Left Bank

We woke up to another gorgeous day and toured the Left Bank.

We started the tour at Pont des Arts—Paris' only pedestrian bridge.

 The bridge was covered with love locks but the locks have been covered with plywood.

Statue of Voltaire along the walk. Born Francois-Marie Arouet, he adopted the nom de plume Voltaire. He was a prolific writer and was known for his attacks on the Catholic Church. He stirred controversy by stating "[Christianity] is assuredly the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody religion which has ever infected this world" and that Jesus committed suicide.

We passed the house where Oscar Wilde died in 1900. It's now a hotel.

The Delacroix Museum is housed in his last apartment, where he died in 1863.

After seeing all the depressing buildings where people died, we came upon Paul, a boulangerie with delicious croissants.

Nearby was Cafe le Procope, founded in 1686—one of the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurants. It may be the oldest but I hear the food is not that good.

2015 02 05

Thursday Night Dinner

Here's last night's dinner:

Asparagi Alla Griglia--Local Organic Grilled Asparagus Garnished with Warm Three-Cheese Crème Brûlée & Shallot-Herb Salsa, paired with 2013 Benziger Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast. This was the first time we had the creme brûlée for Thursday Night Dinner. The shallot-herb salsa was delicious with the creme brûlée.

 Quaglia Arrosto--Pan Roasted Quail Served in Cannellini Bean Ragù Flavored with Tomato Confit, Organic Escarole, Garlic Candy & Gratin Di Pane, paired with 2013 Kermit Lynch Côtes Du Rhône Rouge, Provence, France

 Brasato Di Maiale--Slow Cooked Sonoma Style Pork Cacciatore Topped with Organic Fingerling Potatoes, Arugula, Pecorino & Gremolata, paired with 2012 Alexander Valley Vineyards Redemption Zinfandel, Wetzel Family Estate, Dry Creek Valley

Crostata Di Fragole--Strawberry Galette Served with Mascarpone Vanilla Cream, paired with 2011 Bonterra Vineyards Late Harvest Muscat, Bartolucci Vineyard (Organic), Lake County

Another great meal at a great value of $24.95.

2015 03 05

Paris by Night

In the evening, we took the Metro to the Eiffel Tower and boarded Bus #69 for a night tour of the city. The tour ended at the Place de la Bastille. Cost was 1 Metro ticket. We followed Rick Steve's tour while on the bus.

Here are details of the stops: http://www.parisperfect.com/blog/2012/09/the-69-bus-see-all-the-top-sights-in-paris/

2015 02 04

Rest of the Marais

After lunch, we finished the tour through the Marais.

The Marais is adorable with many pedestrian-only streets and you can spend hours there.

Another stop at a patisserie--Le Gay Choc Patisserie

Pistaccio Framboises tart for €3.25.

The tour ends at the Centre Georges Pompidou, which houses a modern art museum.

Nearby is the Stravinsky Fountain--a public fountain with sixteen works of sculpture, moving and spraying water, representing the works of the composer Stravinsky.

2015 02 04

L'As du Fallafel

After Place des Vosges, we were ready for lunch. Luckily, L'As du Fallafel was nearby. It's located in the Marais at 32-34 Rue des Rosiers.

It's a popular place and there's always a line. You can buy take-out (which is less expensive)

or eat in.

Israeli fruit juice--mango. I thought it was fresh juice so I was surprised to get a can, especially since it was €4. Tasted like Kern's.

Small hors-d'oeuvre of grilled peppers--€3.50.

Special Fallafel Sandwich--their specialty. It's filled with hummus, turkish salad and eggplant--€8.00. I liked it. The turkish salad was a creamy coleslaw and I liked the eggplant. The falafels were flavorful and crispy on the outside. My husband though the falafels at Falafel's Drive in In San Jose were better.

My husband ordered the Lamb Schwarma Sandwich--€10.50. He thought the lamb was too dry and not very flavorful.

2015 02 04

Marais

Our 3rd day in Paris was another beautiful day--freezing cold (temp read high 30s but it felt like high 20s) but sunny. We decided to tour the Marais.

We started at Place de la Bastille. This is where the Bastille prison stood until the "storming of the Bastille" in 1789. The bronze July Column (Colonne de Juillet) with Mercury atop the column stands in the center.

The Opera Bastille is a modern building near the square.

Typical gas station in Paris--one pump on the sidewalk. Pull up, pump and leave again. It's a good thing the Parisians drive small cars.

On our walk, we came across this charcuterie, Au Sanglier at 49 Rue Saint-Antoine in the 4th arrondissement. The writing on the window indicated that they had won the 2014 Gold Medal for their Fromage de Tete (head cheese).

Of course, we stopped. Who can resist? We got a slice of the head cheese (€4.51). They also had garlic saucisson (€2.38). Both were delicious!

Place des Vosges--oldest planned square in Paris. This was originally the Place Royale although no royals ever lived here. It's a wonderful green space with art galleries and restaurants today.

In one corner of the Place des Vosges is the Victor Hugo museum. It was in this apartment that he wrote "Les Miserables." The museum is free. 

2015 02 04

Je Suis Charlie

On 1/7/2015, 12 people (8 journalists, 2 police officers, a caretaker and a visitor) were massacred at the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo by 2 Islamist terrorist brothers, Said & Cherif Kouachi. The motive was believed to be hatred for Charlie Hebdo's cartoons which joked about Islamic leaders, including Muhammad.

While we were in Paris, we decided to check out the memorial to Charlie Hebdo. We began at the Place de la Republic, a public square bordering the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissement. It is a popular gathering place for rallies. The phrase Je suis Charlie has come to mean solidarity against the attacks.

Place de la Republique

The offices of Charlie Hebdo is located at 10 Rue Nicolas-Appert. It's still guarded 1 month after the attack.

A memorial is set up at the end of the street, nicknamed Place de la Liberte D'Expression--Freedom of Speech Place.

While we were there, the Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson came to lay a wreath at the memorial.

2015 02 04