This is my first full day to explore Paris. I’ve already decided that since 2 ½ days is no where near enough time to even begin to see a city as rich and full as Paris I shouldn’t worry about all I can’t see and just enjoy what I can see and do. And since I have no one but myself to worry about for a whole week I plan enjoy the simple pleasure of walking when I want to walk, eating when I want to eat, seeing what I want to see and taking as little or as much time to do all those things as I please. For anyone reading this who is not a parent, you may not appreciate what a rare joy that is for a mom of 2. So I enjoy a café au lait and croissant at the café out front of my hotel and sip all the way to the end, which is still warm by the time I get to the bottom of it.
From doing my “foodie” research I know that the Gran Epicurie at Bon Marche is a “don’t miss” destination. So the combination of fabulous old department store and dazzling food hall is definitely worth the Metro ride.
I buy lots of stuff downstairs at the Gran Epicurie to take home for gifts. It’s fun to decipher (or not) all the beautiful labels and figure out which of the tasty treats will travel well, taste good, look pretty when it gets there, and won’t melt while I schlep it around. Makerel and cheve I pick out for my dad – Bad Choice. Foil wrapped chocolate fish – Good Choice. Honey cakes – Bad Choice. Tiny jelly in glass jars – Good Choice. Ahh well, can’t win ‘em all.
I also read that the café upstairs Bon Marché was good so I take my souveniers up and get a table at Délicabar. My guidebook describes the interior as “sleek and pop-modern with bright spots of color”. The walls, floors, tables, tableware, and bar are bright white. Everything else is bright pink, electric orange, lime green, hot purple or practically-neon yellow – including the food. I have carrot soup (orange) and an asparagus tart (green). Everything is delicious, and in Parisian style served at a leisurely pace allowing plenty of time to people watch (it’s not much use to eves-drop when you don’t speak the language). I’m amazed how long kids will sit at their parents’ table eating and chatting in the same leisurely and un-harried, un-hurried manner. Goes to show we’ve trained our kids to eat and run, dine and dash. I’m going to have to start re-training Iggie to enjoy a calm afternoon espresso (hah!).
I spend the rest of the afternoon browsing Bon Marché and window shopping in the neighborhood. I pick up a couple of things for the kids and a few things I’ll hold onto for Christmas gifts but mostly my credit card stays safely stashed in my bag. On my way home I happen upon Monoprix – the closest I can compare it to is Target – except upstairs is a full grocery store. Again, a few things for the kids and also an umbrella because the skys are threatening and BBC warns that showers are forecast.
Before I go upstairs for the night I have dinner at the Café Cambronne – onion soup, chicken fricassee and chocolate ice cream for dessert. Again, a leisurely meal watching the other diners, locals stopping by for a beer, and I can see the very top of the Eiffel Tower with the rotating spot light spinning over the roof across the square. Pretty cool.
From doing my “foodie” research I know that the Gran Epicurie at Bon Marche is a “don’t miss” destination. So the combination of fabulous old department store and dazzling food hall is definitely worth the Metro ride.
I buy lots of stuff downstairs at the Gran Epicurie to take home for gifts. It’s fun to decipher (or not) all the beautiful labels and figure out which of the tasty treats will travel well, taste good, look pretty when it gets there, and won’t melt while I schlep it around. Makerel and cheve I pick out for my dad – Bad Choice. Foil wrapped chocolate fish – Good Choice. Honey cakes – Bad Choice. Tiny jelly in glass jars – Good Choice. Ahh well, can’t win ‘em all.
I also read that the café upstairs Bon Marché was good so I take my souveniers up and get a table at Délicabar. My guidebook describes the interior as “sleek and pop-modern with bright spots of color”. The walls, floors, tables, tableware, and bar are bright white. Everything else is bright pink, electric orange, lime green, hot purple or practically-neon yellow – including the food. I have carrot soup (orange) and an asparagus tart (green). Everything is delicious, and in Parisian style served at a leisurely pace allowing plenty of time to people watch (it’s not much use to eves-drop when you don’t speak the language). I’m amazed how long kids will sit at their parents’ table eating and chatting in the same leisurely and un-harried, un-hurried manner. Goes to show we’ve trained our kids to eat and run, dine and dash. I’m going to have to start re-training Iggie to enjoy a calm afternoon espresso (hah!).
I spend the rest of the afternoon browsing Bon Marché and window shopping in the neighborhood. I pick up a couple of things for the kids and a few things I’ll hold onto for Christmas gifts but mostly my credit card stays safely stashed in my bag. On my way home I happen upon Monoprix – the closest I can compare it to is Target – except upstairs is a full grocery store. Again, a few things for the kids and also an umbrella because the skys are threatening and BBC warns that showers are forecast.
Before I go upstairs for the night I have dinner at the Café Cambronne – onion soup, chicken fricassee and chocolate ice cream for dessert. Again, a leisurely meal watching the other diners, locals stopping by for a beer, and I can see the very top of the Eiffel Tower with the rotating spot light spinning over the roof across the square. Pretty cool.
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