May 6th and 7th

Wednesday we took the Metro to Alma Marceau and walked from there to the Champs Elysees and up to the Arc de Triomphe and over to Parc Monceau, one of my favorites as it's not too big but very green with roman columns.  When we entered the park it was over cast and there were very few people around but the sun came out and every bench filled very quickly.  Walked from there down to the Petit Palais and Grand Palais and to the Place de la Concorde where we caught a Metro home to change for our dinner at Verjus,  We made the reservation 6 weeks ago as it's a 25 seat restaurant that is very avant guard.  Took the metro back there for our dinner at 7 and we were, of course, early so we wandered a bit.  They only serve a  7 course, tapas style menu and we added the wine pairings, which is optional.  The restaurant is very pretty and the service is outstanding and the food is very inventive, unusual  and interesting.  You start with champagne and 5 starters and then the 6 main course dishes, the best of which was the dessert.  I  think we both expected more as the food was good, not great, not very pretty and very expensive.  Definately an experience that will be remembered.  Back home on the metro.

Thursday we took the metro to Hotel de Ville and walked over the Pont de Arcole to Notre Dame and, as the line to get in was almost nonexistant, we decided to go in and walk through.  We walked up rue Saint Jacques and stopped for lunch behind the Pantheon at a little bistrot. We proceeded to Jardin du Luxembourg to see the Medici Fountain, very beautiful and serene.  Walked around the pond but there were no children sailing boats so we wandered through and headed to Saint Sulpice followed by Saint Germain des Pres.  This was a day that really ate up my candle budget as I always light a candle in each church (cost is anywhere from 1 to 5 euros). Saint Sulpice was begun in 1646 and it's facade is Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.  Saint Germain des Pres is the oldest church in Paris, built in 990 AD. The clocktower and choir are 12th C.  We then crossed the Seine on the Pont des Arts which is being totally destroyed by the "love locks". The weight is causing sections to collapse and the view is blocked.  They have attached boards over the locks so no more can be added until the city cuts them off, which I think they do regularly.   Then we went to Saint Germain L'Auxerrois built at the end of the 7th C.  Wee stopped in a small museum and bought our museum passes for next week, bought some macarons at Lauderee and headed home but stopped for a kir and to people watch at a bistrot at the Pont au Change (one of Peters favorite spots to have a drink and soak up the atmosphere).  For dinner we decided to try the restaurant right around the corner (all of a 2 minute walk) on Impasee Guemnee as we walk by it every time we go to or leave the apartment.  They were very nice and the restaurant is cute - La Gorille Blanc.  We both had the salmon (raw) and I had a chicken dish using the nuggets from the lower back on either side of the spine, served with whipped sweet potatoes and Leas had a lamb steak with a spinach artichoke souffle.  Dessert was creme brulee for me and chocolate mousse for Leas.  A delicious meal and the end of a busy and great day.

Pickled potatoes and veal bacon at Verjus

Medici fountain at Luxembourg Gardens

Lenotre