Steps today: 23 876. Add another super-busy day to the list!
We started off with a GREAT breakfast. A fraction of the cost compared to yesterday’s ‘mishap’, incredibly delicious (the croissant was the best by far), and it came with a view of Notre Dame. It was a fantastic way to start the day.
Our first sight seeing adventure was the inside of Notre Dame. Pictures just can’t do it justice… and not just because I can’t find quite the correct setting on my camera, but because it’s SO HUGE and I don’t think a picture can convey that feeling. It was hard to get nice pictures because there was always sure a huge contrast between the light and the dark. A camera will just not capture what your eyes see naturally.
Here is a perfect example: make it dark to see the details in the window or make it light to see the details on the organ?
After this the plan was to go to the Archeological Crypt, but it was closed for today. This means I probably won’t go at all because it’s part of the Museum Pass and we only have 1 day left on it. We have other items left on our list that we want to see more and if it means a detour tomorrow than forget it because I don’t care enough about it to pay to go on Saturday.
The Louvre Museum was next on the list, but I got side tracked with more flower picture taking on the way!
We didn’t really have a solid plan for our visit to the Louvre aside from seeing the Mona Lisa – that was priority one. My mother knew to expect that it would be small, but she was actually surprised to see that was bigger than she had imagined! Most people have the exact opposite reaction.
It was my third time seeing the painting, so I was more fascinated by the sea of people clambering for a view!
After that, we just wandered aimlessly soaking in the various items.
Highlights include the Winged Victory (and the flock of tourists drawn towards her)
Venus de Milo:
Crown Jewels:
That famous painting of Napoleon crowning himself:
And not to be overlooked: The Main Foyer!
Our wander lasted about 2.5 hours and I think that’s enough – anymore than that museum fatigue strikes and you aren’t enjoying it anymore or really taking anything in.
Lunch today was at Le Train Bleu. My pictures come nowhere near communicating the incredible interiors, just peruse the website for the glamour shots!
I again had my litany of usual favourites. I’m a bit disgusted with myself for my lack or originality… I REALLY REALLY REALLY have to say to myself that enough is enough, the favourites have been indulged, now order something else for a change instead of foie gras, steak tartare and cheese!!! I think I can be forgiven for the tartare this time… they prepare it table-side and that added an extra flourish!
We really needed to digest after this, so despite the rain we decided to walk to our next destination which was the Pantheon. Actually, you can’t even call it rain – it just drizzled for about 30 minutes and we didn’t even need the umbrellas. The hoods on our jackets were good enough.
On the way, we walked through the Jardins des Plantes and so you guessed it: more flower pictures!
The Paris Mosque:
And finally the Pantheon. It was nice to see it all clean and renovated! During my last 2 visits in 2012 and 2014 it was all covered up. I must say they did a good job! We would have climbed the Dome, but we got there about 15 minutes after that part closed. Ah well, next time!
Victor Hugo and Marie Currie are just two of the many notables in the crypt… but they are so well cleaned now that it’s hard to read the names! Thankfully the walls are still dirty.
Like yesterday, we had no desire to eat supper since lunch did us in and so we went for a walk though St Germain and had a nightcap at Les Deux Magots. I’m cheating a little here, this is a picture of the place that I took on Sunday morning when it was sunny.
Sauternes for me; it’s one if my favourites but surprisingly I have not seen it on that many menus. When I saw it here, I pounced!
Still feeling the need to walk in order to digest the mountain of food consumed at lunch, we decided to walk home from there. It’s about a 45 minute walk back to the hotel… I would say it helped me digest about 2% of my meal.
2 more days to go! Can’t believe the end is in sight.
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