Saturday - Our friends wanted to do a river cruise.. We check the operators and prices and decided that a lunch cruise would fit the bill. So Saturday we went on a 12:45 PM lunch cruise with the company: Bateaux Parisiens.. 64 Euro each person.. We had a 4 person square table by the window..it was a wonderful sunny dayu.. included in the price is Kir with sparkling blanc de blanc..mineral water, a bottle of red & white wine.. as we drink white and our friends drink Red - that was the best deal for us four.. Then you choice of starter, meal and desert.. I had salad with tomato confit, steak with shallots and boulangere potatoes and bordelaise sause. Others had salad with veal and mushroom rice and marengo sause. We each picked a different desert so we could share. The food was GREAT. I was prepared for it to be no so hot, on these types of things.. The cruise lasted for almost 3 hours.. a good time was had by all.. As it was Saturday and VERY crowed in Paris.. We worked our way back to the apartment for a little afternoon nap.. Then to the markets around the apartment for dinner items and wine...Sunday we are off to Jardin Des Plants.. Should be nice - Weather is forecasted to be 78 and sunny..

Sounds great!

Sunday - We were off to Jardin Des Plants. It was wonderfully warm and we were out early. It was wonderful to be out on the streets of Paris on a early Sunday morning with little traffic and very few people.. we walked over onto the Ile de cite and past the back of Notre Dame.. Which if you can get there in the early morning -9:30 am on Sunday - it is quiet and peaceful.. Continued walking down the seine to the park. Jardin des Plants has wonderful gardens and a zoo.. We decided to go inot the zoo. Not great but cute ... after a few hours in the park.. it was off to lunch.. we picked a cafe along Quai St Bernard.. As we were leaving lunch we saw an interesting Paris site.. A hourd of rollerbladers..it is a outfit that does 'walks' on sunday's in Paris..www.rollers-coquillages.org/.. There must have been a couple thousand participants. A site to see. We then strolled along the river for a hour or two back to the apartment.. Out for a quick dinner at Cafe Charlot on Rue Bretagne.. then back home.. We walked alot so a 4 were tired .. off to bed..

Hello there denmal, I'm still enjoying your little tidbits of Paris.

I love your teapot story for 1E. It's these little treasures we bring home that tell the stories of our lives.

We had a similar experience with rollerbladers in Berlin a few years back. Eating dinner at an outdoor restaurant, this group of at least several hundred (not the thousands you describe) came rolling by. I'd never seen anything like it before or since.

Happy travels!

Today it was off to Jardin du Luxembourg.. We walked from the Marais over behind the Notre Dame.. We had purchased a lock to put on the bridge in paris.. The story goes, you hook your lock on the bridge,kiss and throw the key into the seine.. and your love will last for ever.. We are married 20 years so maybe another 20 more.. We purchased cheese, sandwiches and water for lunch in th Jardin.. it waas Sunny and warm.. There was a school band in the park.. we read our books.. I finished my Cara Black.. Murder in the Passy.. we ate lunch and had a wonderful day..We then went to Bon Marche to get dinner.. back to the apartmentment.. after delivering the food to the apartment..we were off to two additional places..La Poste and the perfume shop down the street. The post office was good.. with our broken french and the clerk's broken english ..we purchased a pre-paid box to ship a few items home.. we leave on Saturday ( bummer ) .. We then went to the parfum shop on Rue Des Archives.. Nicolai at 45 rue des archives.. the clerk was VERY helpful we smelled several types and choose one for me and one for him..with the two items and a soap..100 Euro.. Not bad for perfume made in PARIS... it was a wonderful day !!!! Tomorrow off to Musee Rodin and Rue Cler.. I am NOT looking forward to leaving in 5 days.. we have been traveling for almost 3 weeks ..

your time in Paris sounds lovely; we go back in November...I am so taken with the Epicurie at Le Bon Marche

