returning to Europe and "the west" was a nice treat after over a year in Asia, where they don't quite get how to make good western food and they certainly don't have much cheese! We ate out of the grocery stores most often, happy to have some meat and cheese and of course, the wine!
Paris is a rather expensive city, so saving a buck on food was nice, and the many picnics that we had were romantic and sweet. The weather felt cool us, having been in the equatorial sun for a month, but we managed just fine on the sunny spring days. Things were just beginning to bloom, and the Parisians were all smiles with their new dose of vitamin D.
okay, so not all Parisians were happy....
We walked, as we always do when traveling, for miles and miles, exploring each neighborhood or arrondissement, each with it's own charm (or lack there of). We made a point to see the major sites that one must see while in Paris. They were stunning, and crowded, and larger or more elaborate than the many photos can portray.
The Louvre, perhaps the most famous museum in the world, is huge. We didn't go inside, but simply walking around the grounds and through the many courtyards was a sight to see! Sculptures galore, and some fine architecture.
We played chess in the park, a big park full of young people lounging in the grass, children yelling for joy on the play toys, and old folks walking their dogs. A bird almost crapped on me (whew, dodged that one!) and we hit a stale mate! Ugh...
The metro is quite easy to navigate and the stations are very close together, easy to walk between. they are crowded and expensive, but have so much charm, as with all things Parisian, I think.
There seems to be a theme here that Paris is an expensive city. It is. However! There is one great bargain that we took advantage of, and they are these weekday lunch specials. Several courses of incredible food for cheap and coffee included at the end. Nearly every brasserie or bistro had one of these set menus, and the hungry flocked to them, including us!
We stayed at a quaint hotel in the 10th arrondissement. It was so Parisian! We had a small room on the third floor, up a winding staircase and at the end of a narrow hall. Inside was a simple room with a small bed, a small bathroom, a cute desk and chair. The empty walls had soft colors and the doors and windows were solid wood. Then of course there were the big and beautiful floor to ceiling windows that opened inward like french doors, we overlooked a simple little courtyard garden below.
Every major city has street art, Paris included. Every major city has tagging, too, which is often ugly, if you ask me, but can have some visual appeal when bunched together. Maybe. Here's a bit of it, but I could hardly capture some of the best pieces I saw!
And there's just nothing like the beautiful buildings. The ornate structures with expensive apartments inside, I'm sure, that line the streets. The very wide and very spacious streets and squares. Paris is a crowded city, but you don't really notice, because of the brilliant structure of the city. So open and clean, with pretty views all around.
with love, from Paris
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