Paris

Day 4

After our usual wonderful “basket breakfast” we headed to the Metro. Everyone says it's easy and it is easy to use, and is very clean, efficient, and people are very polite. We bought a packet of 10 tickets and off we go to the Champs Elysees.  Coming up the stairs and seeing the Arc de Triomphe –WOW! The whole area is very impressive. Everyday I am more and more impressed with Paris. Walking the Champs Elysees was over 2 miles and we walked down one side and up the other with a few side detours. We walked over 5 miles. A once unpopular McDonald's is there, but it's now the most profitable McDonald's in the world! You order by computer on the wall – neat! The statues of Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were impressive and make you reflect on how the two men from different cultures worked successfully together during the war.  (We missed the statue of FDR somewhere along the way.)

Next to our place is a grocery store and so we picked up pate, pickles, and wine. Stopped at a boulangerie to buy a baguette rushed home to feast on the French food. Oh, so good.

Being Saturday and we did not have reservations for dinner so took a chance on a local bistro. We arrived at 6:00 but were told that dinner begins at 7:30. French eat later than Americans so we took a stroll. What a way to spend time -walking the Marais (neighborhood of Paris) streets. Bought a bottle of Sauternes 2006 - very difficult to buy in the states. It is an after dinner drink and not like the American sauterne, which does not have and “s” at the end. Then found a charcutier -what a variety of pate! We will buy some tomorrow. With pate, a baguette, cheese and wine you can rule the world.  I would bring back cases if I could.

Back to the bistro and dinner. I had the escargots first and then breast of duck and Dow had an octopus app & sea bream entree. It is like we found heaven. Cannot believe all the flavors. In the pictures below you can see all the tables crowded together which is the French way in a bistro. By the time we left it was full.

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