Paris | Day 1

In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that prior to coming out here Heath and I had a major "discussion" on the merits of wandering vs. planning our Paris adventures. [I was going to let it go at that, but Heath insists I write that he was in favor of wandering, me of planning...]

We settled on a compromise of sorts but I have to confess, today was a wandering day and we did A LOT!

[walking]


Our morning started with a short walk to a nearby outdoor market where we picked up fresh baguettes and the sweetest strawberries I've ever had. We went over to a small park and sat on a bench to eat our lovely breakfast.

We then hopped on a train to Porte de Vanves to check out some flea markets. I exercised excellent self restraint...we only purchased one thing: A beautiful tablecloth that is perfect for our dining room. We then hopped on another train to Montparnasse to visit the Marche parisien de la Creation, an artists' flea market. There were many beautiful paintings—including these amazing painting/sculpture combos of an African woman—but they were, alas, just out of our price range. We walked through Montparnasse toward Saint Germain des Pres, an "old quarter on the left bank known for its beautiful church, its famous cafes, its narrow streets and antique shops." It didn't disappoint.

We actually ended up seeing two churches. First, Saint Sulpice and it's lovely fountain. First started in 1646, it took six architects and 134 years to complete. Well worth it! In addition to the awesome architecture, we were treated to a piano concert inside the church—as it turns out, Nicola Celoro was playing pieces from Chopin and Liszt. Listen for yourself...



[saint sulpice]




We moved on to the main attraction: The church at Saint Germain des Pres, the oldest church in Paris. We didn't take any pictures inside since an actual service was going on, but it was breathtaking.

[saint germain des pres]




From there, we walked over to Les Deux Magots, the cafe on the corner. This establishment has been "frequented by the intellectual elite from the end of the 19th century onwards." We knew we'd fit right in. :-) Heath liked his cappuccino, and the people watching was first rate, but you definitely pay for the cachet.

[les deux magots]



Then we had—you guessed it—more walking. This time, up to the Seine and then along the river before crossing over to the Jardin des Tuileries. We sat for a spell, but mostly wandered around before making our way to the Champs-Elysees. Every corner we turned revealed another beautiful view or architectural wonder. Heath was awestruck. I believe the exact quote was:

"Paris is the standard to which all other cities will now be held."

[the seine]






[from the garden]



We had dinner at L'Entrecote, a spot just of the Champs-Elysees, which featured delicious steak and frittes. After that we walked the rest of the way up to the Arc de Triomphe, oohed and aahed, and then headed on the Metro back to our hotel.

[dinner and a view]




It was a very full day, but we never felt rushed. The weather held up beautifully and we're ready for Day 2!