Paris Day Two

Me Eiffel, originally uploaded by quimerizar.

Day two started with breakfast on the Champs de Elysee. We stopped at “Paul”, a bakery that had all kinds of pasteries and sat outside on the sidewalk tables enjoying our breakfast. The day was cloudy, but at least it wasn’t raining anymore. We decided at breakfast that we would do the total tourist thing and get a double decker bus pass.
After breakfast we wandered around and stumbled upon the Eiffel Tower. All of the sudden, we went past a building and there it was. It sounds corny, but it gave me goose bumps. We walked over to the Siene and took a few pictures, and then we saw the bus. We figured we could probably catch the bus somewhere around there. So, we tried to find the bus stop without any luck. We even tried to follow one of the busses to see where it stopped with no luck (the bus was too fast!). Eventually we got frustrated and decided to go back to the hotel to figure it out.
After getting directions to a bus stop at the hotel, we hopped on the bus but there were no seats. We got tired of standing up and decided to get off and wait for the next bus. That bus was full too. So, we got on anyway. The tour was really cool… I swear I will never make fun of the NY tourists again for taking those busses. Because of the short amount of time I have here, it was ideal because I got to see a lot of things that I wouldn’t have been able to see, even if it was from a distance. We decided to get off at Notre Dame. The cathedral was immense and ornate. I am learning that everything in Paris is ornate. They really care about making things look nice here – and CLEAN. For such a big city, I was surprised at the cleanliness. I guess I am so used to dirty New York .
The cathedral had a mass going on and obviously it was all in French and I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. I liked it when they got to the parts where they would sing (music has always been my favorite part of the mass).
After Notre Dame, we went to a sidewalk café again. I had a really yummy French bread, brie, tomato and cucumber sandwich. It was here that I was introduced to my favorite French food – Croque Monsior. Sophie ordered it and I got to try a bite. I put this on my mental list of things to order for myself before I leave. It’s basically a ham and cheese sandwich and they toast it and melt a few different cheeses on the top. Not fattening at all. Croissants and cheese, how do these people stay thin? It was at this restaurant that I also noticed a uniquely Parisian thing… Dijon. I had noticed it at the other restaurants but thought it was a fluke. But now I know, that no table in Paris is complete without a little jar of REALLY HOT Dijon mustard. I began to put Dijon on everything. It was sooo good. French fries with Dijon, French bread with Dijon, Croque Monsior with Dijon. Ummmmm.
We headed back toward the hotel and after getting off the bus we ran into a parade. I am not sure what it was for but they marched with a band and flags up the Champs de Elysee to the Arc de Triumph. I kind of got stuck in the middle of the street so I got a good view of all of it. What a nice surprise. I know it is totally nerdy but I like that kind of stuff. Did a little shopping, where I saw a man who was taped to a tree. I don’t know why but it was probably one of the strangest things I have ever seen. Then I was approached by a man wearing a blue baby outfit and a woman (who I think was his wife) wearing a pink baby outfit. For some reason they wanted me to “kiss the baby”. They were talking up a storm to me in French but again, I had no clue what they were saying. I said “anglais” and they. Back to the hotel for a while to rest. I took a bubble bath – something I can’t do in my apartment in NY since the shower thing-a-ma-jiggy that converts to the bottom spout doesn’t work. It was very relaxing after touring around all day. And then it was time to eat…. Again! We headed out to a place called Citron but it was closed (on a Saturday night?). Went to plan B – Femmete Marbeuf, but it was stuffy and we encountered a rude woman who shushed Ed when he asked for a table for three (in French!), then spouted off something that I am sure wasn’t nice but couldn’t understand. And then the last word “reservacion”. Ok, I get it now. She didn’t have to be a bitch about it!!
So, we ended up eating at another choice down the street. The place was not as stuffy and it ended up being a much better choice. They had Sangria after all.. who could go wrong with that. It made me want to whip up a batch of my own sangria when I get home. I ordered a prawn and Andalusian rice dish. It was the first time I have had prawns served to me with the head on it – little black eyes looking right at me. I peeled off the heads and ate the shrimp the way I am used to. This was after having half a basket of bread with Dijon spread all over it. The waiter gave me a free glass of sangria – said it was the last glass in the pitcher. I didn’t complain.
And then it was time for dessert! I had a Grand Marnier Flambeed Crepe. Soph had Crème Brulee and Ed had some mix of chocolate gelato stuff that was really good. It was quite a nice evening and I felt like Violet in Willy Wonka (the one who turns into a giant blueberry and rolls away). Food coma overtook my body and I went to the hotel and went to bed after doing a little midnight shopping – which I found to be really fun and slightly crazy that the stores were open.