Day 31 - 27 April 2019 Saturday - Paris

These last three days in Paris are going to be a bit like R & R, I have nothing organised and nothing that I really have to do.  

Paris today has been cold and very windy, with one particularly heavy rainstorm.  Luckily I was indoors having lunch when the rain came through.

I thought that I would have a bit of a wander and possibly end up at the Musee d'Orsay.  This musee is actually an art gallery of French art from 1880 to 1914 and is located in a converted railway station.  I am not that interested in French art (from any period) but apparently the building and interior is stunning and well worth the visit.  

But first up I walked to Notre Dame cathedral, or as close as I could get to it anyway. As you could imagine the streets around it are closed off with lots of scaffolding and building material already on site.  So I took some photos and continued on my sojourn.

Now, one of my astute readers has made a comment, by SMS, that I haven't  posted any selfies.  I responded politely and advised that I don't do selfies.  Anyway as I have posted a food pic I have decided to break all the rules and descend into total anarchy and post a selfie, see below, and don't expect anymore!

A long and rambling walk, as you can see from the step count, took me from Notre Dame along the Seine to the entrance of the Louvre and then through the Jardin Tiuleres to the Place de Concorde at the bottom of the Champs Elysees.  My intention to walk along the CE was thwarted as it appeared to be closed off.  I don't know if this was done for security reasons as the 'yellow vests' were out and about again or due to something else going on.

Wouldn't be Paris without this pic

So onto plan 'C', crossed the bridge that used to have all the locks on it until it collapsed and then walked back up through St Germain stopping for a late lunch on the way.

I will tell you a little about the suburb of St Germain, which is where I am staying.  St Germain is on the left bank (of the Seine) and has traditionally been hangout of the arty and literary set, think Hemingway, Wilde and Orwell amongst others, the bistro Deux Magots was a hang out for these people and is just around the corner from me.  It is very touristy but also a residential area for local Parisians, typical of Paris the locals live in apartments over the shops.  In the area my hotel is in there are a lot of commercial art galleries selling very esoteric and expensive art, high end interior design shops and lots of speciality shops.  The Boulevard St Germain is one of Paris' great boulevards, once again lined with expensive looking shops and is always busy.  There is also one of Paris' major universities nearby so there a lots of younger folk around and lots of international students.  Nearby is Jardin du Luxembourg one of Paris' much loved public gardens where the children still hire a toy yacht to sail on one of the big fountains.  (Plus big kids sailing their remote controlled yachts and today a guy with a remote control submarine).  Because so many of the Parisians live in apartments with their children and dogs the parks are like their back yard to them.

Street scene from my bedroom window

The restaurants, bistros and cafes all have tables and chairs set up on the footpaths and it is a pleasure to sit at one of the little tables and sip a drink or two and watch the passing parade.

Field HQ 2012 B & B tour and typical bar for the area (also taken early morning)

Dinner tonight was at Chalet Gregoire that promotes itself as traditional regional French cooking.  I made the mistake of stopping to look at the menu in the window and the old guy out the front pretty much grabbed me by the elbow and dragged me inside.  For those of you who may be interested for entree I had a salmon tartare (which was interesting), main course was a lamb shank roasted in honey with little boiled potatoes and green beans which was delicious  and finished off with a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream.  This was accompanied by a half bottle of 2015 Chateau La Tonnelle from Bordeaux.  (It is going to be difficult to come back to baked beans on toast for dinner).


Fun Fact: In France 'French onion soup' is just called 'onion soup', makes sense when you think of it.  And it is delicious.

Step count: 13,860

Observation: Although it is almost a caricature of a the French you do see them walking from the bakery in the morning with one or two fresh baguettes under their arm.  And if it is a French man he will have broken the end off the loaf and will be munching on that as he goes on his way.