Paris

Oh la la

There is almost nothing that can be said of Paris that hasn't already been said. Buck and I had both been previously, but we wanted to go together, and it was so nice to get away just the two of us. Maja came from Cologne to watch the boys. We took the train (4 hours), we walked everywhere, and we stayed at the beautiful Alfred Sommier, and we ate a lot of really great food.

On our way to dinner the first night. We ate at Benoit. The food was good -- classic French bistro -- but they sat us in a second dining room alone for over an hour. The first dining room continued to fill up while we languished, and then the first additional guests they sat in our room were also American.

I loved the Petit Palais. We happened to wander in while a marathon was taking place on the blvd.

Place des Vosages, where on our final day we had lunch before heading to the train station.

La Basilique du Sacre Coeur in Montmarte

Our picnic at the Basilica.

On our way back from dinner the first night, we came across a small corner restaurant called Les Fines Gueules. It was adorable and casual and completely packed. We went back for dinner the following night and had a wonderful meal. While we waited for a table outside, the all-male, all-exceedingly attractive and young staff sat us at the bar and served us a sliced cured ham in a little silver dish. At our table, they brought the chalkboard menu to us and left it there for most of the evening. The bathroom was so tiny I could barely turn around once inside. We lingered and talked until the place cleared out.


After dinner at Les Fines Gueules we happened upon a dance party. A man, the DJ, played music from his computer and dozens of people coupled up to dance in front of an enormous building. It was midnight. The dancers were very serious and the mood was very happy. I wanted so badly to join in but I do not know how to dance the tango or any kind of choreographed dance. Must learn!

We were really happy to see these monkeys!