Day 2 Paris

Paris Day 2

8th September 2009,
Woke up (first time in Paris France), walked across street and bought a baguette. Had a civilised breakfast with Karol and Michael as one does with all the time in the world, made a few plans and headed off in different directions (we thought we could cover more territory that way – after all we have only got 4 days left to totally digest Paris (Mary and I are almost fluent in French well almost maybe). We took the Metro from Pigalle to the Arc de Triomphe. We were entertained by gypsy musicians, playing a tuba and maracas, after a few songs the woman walked through the carriage seeking tips from the passengers. We may have given them something had they NOT played “When the Saints Go Marching In”.

We have mastered the Metro rail system just as we did the underground in London (the metro wins I think) and headed to the Arc De Triomphe. It was a major WOW moment to see the magnificent , gigantic angel of liberty leading men to war for freedom on one of the posts of the surreally large structure. So the theme for the day was angelic heroines with heaving bosoms, big buttocks and wings. They are all over Paris riding chariots, waving flags, surrounded by men and babies and usually covered in to some extent in gold. So after that was Eiffel Tower via Champs De Elysees and Cartier, Louis Vuitton etc.,.

Yep the Eiffel Tower is a big mouthful but we managed it whilst consuming our home made baguettes with ham and cheese and a couple of boiled eggs. Then we took to the waters and went on a boat tour down the Seine. Where we learnt that Hemingway described Paris as a movable feast – yep got that right as we nibbled and drank some more- we passed under many bridges all which had a bosom or buttock or angel or baby somewhere. Then we returned to the flat for a bit of a tidy up before starting our night-time campaign.

Karol and Michael had planned a special event as part of their 25th wedding anniversary. The first stop was the 6.15pm mass at Notre Dame – a really lovely experience although surrounded by fully clothed angels as we learnt that it was the feast day of the birth of the Virgin Mary. And sunset streamed into the magnificent circular stained glass windows of ageless patterns and stories and myths. After which we headed to the Petit Prince – a quiet little restaurant in the back streets of the Latin Qtr which was recommended to Karol who had booked us in a fair while ago. The dinner and wine was delicious, (Mary had escargots with sea asparagus – Ooh La La!) the surrounding s of old dark wood , red velvet/satin drapes, candle-lights, mirrors, sideboards and good music was best way to end another big day.