Day 3: Happy Valentine's Day!

Bonjour & Happy Valentine's Day!! Even though I seem to be perpetually single on this holiday, I still really do love it. As a lover of all things pink, how can't I?

I started the day by going for a run along the Seine. What a beautiful place to run. I would never get sick of running next to this river! I ran to the Pont de Neuf and asked someone to take my picture. That's my first siting of the Eiffel Tower, by the way - I haven't made it that far down the Seine yet!



After my run, I had breakfast in my apartment and then took the metro to the Tuileries station. I booked my tour of the Beaches of Normandy on Wednesday and then headed to Angelina's to treat myself to some chocolate. It is Valentine's Day, afterall!

Last time I was in Paris, I wanted to go to Angelina's, which is known for its hot chocolate, but it was like 90 degrees on that trip and hot cocoa just did not sound appealing! I am glad I returned to Paris so I can try this delicassie! Yes, it is known as being a touristy location, but hello - I am a tourist!

I ordered 2 of their signature items - a hot chocolate and the mont blanc. Good thing I went for that run today. ;)

This is the richest, most decadent hot chocolate I have ever had. They bring you a little pitcher of melted chocolate and a side of home-made whipped cream. Then you mix them yourself!



Oh my gosh, it was so good! The mont blanc is GF so I had to try that as well! It's a meringue, topped with whipped cream, topped with a chestnut paste. So good!


This was a rich treat! I am not going to feel guilty about the calories because I have done so much walking, I am sure I am burning them off. I drank all of the hot chocolate but could only finish 1/2 of the mont blanc. That's a whole lot of sugar for one sitting! Angelina's is a beautiful little cafe, though, so it was a really charming place to enjoy this delicious treat!

After that, I walked through the jardin des tuileries towards the Louvre.



I have not been inside the Lourve and I don't know that I will go inside on this trip either... There are 35,000 exhibits in the Louvre and that just sounds overwhelming to me. I do better with smaller museums, like d'Orsay... I am sure I'll make it inside some day, I just don't know if I have it in me this trip! I do love the courtyard of the Louve, though!




When I took that walking tour on Saturday, the guide said that the pyramid in the courtyard is very controversial. Apparently some people think it was inappropriate to place such a modern structure in such a historical area. I personally like the juxtaposition of the new v. the old - and the pyramid is visually appealing in my opinion!

I crossed over the left bank of the Seine and walked through the St. Germain des Pres area, which is another charming area of Paris. EventuallyI came upon Pont des Arts.



For any Sex and the City fans, this is the bridge where Big tells Carrie, "you're the one". This is the bridge where lovers bring a lock, attach it to the bridge, and throw the key in the water. I read an article that said the city of Paris is not a fan of this tradition and plans to cut the locks off the bridge at some point. That article was written last May, though, and there are still locks on the bridge...



I continued walking along the Seine. I was in search of the bookstore, Shakespeare and Co! I had a generally idea of where it was and luckily, I stumbled right upon it!



This is a famous bookstore full of books written in english. Hemingway references this shop quite a bit in A Moveable Feast (which I finished yesterday, by the way). I wandered around the bookstore - which has both new and used books. They had a fantastic section on the history of Paris. I was tempted to purchase a book (multiple books, actually), but resisted as I figure my suitcase is heavy enough as is!

After wandering around the bookstore, I sat on the bench outside and gazed up on the Notre Dame - what a site to behold!! At that point, all the walking of the past couple of days seemed to catch up with me and I decided to take the metro home.

Now I am back in my cozy apartment where I plan on relaxing for the rest of the day. I'll probably have a meal of cheese, olive, and crackers and maybe some Paella tonight. I imagine the cafes will be quite crowded tonight so I think it's a good night to eat in!

So another wonderful day in Paris. I am so glad I took this trip - it's really the perfect way for me to celebrate my 30th birthday. The city is even more beautiful and enchanting that I remember it being. I know solo travel seems odd and unappealing to some, but I really am enjoying my time here on my own. I really am not the least bit lonely! So far, I've made conversations in English with someone each day. Today, I spoke to a couple from the British Columbia province of Canada - I had been to BC in October so it was fun to talk to them about that. They were probably in their 60s and were just finishing a 1 month stay in Paris! My point is - I really don't feel alone here. It's pretty easy to spot other Canadian/US travelers and I am not too shy to initiate a conversation if I feel like talking!

This morning I was thinking about how I do look forward to a day when I can share this city with a boyfriend or a husband. For now, though , I am thankful for the strength I had to walk away from relationships that were not right for me. In these last 30 years, I have learned that there are far, far worse things than being single!

Love After Love

The time will come when,
with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

~ Derek Walcott