After hugs and a quick freshen up we all set off to explore the city.
Cafe was the first priority so we grabbed a seat at the corner bistro for some dopio espressos and a beautiful cappuccino, complete with cocoa powder. Sitting in the sunshine we had some time to catch up about the last two months and try to map out the day As mentioned, or alluded to, in a previous post, Ashley and I had been to Paris before and this was the Webber's first trip and we wanted to make sure that they made it to. We decided that we would walk through St. Germain, headed to Notre Dame for the first stop of the day. Priority number 2 was get Jamie a croissant (#6 in Jamie's Ranking of Croissants). It was about 12:30 so most places around didn't have any left, but we found one before setting out for the day.
Stopping at a few stores along the way, we made it to the Seine. As we turned the corner on the final stretch to Notre Dame, the face of the church became visible and Eric let out a soft but audible "wow".
(After traveling for as long as we have, it is easy to get a bit numb to the beauty around you. Not that we weren't appreciating what we saw in each place, but the initial shock wasn't as great as it had been at the start of the journey. Our time with the Webbber's and listening to them as we went from site was a refreshing reminder of how special it was)
Pausing for plenty of pictures outside and inside, we took the time to walk through the massive church and thought about climbing to the top, but aborted that decision when we saw the line outside.
Stopping at a few stores along the way, we made it to the Seine. As we turned the corner on the final stretch to Notre Dame, the face of the church became visible and Eric let out a soft but audible "wow".
(After traveling for as long as we have, it is easy to get a bit numb to the beauty around you. Not that we weren't appreciating what we saw in each place, but the initial shock wasn't as great as it had been at the start of the journey. Our time with the Webbber's and listening to them as we went from site was a refreshing reminder of how special it was)
Pausing for plenty of pictures outside and inside, we took the time to walk through the massive church and thought about climbing to the top, but aborted that decision when we saw the line outside.
With all of us needing a place to pee and a bit hungry we walked back into St Germain to grab some lunch. The boys got salads (not quite as good as Just Salad, where Eric and I typically had our lunch dates at work, but good nonetheless) and the girls ordered Croque Madam and a Croque Monsieur. We discussed some of the priorities in terms of sites they wanted to see and decided that we should catch the metro over to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur.
We made the trip in no time and made our way over to the base of Scare Coeur. The sheer beauty of the church is breathtaking as it sits atop the hill watching over the city. With each step up the Paris began to reveal itself in curved streets, quaint rooftops church spires.... It really is a must visit spot in my opinion.
We made the trip in no time and made our way over to the base of Scare Coeur. The sheer beauty of the church is breathtaking as it sits atop the hill watching over the city. With each step up the Paris began to reveal itself in curved streets, quaint rooftops church spires.... It really is a must visit spot in my opinion.
As we arrived at the top we realized that we were in the middle of a wine and food festival. We took a quick spin inside the church (much more beautiful than I remembered), then decided to venture through the festival and the Montemarte area. Picked up a bottle of wine, €37 worth of cheese, some cured meats and macaroons before grabbing a seat at a restaurant to enjoy the late afternoon vibe.
Jamie had done some research prior to the trip and found a restaurant for us to try. Restaurant Frenchie is a very nice spot in a quiet alley in the 2nd Arrondissemont. Steered by the former head chef at Gramercy Tavern in NYC, it was not easy place to get a table. However, Frenchie Bar and Wine across the alleyway is first come first serve and a solid option for the four of us. The small space has a mix of high top tables and standing room to enjoy wine and a short but delicious menu. We had to wait about an hour and a half, so after a great bottle of wine, a delicious cauliflower dish, a mixture of cheeses and some tired feet, we got a seat near the bar and were ready to try the menu. The vibe had really picked up in the time we had been waiting and as we ordered there was barely any standing room left. Our very nice waitress let us know a few dishes that were done for the night and we quickly put in our orders. We shared everything instead of ordering full individual meals.
First to arrive was another helping of the cauliflower. The dish was incredibly simple but delicious. The vegetable was steamed, roasted with a dash of salt and served atop some quinoa and a lemony purée of some sort. We actually order two of these so each couple could split one.
Next up was the outstanding Paparadelle Ragu. I feel that my words can't do it justice, so I'm not going to try. Last to arrive were the lobster rolls. The lobster was in a buttery hollandaise(ish) sauce and served in a toasted white bread bun. It was an interesting and delicious interpretation of the Connecticut style lobster roll (hot with butter). We tried to order another round of the Paparadelle, only to sadly learn that it too was now done for the night. The girls opted to split another lobster roll and I ordered a fourth round of cauliflower. Full, happy on wine and wallets drained we decided it was time to make it way home.
We had decided earlier that it would be cool to see the Louvre lit up a night so we dance-walked from Frenchie to the museum. It was beautiful to see all lit up and we took plenty of pictures before making our way back across the Seine and into St. Germaine. By the time we made it to the AirBnB it was about 12:30 and time for bed. The Webber's had been espresso fueled all stars their first day in Paris.
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