Paris…

So, our trip to Paris was nothing short of amazing! Although we missed the Louvre because our plane was very late, we were able to go to Musee d’Orsay which is the home of the impressionist artists. We viewed the works of my favorite artists including Van Gogh and Degas. We saw the most famous paintings and sculptures along with lesser-known pieces. I know Degas mainly from his sculpture, and it was wonderful to see so many paintings that he created.

We also got to spend time at the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. Wandering around, we stumbled upon the famous La Fouquet’s restaurant. Our server, Renaud, was a delight and the cheeseboard he brought us was out of this world. We also visited the world-famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. We happened by a movie set that was filming which was exciting to watch. The Eiffel Tower was beautiful, particularly at night when it would light and sparkle every hour. Versailles was just a train ride away, and it was exciting to see the architecture, parlors, and bedrooms in the palace. The hall of mirrors was eye catching. The gardens were breathtaking.

It’s incredible what a walkable city Paris is. We walked everywhere. Our hotel, Le Jardins d’ Eiffel, was so quaint – what you might call a boutique hotel. Every morning, we would walk across the street to the Notre Patisserie to get pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants). We were a short walking distance to a grocery store and pharmacy. We were also surrounded by cafes everywhere. And the food was unbelievable. Everything tastes better in Paris. One of our many memorable meals took place at La Campanella. Stef had the lamb, and I had the roast duck with pear sauce. We will definitely be going back there on our next trip to Paris.

I was surprised just how many French people speak English. All i had to say was,”Parles-tu anglais?”They would often say, “Just a little.” It turns out their “little” bit of English was a lot! They were also all super nice. Many people say that the French don’t like Americans, but that was not my experience. Every person we encountered was delightful.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Seine river. Artists, and merchants all have bouquinistes or booths to sell their wares. We found two small oil on canvas paintings of the Eiffel Tower and a street in Paris. We had them framed, and they now adorn the wall next to the front door.

We had such a wonderful time in Paris, that we plan to return…Maybe even this year!

Stay Groovy…

Susie