Bonjour!
We returned from Paris yesterday, and while it was nice to be home, we were definitely dissappointed at having to leave. As soon as we arrived in the heart of the city it became immediately apparent why Paris is one of the most popular European destinations.Where to begin? Well, just walking through the most beautiful city that we have ever visited ranked high on our list of things to do. We set out on the first day and we were amazed at how the wide boulevards consistently gave way to tall trees and open green spaces. Barcelona is great, but it's claustrophobic by comparison--although I still prefer "cozy".
First, we wandered along the Seine and found our way to the Place de la Concorde, went up the stylish Champs-Élysées, and ended at the Arc d'Triumph. Later in the day we saw Notre Dame and criss-crossed the Quartier Latin. Then, as though we were just getting started, we went to the late opening of the Louvre and gazed on her holiness, the Mona Lisa. We stumbled along the museum corridors on sore feet for a few more hours until we couldn't take any more. It was now time for dinner.
We had a young Beaujolais to accompany our steak and salmon, which had been preceded by French onion soup and a warm goat cheese salad. We finished it off with a carmelized pear tart that would have been lovely with a cafe au lait, but James was falling asleep and Maggie had been breaking in new sandals that afternoon--we were exhausted!
Jour deux: We started the day at a little bakery around the corner from the hotel. Their pastries were amazing and by the end of the trip we were starting to think that Alexandre Eiffel's creation seemed a little less emblematic for the Paris that we had experienced; it had ceded this distinction to the almond croissant.
We continued on to the Musée d'Orsay, a railway station built in 1900 that has been converted into one of the city's premiere museums, showcasing 19th and 20th century artwork. This was a highlight of our trip and was the most aesthetically pleasing museum enclosure that we have seen. It's collection was fascinating and bereft of the 15th century religious artwork that most visitors to European museums tire of quite quickly. You know...crucifiction, crucifiction with gold-leaf border, resurrection, resurrection with gold-leaf border, angry-looking Mary suckling the baby Jesus, euphoric Mary suckling the gold-leafed-haloed Jesus...you get the point.Afterwards, we headed up to the Montmartre district for sweeping views of the city and a close up view of the Sacré-Cœur. Bon chance! There was a gastronomic festival going on and we got to sample regional delicacies like Bordeaux wine and cheese that could gag the most daring turophile and that I am sure would put hair on your feet--which is where the stuff comes from anyway.
Some time after this came the crêpes, the 11.60€ pair of coffees, and before we knew it we were back at the hotel and changing for an evening meal. This time we sat opposite the Notre Dame cathedral, drank black beer served slightly below room temperature, and relished the end of a whirlwind weekend adventure on the occasion of our five-year anniversary. It seems like longer, but Maggie insists it doesn't. We have finally learned to agree to disagree. Congratulations to us!
