Day 3 in Paris

Today we got a little bit later of a start which actually felt nice. I took a melatonin for sleeping which gave me a pretty solid rest, even if it meant we slept in a bit. 

Instead of getting breakfast at the hotel like yesterday, we opted to skip and wait until we got to our destination of the morning which was Montmartre. We took a taxi to get there and arrived just before noon to a throng of hot, sweaty tourists milling around the crowded hilly streets. A short tour of the church was all we really needed to get our fix. From here, you can see almost all of Paria which was a neat perspective. It is a beautiful, regal church even if it is EXTREMELY touristy. On another trip I would love to see it at nighttime. I was able to snap an (illegal) picture before we we finished touring the inside. 

After touring the church, we were about to go for a climb up to the dome until we realized that, as a group, we were much more in need of espresso and some food rather than a hike. We went into a little

cafe where we were seated and forgotten and quickly left. We wanted out of the touristy trap as soon as the novelty of Montmarte wore off. 

Once in a taxi we headed to the Arc de Triomohe. It was also a beautiful structure - and so very intricate. 

After admiring the Arc for a minute or two we went walking along the Champs de Elysee and stopped in at some of the high-end shops. While it was fun to see a different side of Paris (shopping) we agreed that it felt a little Americanized for our tastes. I will say, however, that the Sephora is the closest thing to a beauty enthusiast's utopia I could ever dream of. 

Still having not eaten anything, we stumbled hungrily upon a little place called Foquette's that was simply amazing. Little did we know, it was the restaurant for a five-star hotel. We enjoyed double espressos, fresh salads, chicken, fish, and  delicious rolls, butter, and cheese puffs. We even made friends with our waiter, Dennis, and gave him a card to go to the Inn. He was familiar with SLO and aaid he's been to the mission before. 

After lunch we did a little more shopping and made our way back towards the hotel. Although it was only in the high 80s we were so dang hot. Shade was precious and when we saw the cool steps of the Grand Palais we couldn't resist resting for a bit. 

After this, we continued walking and stopped off at a little wine shop for a couple bottles. Mom and dad got a nice Chateauneuf de Paup and I found a split of Sancerre.

After this we found a little perfume shop where I bought two different scents - one with a rosey nose and another that's scented with Persian Almonds. I love them and am already bummed I can't get them shipped to the U.S. (I asked). 

Just before reaching the hotel, we stopped in at the legendary Ladurée for a macaron. I sort of felt like it was obligatory, however after tasting the amazing passion fruit and white chocolate cookie I realized what all the hype had been about. It was like nothing I had ever tried... I'm talking eyes rolling back in your head good. I fell in love. 

After we got back to the room we popped open our bottles and enjoyed a couple glasses while face timing Grandma Phyllis. She was thrilled and it was nice to hear her voice and see her smile. 

We went to a tapas dinner spot on the recommendation of our concierge and were not even prepared for the heavenly treats they prepared us. It was definitely our best dinner in Paris. Pinxo will remain a fond memory in my heart and mouth for years to come. 

After dinner, we were greeted by the most beautiful full moon rising over the city. I went to sleep with a full, happy tummy and dreams of our next stop - Florenza! Á Bientôt Paris! 

Day 2 in Paris

What a fun, full day yesterday was for us! I woke up rather early (5:30) and did my workout, wrote a little, answered emails, and got ready for the day. We were to breakfast by around 9. 

After a lovely petit dejenuer at the hotel, we went for a stroll through the Jardin de Tuileries which was impeccable. The grass was manicured to perfection and hardly a single flower dropped or was left in poor shape. The fountains and sculptures were also grand and beautiful. 

After we strolled through the gardens, we went to the Museé d'Orsay to see famous works by various renowned artists. Although it's hard to say which piece was my favorite I kept finding myself lost in the vibrant, intricate color schemes of Signac. It was such a strange feels seeing so many legendary pieces just inches away from my face. 

After the Mo we stopped into a pharmacy for bandaids to reconcile my poor choice in shoes and continued meandering the streets. We saw various patisseries, brasseries on nearly every corner, marchés, and lots of other shops with open windows. The weather was so beautiful that I felt like I could walk for days. 

We slowly made our way over to le Tour Eiffel. Words fail to describe the grandeur and sheer size of this beautiful structure. Standing beneath it I had to crank my head way back to se the very top. The thought of climbing up it - or worse, the elevator, sent shivers down my spine so we opted for pictures at the bottom instead (also avoiding the lines.) 

From here, we took an Uber to the Latin District to find attractions, more little shops and perhaps some food. We had great fun hiking the little hills and here we also were able to find some beautiful churches, buildings, and the Notre Dame after lunch at a fun spot on the patio of a café. 

After lunch we met up with Kevin and Carhy Main who have been in Paris for the past three weeks or so. We shared an espresso and walked with them for a short time. It was nice to see familiar faces for the both of us. 

After we found our way back to the district our hotel is in, we visited a few more shops and got ready for dinner at the Beef Club. Getting there was a bit tricky, and after we got in someone else's uber by mistake, then missed our own uber, we are a whole lot more fond of cabs at this point in the trip. When we finally got to dinner, we had the best waitress named Helen who helped us translate menu items and always had a warm, lightheartedness to her. I had ceviche and mama and daddy enjoyed some good (rare) Parisian beouf. After dinner, we went to the underground club next door and had a drink before walking home. I tried ordering a shot of Absinthe and re bartender gave me a very discerning glance and asked if I had ever tried it. He gave me the tiniest couple of drips and let me try it so that I could be very sure I, in factx did NOT want a full shot of that stuff. Great flavor but man it was strong! 

After our late (Europen) dinner which didn't even begin till 10 or so, we enjoyed walking back to the Westin. Paris is beautiful in the daytime and even more breathtaking at night. Past midnight, it seems only the lovers are out to enjoy the city's glittering lights.