I was pretty tired out from the Normandy tour so I slept in this morning and then headed out for another run along the Seine. I was feeling pretty tired but the fresh air from my run rejuvenated me! I got ready for the day and headed out to tour some museums.
My first stop was l'Orangerie. This museum is known for the beautiful displays of Monet's Water Lilies. They are beautifully displayed in a circular room.
The museum also had works of other impressionist artists, such as Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisse. I love the artwork of the impressionists - definitely my favorite type of art!
I walked back through the Tuileries towards the my next stop, the Louvre. I just love the huge parks, like the Tuileries.
As you can see, they have chairs around the pond. In the summer, children float little boats on these ponds. So cool.
Next I headed into the Louvre. Holy cannasta, it is massive. Truth be told, I only tackled one wing and one floor of the museum. It's just too overwhelmingly massive for me. I am glad that I went, though. I saw the wing of Italian artwork, including the famous Mona Lisa.
At this point, I started to get museum ADD, so I headed out and walked along the Seine towards the Latin quarter. I was craving a gallette, so I headed toward the St. Michel area to find a creperie. I really need to figure out how to make these gallettes when I get home. They are SO good. This time I had one with ham, cheese, and onions, topped with an egg and a little salad.
Yum. It tasted even better than it looks. I might need to have one more gallette before I go home... I think it might be my favorite thing to eat in Paris!!
After my late lunch, I was hoping to check out the Conciergerie, which is where prisoners were held during the Revolution - including Marie Antoinette. Unfortunately, it is closed this week. :( Bummer.
So I walked home along Rue de Rivoli and stopped at Hotel de Ville. Hotel de Ville is so beautiful! I love the carousel on the corner!
You can go ice skating in front of the Hotel de Ville right now. I opted not to, but seeing the skaters definitely makes me think of the Barrister as we went skating together in December.
I am thinking it may be a good idea to avoid this corner for the rest of my trip (I've walked by it multiple times now and run by it in the mornings) - it conjures up memories that I really don't want to think about right now...
I cleared my mind with a little window shopping in the beautiful BHV.
I came very close to purchasing some outerwear but then I remembered that I already own, um, 12+ jackets, possibly more... So I really do not need another. Amber is probably laughing as she reads this because she heard all about my outerwear obsession on our marathon road trip. I am drawn to outerwear like a moth to a flame...
After that, I stopped in at multiple Tabacs and got REALLY good at asking (in French) if they had stamps for post cards. Dear God, it is hard to find postage card stamps! I stopped at 5 different Tabacs. No luck. Finally I stumbled upon a post office and was able to purchase some! Success!
I celebrated the fact that I won't have to ask about postage stamps anymore by having a couple of glasses of wine in two different cafes and read for a bit before heading back to my apartment.
Je suis fatigué. And I am craving french fries so I might go to the cafe on the corner and have some for dinner. I swear they taste better over here - especially when dipped in mustard. Oh and the mustard tastes better over here, too!!
Tomorrow I will head to Versailles. I only have 2 days left in Paris! I honestly could spend a month in this city. Or maybe a lifetime? Ok, kidding... I can't afford to live here - and I am sure it wouldn't be as lovely if I was working each day... And I'd miss my family/friends. But seriously, this city rocks.
14 comments:
Ok, so everything you write about sounds amazing and beautiful and fun...but I have to say that I am most jealous about your drinking coffee or wine in Parisian cafes while reading a book. I think I will have to make 2 separate Paris trips, 1 where I see all the sights, and 1 where all I do is sit in cafes and read at least a dozen books!! :)
Have fun at Versailles!
Hehehe I am TOTALLY giggling about the outerwear comment ;) I really do think you should buy yourself something fabulous while you're there though! It's like my leather Italian purse - it's especially special because I got it in Venice! Anything you buy in Paris will be especially special because of that :)
Those crepes you keep eating look delicious! I wish I'd tried something like that while I was there!
The Louvre is huge and overwhelming, we spent about 3 hours wandering around it and didn't even cover 1/4 of it. Aren't the Italian paintings AMAZING though? They are SO HUGE! I can't even imagine painting something that large and still making it so detailed!
Oh, and I TOTALLY remember the stamp dilemna! Ha! We sent most of our postcards from Paris and it seemed impossible to find stamps. You sound a lot more bilingual than we were, though. Lol!
Loving your updates, can't wait to hear what you think of Versailles! I loved it so much, wandering through the gardens was so awesome and beautiful!
Jerry said he tried to call you but the number was out of order. Do you want his email address?
There's a post office on the ground level of l'Hotel deVille on the plaza size (near the metro). Of course, now you have your stamps...
I never really had the desire to travel overseas before (mostly because the airplane ride would kill me) but between you and my stepsister (who is on a month long European excursion of her own) I'm now deciding I must go.
It all looks so, so fabulous. The carosel, the food (I imagine everything tastes better in Paris), the buildings.
So glad that you took this trip. I think its exactly what you needed.
I agree so much with Mandy's comment. I've never really had any sort of traveling bug to go to another country but between your posts and Amber's posts...I really, really want to go to Europe someday!
Sounds like you are having so much fun. :)
Well if you do move to Paris, we'll come visit you =) I promise. You'd have more visitors than you know what to do with!
I was laughing about the outerwear comment as well since you mentioned it to me a few times. I can understand the obsession, though. You can never have enough coats/jackets. I'm like that with hoodies...
Love the photos as per usual! Have a great night's rest and can't wait to hear about the next part of your trip!
Seriously, everything that you're eating looks ridiculously delicious!!
I can't believe your trip is almost over either - but oh man, the memories you're making! Your pictures have been amazing!
I agree with Amber - buy yourself something nice while you're there - and then you can say..."oh, I picked this up in Paris!"
I dream of seeing Monet's lilies. For some reason running in a new place freaks me out. I'm glad you are more brave than I, a run in Paris sounds HEAVENLY right now.
I have never been interested in visiting Paris until now! :)
I love reading your blogs and I agree that you should buy something special in Paris as a keepsake! I'm sure the time is flying by and there is so much to see and do! I can't believe how much you've done, especially since you said you were going to take it slower this time! It is great that you made time to sit and drink coffee and read, and people watch! That sounds so perfect to me!
How awesome to stand in front of Monet's Waterlilies. And, you also stood in front of the Mona Lisa IN THE SAME DAY!!!!! Incredible!!!!! It would take a week to see the Louvre properly, I would imagine.
Stay warm and enjoy your days. It all looks so beautiful.
Run away from that skating rink...
Love you!
I love the photo of that little water fountain thing. I didn't come across it during my visit. So pretty. All your little wanderings sound amazing.
I too had a hard time finding postage in most of the cities we traveled to in europe. But I do remember waiting a long time in line in Paris just to get some freaking stamps at the post office. :)
I concur with Amber...buy SOMETHING for yourself. When I got back from Europe I realized I hadn't bought a piece of jewelry like I'd hoped. I was too busy doing (which is okay I decided) and kept thinking "oh, we can shop later in the trip. I'm sure I'll come across something else." I can't believe your week is almost to an end! What fabulous memories to have of your 30th bday. And what a story to tell your kids someday. :)
I spent just two days in Paris over 15 years ago, and your pictures have brought back so many good memories. Zuel and I have now added Paris to our travel list after reading all about your trip. Here's wishing you safe travels home, Lisa. Thank you for sharing your French experience.
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