Journal: Jour 6 & 7

Day 6 (Wed):

 

• up and breakfast in the room
• walked to Jardin du Luxembourg delicious long lunch in a cafe watching passers-by and finished with cafe (espresso)
• meandered through Luxembourg and found a couple chairs that looked out over the carousel with a view of the palais and eiffel
• more walking through the gardens
• Musee Rodin  (one of my favorite museums, of which, I have very few) and saw "the kiss" and "the chapel" as well as the more famous 'gates of hell' and 'the thinker' where i did the obligatory mimicked picture below to match the one done 9 years prior.  we found a lovely spot to sit  and chill and watch the light through the beautiful trees and gardens
• headed over to Invalides and saw the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides as well as Napoleon's tomb - whoa!  that thing is huge.  And to think, all that for a small little man.  never seen it before, so it was kinda fun to check it off my list.
• wandering out of Hotel du Invalides we decided to 'pass through' the Musee de l'Armee on behalf of JP.  Which was fine with me because I had to use the toilette and going to the Museum provided that opportunity.  The 'passing through' of the War museum ended up as an hour of War history through the eyes of the Frenchies.  It was, actually,  pretty interesting, likely because my Great Grandfather (Annie's dad, Papa Gene) was in France for WWI (The Great War) after lying about his age and enlisting.  Joe's Grandfather and my Granddaddy were in Asia for WWII, but had significance for us, anyway.
• We walked through the exit door as they started announcing the Museum was closing (excellent timing) and of course, it was pouring rain.  Luckily, we had our trusty ponchos with us and headed to the Metro while the other suckas had to wait inside Invalides massive doors awaiting a break in the rain-- which was not to happen for quite some time.
• made it home through the rain and by then, I was significantly congested (boooo) and sneezing.  JP went to the pharmacy for me and we relaxed for a bit
• headed out towards ile de saint louis for dinner at Cafe Med.  lovely dinner.  LOVE that island.
• walked home

 

Day 7 - May 14 (thurs):

 

• JP was up at 7:30 this morning and by 8:15- walked to Notre Dame and went in again, then walked through the Latin Quarter and to the Pantheon, by the Sorbonne and back down Saint Michel - went to the Starbucks and got a cafe Americano, then strolled over to Pont Neuf then found a pastry shop on Rue Dauphine and picked up some eclairs, macaroons and croissants before heading back to the apartment.  All before I even work up.
• After breakfast in the apartment, we headed over to the Archaeological Crypt of Notre Dame (not really a 'crypt', but the Roman ruins that are under what is now the plaza in front of Notre Dame. 
• In the Notre Dame again, sat down and spaced out.
• Lunch at the 'ol favorite cafe - Cafe Panis - and enjoyed a lovely cafe lunch and I felt much better after some tea.
• Strolled over to ile Saint louis for some gelato - Mmmm.... and walked the length of our favorite little island before finding the perfect bench to sit and space out some more while watching boats go by on the Siene and the sun peak out of the clouds over the top of the Eiffel Tower.
• Time for Coffee (and another eating adventure)!  So we headed to the nearest cafe and got some cafe (delicious) - spaced out some more watched people pass by
• picked out my standard keepsake of any/every place I visit - which is to collect postcards.  Loitered and perused the vendors on the wall above the river, thinking/trying to buy something but couldn't convince ourselves of anything we really wanted
• back to apartment and pack up [most of] our stuff; showered and got dressed for dinner
• stepped out only to realize it was raining again and we'd just retired our broken umbrella to the trash as we packed up.  Sooo... Mr. Price trippity-tropped on down to the souvenir stands and picked up an 'elegant' umbrella. YAY!  Problem solved.
• with wine in tow -along with the handy plastic champagne flutes we picked up at the grocery story earlier this week- we found a marble bench on the river banks below and had some vin rouge to toast our 4th anniversary. 
• when we'd had enough, he headed up the stairs to le Caveau du Palais to dinner (less than 1/2 mile from our apartment and quite lovely, albeit snobby)
• fantastic dinner included escargot, steak tartar, white asparagus, truffled risotto, a fish I cannot identify but was divine, and lots and lots of butter. finished with creme brulee, of course.  then home in a flash--which was good since it was raining.

Tomorrow: leaving for  CDG by 9am via RER.  Home to Austin by 8:30p Friday.