Day 2

Another really pretty morning.


We took the Metro from Chausee-d'Anatin LaLafayette to Pont-Marie.

 Walked over the Seine onto Ille St Louis, just a few blocks, (saw these guys performing very American 40's type music)

and to Notre Dame. 

There was a very long (about a block) line for "Tour" (Tower) and to get into the church itself.  It was Palm Sunday so lots of people walking around with "Palms" (looked alot more like azalea branches to me).

 Kendra found a small playground right on the grounds of Notre Dame (is there really a daycare associated with this church?) and found herself a (not so) comfortable place to sit.

 Next we walked about a block to The Conciergerie. 

This was a prison that held those awaiting their execution (most famously Marie Antoinnette). 

Here is Kendra waiting for the executioners cart to take her away.

 And, of course, such a happy place has a guest book to sign.

Back over the river to Cafe DeCorona for lunch.

The Cafe had a view of Ille St Louis over the Seine. Jeff had a salad with duck, bacon, eggs, and cheese (he really enjoyed it, and it looked really good). Kendra had fried chicken and Fries. I had Pate on a baguette (like liverwurst) and smeared lots of mustard on it (yum). And of course wine and lots of bread.

It was a nice day to sit outside, but the French law is no smoking inside, so all the smokers sit outside. So we finished and left. Not before we saw this come down the street right in front of us:

We walked a few blocks (much further than it looks on the maps) to the Louvre.

"Woo hoo, we're at the Louvre!"

It was really crowded, long lines to get inside. We were just still getting a sense of where we were and enjoying the breezes. We decided to head back to the hotel for a little rest and head out to dinner. 


We got back on the metro at Opera (after risking life and limb crossing the street). Notice Kendra picked out a beret and scarf so she would look "more Parisienne". She sure looked "more cute".

 and headed to Bastille for dinner at Brasserie Bofinger. There was quite a line to be seated but not a big deal. The way they seated was funny. The host greeted with a handshake, asked how many in our party, in English (everyone took us for Americans right off) and gave us a little card and told us "This is your name!". OK.  I like it. No mispronouncing or trying to spell just "When I call this name, this is you". The most efficient service we found the whole trip.

The restaurant is famous for their TOWERS of seafood. Of course the menu was all in French (3 semesters of French didn't do me much good here). But, I figured 12 of something was probably oysters or clams (or both), maybe 6 of something was probably crabs or snails, 2 -1/2s of something was likely lobster, 30 of something was probably shrimp and then there were a few more things that I couldnt figure out. We ordered it. The oysters were so good. I am not a fan of snails, but had at least one anyway.  Jeff liked the clams the best. Kendra loved the giant shrimp (They were unexpected-I'd never seen anything like this).


We left the restaurant pretty full. But still had room for a carmel crepe, a beignet and cotton candy. Jeff ordered a beignet (donut) without anything on it, plain. He said it was pretty much a ball of dough. The guy at the counter did think it was strange he didn't want sugar, or icing or filling.

The bastille doesn't exist anymore, but, there is a marker (see it behind the cotton candy!):

Tomorrow was to be the beginning of some serious touring....or was it?