Paris 2026 - Day 8

Steps today: 28 284 / 18.66 km

Last full day in Paris - the time FLEW by!

We started with breakfast at our usual café around the corner.

Then a walk through the another passage, Le Grand Cerf this time.

And ultimately arrived to the Rue Montorgueil. My goal was to FINALLY (after many attempts over many visits) have a Baba au Rhum at Stohrer, the pastry shop where the dessert was born in 1730!

It was stupid to each get one, neither one of us could finish, we easily could have shared.

Next, the Fontaine des Innocents

And our ultimate destination: Sainte Chapelle.

What can you say about this kaleidoscope jewel box. I've seen it at least 4 times now and I am still wowed. It's so beautiful it brought tears to Vesna's eyes.

They cleverly covered up a section being restored with mirrors that gave it a trippy effect because the church does not have 2 alters.  I didn't even notice it at first until I took a picture of the ceiling.

Next we crossed the street to Les Deux Palais Café to fill up on fats and nitrates.

We then wandered in the Saint Séverin Church, known for it's one lone twisty column. Beautiful stain glass too...  but nothing compared to this morning's!

Time for drinks now!

Then a final stroll through Luxembourg Garden

The decided a great final diner would be at the Relais de l'Entrecote again, but this time the location closer to the Eiffel Tower so we could go see the twinkle show after supper.

We aimed to show up around 6PM because they open at 6:45 and you know by now that long lineups are always involved! Well, we got there at 6:45 and the lineup was around the block! I thought maybe the front of the line just happened not to be seated yet, but no, they were, so we ended up waiting an hour and half! That's how good this place is.

It was as delicious as always, I'm already looking forward to my return visit whenever it will be.

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower around 9:45PM, perfect timing to see the 10PM show.

I love how you can hear the crowd erupting in cheers when it started! 

Afterwards, we headed over to a Café for our final toast to Paris.  I was feeling celebratory so I order a Kir Peches Royal (meaning with champagne instead of white wine) and when the waiter asked me if I wanted the small or the large, I said why not to the indulgence.

I nearly shit my pants when I got the bill! ha! but whatever  - it was the perfect goodbye

Paris 2026 - Day 7

Steps today: 27 692 / 18.27 km

Again today we didn't start from our usual breakfast café in Place de la République, but hopped on the metro to start exploring from a different spot and have breakfast in a café that Frank and I like a lot.

Breakfast included eggs again for me, and a mimosa! Why not.

We strolled around the Montparnasse Cemetery - I wanted Vesna to see Ricardo

And then it was already time for drink stop! Where did the morning go? Last year in Paris on my last day I spotted a drink on La Coupole's cocktail menu called the "Simone B". WOW! Felt illegal not to try it so that's what we did next.

Beautiful presentation, decent list of ingredients but the violet syrup wasn't my thing. Almost looked like a Guinness.

The plan for lunch was a jambon beurre sandwich at the renowned Petit Vendome. It's supposed to be the best in Paris. I had a camembert sandwich here in 2018ish and it was good, but now the place has gone viral on social media so it's popularity has exploded... and in true Parisian form, you have to line up to get a take-away sandwich.

I don't remember how long we waited. 30 minutes maybe? and lazy me I didn't even take a picture of the sandwiches!  We strolled around Place Vendome munching away. Yes it was yummy but I don't quite see what made it THE BEST

It was about 3:30 by then, and we eventually made our way to Les Deux Magots for a drink and just watch the world go by for a while. The weather was cold so the terrasse was empty but we were bundled enough to be comfortable. 

Neither one of us wanted to be in the picture, so here is one of where we sat. Ha!

These olives were SOOO  GOOOD!!!!

Next on our list was the Pantheon. Before coming to Paris we said we'd climb the dome but we felt like we ticked that box when we climbed the Arc de Triomphe on Day 1. I've been up to the Dome twice before and it's very nice up there; I want to do it again some day, but not on this trip.

We spent some time in the Saint Etienne du Mont church next door

And then we wandered over to the nearby Place de l'Estrapade to see the young girls posing in front of Emily's apartment and Gabriel's restaurant.

We lingered with a drink which we both regretted because they were awful! I had a Kir which tasted nutty and Vesna had a glass of wine that also tasted strange. 

Ah well, at least the people watching was fun!

We wanted to stroll through the Luxembourg Garden on our way to supper, but it was closed by then (after 7PM) however I still managed a few nice shots through the gates.

Supper was at Le Select, another big brasserie I wanted to show Vesna. My dinner was a total fail.

My pictures all came out on the yellow-side. weird.

I started with the foie gras which was totally tasteless! I added salt and pepper but it did not help, I barely ate half. What a waste.

And then, onion soup which barely had any cheese! What's the point!!

The best part of my meal was the after dinner cognac.

We got back to the room around 11PM, a late night and another great full day.