home with me.  Hubs was very patient even though he was ready for some wine dinner.  I seriously think I touched everything in this store and if you know anything about shopping in France, touching is a big no no.  I could not help myself though and just ignored the "please don't act like an American and touch things" rule.  I know Miss French Lady was glad for me to finally leave when I did! 

 We also stumbled upon a chocolate shop and I automatically gained five pounds! 

Just like that.

(FYI: Hubs was giving me the "hurry up eyes" until I pulled out my iPhone to take his picture!)

(chocolate caramel filled chocolate mussels)

(meringues the size of footballs!)

(Several people bought these while we were in the shop - I wonder what they do with them?!)

     Our last dinner in Paris was here, at this cafe that we walked by that morning on the Ive Saint Louis. It was in a great location. It over looked the river and we thought it would have a view of the sunset. 

     After dinner we stopped for gelato.

And we toasted to a wonderful few days in Paris!

     There might be one more post on Paris! I took so many pictures and have some observations on "french blue".  Wedding posts are in the works.

      Say hello if you are reading this!

     Caroline, thank you for commenting and if you are reading this, I would love to talk to you and compare notes!  (loblog@nc.rr.com)

Paris Part Deux

     On our second day in Paris, we left our hotel and headed straight to Notre Dame to beat the line and crowds.  We had a very short line when we got there and were inside in about five minutes. We had forgotten that it was Sunday and we were surprised that mass was being held.  We sat for a few minutes "to get our church in",  but did't stay long. We aren't catholic and we don't speak french so we had no idea what was going on!  Even when mass is being held, they let people wander around and tour ND.  

     We then headed to find a cafe for breakfast.  When I saw lemon juice on the menu I knew I had to have it.  I was hoping the lemon juice would work some magic on my puffy eyes and swollen hands and feet. Guys, I do not travel well. Cute shoes and rings are a lost cause because I cannot get them on when I travel.  It was so tart, sour and delicious - it was straight lemon juice with a lot of pulp. I was a fan! Barrett ordered grapefruit juice and a Nutella and banana crepe.

          Sainte-Chapelle was next on our list. It is a gothic style chapel known for it's stained glass.  It is just a block or so from Notre Dame

   We then headed towards the Louvre. We didn't have plans to go inside, Barrett spent a day in the Louvre on a student trip a few years ago and she wasn't crazy about doing that again and Hubs and I really aren't museum people. 

What would they do without me?

  

We tried to sneak in a few pictures of this couple. Aren't they the epitome of a Parisian couple? We decided that she must be a fashion blogger in Paris or France because he was taking a lot of pictures of her and she had all of her model poses down pat. She also changed her purse, scarf and shoes.  We have tried to find her blog to see if we made it into the background of her post. If we did, Barrett and I probably look very creepy because we pretty much stalked them around the Louvre courtyard. 

     The rest of the day we walked and walked all over Paris and of course stopped in Laduree for some macaroons.  Oh my gosh, this place!  It is so cute inside and full of more colors and flavors than I can name! 

We stopped for lunch...

we stopped to stretch...

and no trip with the Odoms would be complete without a blister stop!

 Parisian Blister Buddies!!!

     After a little rest in our hotel room, we headed out towards the restaurant where we were having dinner. We took a longer route to get there so that we could see another part of Paris, through a mostly residential area.  Early evening is definitely the time of day that Paris comes alive. The cafes are crowded, the families are out and the air is full of delicious things to eat.

    

      Our little restaurant was down an empty alley behind a very inconspicuous door.  We had to step down a few steps, duck our heads and walk through a few smaller rooms to get into the main area of the restaurant. It was smaller, rustic and very very french.  We sat at a table beside a window with the shutters open looking into a  hidden courtyard with lots of french balconies and flowers. If that wasn't perfect enough, it started to thunder and lightning and eventually pour.  It was just so perfect! 

I order the onion soup for an appetizer,

Barrett ordered a french cheese melted with butter and honey,

and Art ordered the homemade pasta with a truffle sauce.

For dessert, we split a pear poached in milk chocolate with ice cream and whipped cream.

Delicious! I am actually going to look for a recipe like this and give this a try over the holidays because it is my kind of dessert.....a piece of fruit drowned in chocolate!

     It was still raining cats and dogs when we left. We ran and hid under doorways all the way back to the hotel. We laughed all the way and when we got back to our room we were drenched!

   Up next, my last Paris post, Summer 2017 in review and I am working on Brittany's wedding. I really wish I had not gotten so behind or ignored my little blog.  I have so many things I want to post about!

Au revoir!