Tuesday - We were off to the Rodin Musee. It was alittle cold in paris on Tuesday - in the low 60's and windy. We got a late start and hit the musee at around 11:00 - there was line, we waited about 30 minutes to get in. not bad. 20 Euro for both including the exhibit and garden. It was lovely,, we had a small lunch in the garden cafe. We left the Rodin about 2:30 and went off to Rue Cler. Rue Cler is a shopping street with cafe's and markets. We had coffee in a cafe.. purchased our desert, Eclairs and other wonderful pastries. In addition, we needed to replensh our flowers in the apartment.. for 25 Euro I purchased a LARGE bunch of lillys.. they were not quite open but this morning - they are and putting a wonderful smell in the apartment. Today we are off to the post office to mail our box of itmes home.. a tea pot , tea from Fachon, a few books and some other small items.. it is worth the mailing for 43 euro a postage paid box with insurance..it is alot cheeper than getting hit with the weight at the airport..it is our last few days ..we leave for home on Saturday..

Pictures

http://farmerbrussels.shutterfly.com/pictures

Yesterday was the coldest day in about two months, ending the hottest month of May in a century in Paris!

We went to the Maille store today to have our mustard jar refilled.. We then were off to lunch.. a croque madame for me and a monsieur for him.. they were wonderful.. we had them at a resturant on rue madeline.. after a afternoon nap..we were off to our last dinner at Le Grand Colbert for this trip..it was wondeful as always.. reservations are needed but well worth it .. fun and good food.. I will miss those dinners .. more to come for the last few days...

I am so stingy with Maille mustard! Will get much more in November. I will be staying close to Rue Cler and look forward to shopping there. Great photos-thanks for sharing.

I am so stingy with Maille mustard! Will get much more in November. I will be staying close to Rue Cler and look forward to shopping there. Great photos-thanks for sharing.

On Thursday we were off to Versailles..We had purchased our tickets prior to going off the internet but were NOT prepared for the lines. We thought, oh we have tickets so we should have to wait alittle but not the line we found. We took the RER C train, very easy, we arrived around 10:15ish - we were in line at 10:40.. we got to the security at 11:35 - about 1 hour. If you go, be prepared, there are no bathrooms outside by the lines.. That was the worst part,once inside antoher line for the bathroom.. even for the men. As most have posted it is hot in France, so the line was not pleasent.. the grounds are massive.. we toured the palace..then decided to have lunch.. We ate in Angelina's-- the food was not bad but the service was VERY slow but we needed a rest for our feet.. We then were off to the gardens.. we decided to take the little train around the grounds for 6.70 euro.. that was euro's well spent.. it was hot and sunny so we saw the grounds . The train allows the ability to hop on and off - we choose not too.. we were too hot and tired.. if I were to return.. we would just do the grounds - possible with a bike or golf cart - that you can rent too. Today is our last full day in paris - we are off to the St. Germain today to a few churches and enjoy our last day...We leave tomorrow - we have to get up at 3 AM... bummer

Friday - our last day in Paris. a few comments to end our trip: (1) The french people are VERY helpful.. we have been helped on the street with directions by young and old, in French and English, all have been very warm and welcoming. (2)learn some french..it is only polite. Say Bonjour and Au Revoir..it helps in shops and cafes. I was happy my studying helped as I was able to order in French in most places.

We walked today from our apartment to St. Germain-des-pres.. we visited the church and lit a candle for the mom's. We have lit candles in all the churches we visited in Paris. The churches are just beautiful and welcoming. As we were in St. Germain.. We decided to have lunch at Duex Magots. It was relaxing and the food was good. We then wandered our way back to the apartment , picking up dinner on the way. The husband purchased for me a necklace and earings at Sidney Carron. A GREAT store on Rue des Archives.. The silver pieces are so beautiful and reasonable.. it is a memorable gift..

Final picture post:

http://farmerbrussels.shutterfly.com/pictures

À bientôt