Our last day in Paris!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Bonjour!

Up this morning about 7, so that we could actually have a few minutes to get ready and then out the door to meet Tommy and Jay.  I had a really lovely bath in our wonderful bathtub … yes!!  It does have one really novel feature!  Besides a handle for water to the tub, and a direct link to the one for the shower, there is a third handle along with faucet on a long hose, so that if one is bathing, one may wash one’s hair without having to run anything other than the line – no trying to get one’s head under the tap, just use the one with the long hose, and it’s wonderfully convenient!  We should try this at home.

Beautiful Notre Dame

So, out and into our rather brisk room (they certainly don’t overheat; that’s for sure!), dressed, and then down for breakfast.  We headed out around 9:30 am for Tommy and Jay, who are staying on Ile Saint Louis, which is the “other” island in the Seine, attached by bridge to Ile de la Cite, which is behind Notre Dame. 

Me, Tommy & Jay

We figured, as it was almost all down-hill, that we could walk just as quickly as take a bus, and the route was very easy.  Jay was waiting for us at the bridge, and it was SO great to see her!  We usually are able to get together at Thanksgiving, when Jay visits her Dad in Tucson, but this year we were in California, so we had a lot to catch up on.

We went to their flat, which is right off the main street on Ile Saint Louis, and up a few floors.  They’re in a cute and compact apartment, and we were all able to fit in the living room (which can be sort of Manhattan-like in its “compactness” sometimes!) where we chatted for a while.  Great fun!

My Quiche Lorraine and salad

Then, we decided to head to Sacre Coeur, which is up at the top of the hill in Montmartre.  We were able to catch a bus at the far eastern end of Ile Saint Louis, which took us right to Pigalle, and from there, we caught the Montmartrobus to the top. 

Place du Tertre, Montmartre

(Does beat climbing all the flights of stairs!)  Most of the bus emptied at Place du Tertre, where we walked around the square.  There were still painters there exhibiting their work, as well as many artists offering to draw pictures of the people passing by (like Disneyland).  

As it was now after noon, we opted instead for lunch, and found what looked to be a small place down one of the side streets.  It’s fortunate that we did so, as we were able to get a nice table on the ground floor. 

R's pasta

Sacre Coeur on a beautiful day!

The place was very soon packed with people, and when I used la toilette upstairs after lunch, that dining room was also absolutely jammed with people!  Jay and I both opted for Quiche Lorraine with green salad (very good!) and Tommy had pasta carbonara.  Robert had their penne with tomato sauce, and everyone was happy!  As it turned out, the restaurant was right next door to an ice cream and crepe store … I found my favorite, Stracciatella.  Jay had caramel (which was great!) and Tommy had chocolate.

We then walked over to the church, and enjoyed the beautiful blue skies and the great view over the city.  (Sacre Coeur is a fairly modern church, being built 1875 – 1914, and consecrated after WWI.  We think its “outside” is much prettier than its “inside.”)  We used the funicular to take us back down the hill, and headed back to the busy transit street in Montmartre.  (Stopping first, I have to admit, at a little shop at the bottom of the funicular to try on hats … I got a red beret-style, and Jay a stunning maroon fedora!)  At this point, we separated, as R and I were in need of naps, making plans to meet again tonight at 7 pm for a concert at Sainte-Chapelle!!  

Another picture of Sacre Coeur

Me and my new hat!  Jay behind

It took us a bit to make our way back to the hotel from the far “other” side of the city.  Additionally, there is a lot of construction in the area around the Opera (where I stayed with Bob and Stew two years ago) so that took some time to get through.  At long last, we made it back to Luxembourg, and upstairs for our naps.  R still sleeping!  Hopefully tomorrow morning will be easier to get up and organized, as we are heading to Lyon tomorrow, and having very little room for our things, they are basically entirely in need of repacking!  How fun!

More later!

m

xxx

Out again at 6:15 pm to head down to Sainte Chapelle and our concert.  We got there about 6:30 and went across the street to the café and have a glass of white wine while we waited. 

Bad lighting, but my steak and green beans

R's framboise dessert

My tarte citron with meringuee

Joined Tommy and Jay about 10 to 7, and we were almost first in line to go in.  Through security (this is an official police building, after all!) and up into Sainte Chapelle.  (Which, I may add, certainly looks better in sunlight, now that all the stained glass has been cleaned and restored!)  We were in row 2 of the seats, and the concert was just wonderful!  Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and several other pieces, but the Four Seasons were amazing!  We had seen the same principal violinist in June, as well as the harpsichordist, cello player, and one of the other violin players.  Very, very enjoyable!  

After the concert, we went across the street to Café des Deux Palais to collect our “free” glass of champagne … and took the opportunity to get dinner as well!  Jay and Tommy ordered pasta dishes – Jay’s pesto looked wonderful!  R and I had their special – filet steaks in cêpes sauce with a green salad and wonderfully cooked haricot verts (green beans).  For dessert, I had tarte citron with meringue, R had framboise tarte, and Jay and Tommy had crème caramel and crème brulee, respectively … all washed down with a bottle of Cote du Rhon, which was great.  By this time, the restaurant was wanting to close (imagine!) so we said our goodbyes and hopped on a 21 bus back up to the apartment.  So…up in the morning to repack and make our way first to Orly to pick up our rental car, and then to Lyon to get into our apartment!  A busy day tomorrow!

Lots of love,

m

xxx