After landing and dropping my bags at the hotel, I went straight down the street to Montparnasse to sit at a cafe and enjoy a glass of wine. Service at cafes and restaurants is different in Paris; slow service is good service. Waiters stay out of your way and let you enjoy your meal. Afterward I took the metro to Ile de la Cite for a peak at Notre Dame. My real goal was Shakespeare's and Company, a bookshop that James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway hung out at. I grabbed "The Last Tycoon" to read throughout the week. I got started on the book after dinner at the cafe where I ate got to cross off Croque Monsieur from my list of French foods to sample.
Day two began with un pain au chocolat and a walk to Jardin du Luxembourg, a beautiful park in the 6th arrondissemont. This one had tons of chairs and benches, tennis courts, and walking paths. The incredible thing is that there are nice parks like this all over Paris and they are all very quiet. I began my Parisian life there with un espresso and some reading time. Afterward I briefly visited St. Sulpice, mentioned in the Da Vinci Code, and the unique stores nearby. It was noon by then and I met up with Holli on Boulevard St-Germain.
We immediately grabbed a crepe sucre citron and headed off toward the Seine and the Marais area. It was nice just to walk around and see the city. The best falafel I've ever had, from L'As Du Falafel, was for lunch. It's better than in Israel, I kid you not. With full tummies, Holli and I wandered around Paris with no real direction. It's such a big city and there are cool hidden spots everywhere.
For dinner I got a true Parisian experience, shopping for groceries at the market. The produce is top notch in Paris, especially the French strawberries. I've never had better. We made stops at the fromagerie and the patisserie for French cheese and a great baguette. The next morning we caught a train to Normandy.
The train was so full that we had to sit on the floor, but no bother, we made it to Bayeux for our D-Day tour. Our ride took us to Point du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery. It was a solid tour considering the short amount of time we had. The whole experience was eye opening. The obstacles the Allied forces had to overcome were enormous. It's truly amazing that they succeeded. We had a particularly cool experience at the cemetery. An old Marine veteran was there to help lower the flags and play Taps. The Americans were asked to gather around the flag as it was lowered. It was a very patriotic moment supporting the veteran and representing the United States on foreign soil.
Day four in Paris began with a stroll down the Champs Elysees. The grandeur of this street is very very cool, one of my favorites out there. Somehow South Congress in Austin actually reminds me of the Champs. Holli and I made obligatory stops at Laduree for macaroons and in front of Abercrombie to laugh at the people waiting in a long line to shop at A&F. After a quick baguette break, we sought out my small secret garden near the Champs. Again, it's amazing how quiet some places can be in such a huge city.
Our next stop was to the Orangerie where Monet's enormous Water Lilies paintings are housed. I love impressionism so this was a cool spot to pop into. A stop for Angelina's hot chocolate was next. I swear this hot chocolate was like drinking Hershey's kisses. It was absolutely incredible and entirely too rich. After dinner, Holli and I went separate ways because she had a super early flight to Croatia.
I rounded out my last day in Paris by being as lazy as possible. I began with a walk from Montparnasse to the Orsay, through the Jardin des Tuileries, and over to Centre Pompidou. I plopped down in a recommended cafe for un cafe au lait and a Nutella and banana crepe. I was craving one of those the whole trip and it was glorious. After getting through a solid chunk of my book, I strolled through Marais again and took the subway to the Eiffel Tower. I walked around a bit before sitting down again for coffee and an omelette. See, like I said, lazy.
And that was it. I took a late flight back to Edinburgh. I could spend weeks in Paris. This past trip gave me a totally different perspective on the French who seem to have a poor reputation on the home front. If you learn and use a few words in French you get excellent, friendly service. Also, understanding and embracing the French culture makes for a great experience that many tourists often don't get.
