Our second day in Paris began with breakfast at our hotel. The offerings were plentiful including meats, cheeses, and breads along with the opportunity to order eggs or pancakes. Coffee was a challenge for me personally, as my one morning cup a day is extremely hot and comes with just cream. The machine at breakfast included espresso, cafe au lait, or cappuccino. Of course I tried each variety over the course of our time there, but none of them satisfied my thirst for just a piping hot cup of American coffee.
There were several excursions for which it was recommended that we secure a guide. Today’s adventure to the Louvre was one of them, so after our 20 minute walk, we met our guide, Jorge, and together with three others – remarkably also from South Carolina – we made our way to the museum. Jorge was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the actual building as well as the major focal points within the various collections. I feel if we had been left on our own to explore we could probably still be there!
The Louvre began as a hunting lodge, built in the 12th century, and as Jorge pointed things out, one could easily see how each section of the physical building displays a particular type of architecture as wings were added over the years. It became a museum in 1793, and houses some of the most fantastic sculptures, paintings and artifacts imaginable… Da Vinici’s Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo to name a few. Or imagine being the recipient of this 140-caret ring, a small token, or this emerald set, given to his wife by Napoleon III.
The pyramid in the courtyard was constructed in 1989 and our guide, who was then a photographer, captured the final construction and grand opening of the structure. Jorge’s first wife – he’s on number 4 – was a dancer and piano player at Moulin Rouge! Jorge was, indeed, quite the character, but we received so much more insight to the Louvre than those released into this massive museum by themselves with no guidance.
Following our two hour tour, we continued walking and found our way to Notre Dame. Although they hoped to have the cathedral opened before the Olympics in July, that deadline will not be met. It is, however, an extremely imposing edifice and I can only imagine what it looks like on the inside.
Across the street from Notre Dame sits the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, where expatriates and other writers would congregate back in the day. Loved-loved-loved it of course! I bought a bag and Bill decided he needed to read A Farewell to Arms, which I always enjoyed teaching!
Today was most likely our top day for walking as we ended up with over 17,000 steps! Sneakers are definitely the most popular footwear in Paris and to be honest, you don’t see many overweight Parisians – between walking and biking. Chances are the larger people you spot are Americans!
Our evening activity on Day 2 was a Secret Food Tour, which was a gift from Bill’s daughter, Sarah. Working for the USO, she is quite the world traveler, and has found such a tour wherever she roams, the most recent one being in Poland. This was truly a highlight of our trip and we highly recommend it.
We attempted the Metro in order to get to the meeting point for the tour, and following this first attempt, we became “Masters of the Metro!” We successfully met Antoine at the specified spot and together with him and only one other couple, a young duo from the state of Washington, we began our tour. Antoine, (a.k.a. Anthony), was thrilled with the small group as 12 people is usually the limit. He is a 27-year old attorney by day and a food guide by night!
The tour occurred in the highest section of Paris known as Monmartre, where the Bascilica of the Sacre-Coeur sits high upon the hill, and it is the neighborhood where many famous artists such as Degas, Monet, Renoir and Picasso lived and worked. Anthony shared lots of history as we traveled through the neighborhood stopping at a macaron shop, a fromagerie, boulangerie, bucherie, and creperie, gathering dessert, cheese, bread, meats and pates and crepes. We then walked to a storefront, which the tour company has set up like a bistro and listened to Anthony tell more tales as he created a magnificent charcuterie board, accompanied by both red and white wine, a dessert wine and cognac! He surprised us with a chocolate filled eclair and a small pastry they call “cabbages” and then each couple left with a bottle of French champagne!
If you’ll notice, I didn’t take any pictures on the tour, which at first disappointed me but then I realized I was truly “in the moment” during the experience and absolutely loved it. We did take a photo at the conclusion of the tour of the five of us – I am waiting to receive that from Anthony!
Needless to say, you didn’t need any additional food following this adventure, so we returned to our hotel, using our newly acquired Metro skills… an exhaustive and rewarding second day in the City of Light!
thervdreamlife 