I’ve been slacking on the whole daily updates thing, so here’s an overview of the last week.
Day 4
- Ile de la Cité & Ile St. Louis
- Amazing nougat & honey and dark chocolate ice cream on Ile St. Louis. I also enjoyed sitting along the banks of the Seine like a true Parisian.
Day 5
- Le Marais–Translates to “the marsh” because the land is low-lying and prone to becoming marshy, which, historically, had made it an undesirable place to live.
- Place des Vosges–A beautiful planned square surrounded by arcaded buildings and containing lots of benches and a few large fountains. Victor Hugo lived in a building overlooking the Place des Vosges.
- Opera Ballet at the Opéra Bastille
Day 6
- Had a tour of the Musée du Louvre. While the Mona Lisa was smaller than I expected, it’s definitely a must-see, iconic painting.
Day 7
- Went shopping at the Forum des Halles.
Day 8
- Palace and Gardens of Versailles–I actually enjoyed the gardens much more than the (very crowded) palace.
Day 9
- Explored the Cimetière de Passy with Zane. A lot of beautiful mausoleums and grave markers.
- Visited the Cité de l’Architecture & du Patrimonie with Zane.
Day 10
- Jardin du Luxembourg–I was particularly drawn to the universality of the space (there was a place for everyone within the park).
- Hot chocolate and treats at Dalloyau.
- Église Saint-Sulpice
Day 11
- Learned about the Place de la Concorde, Les Grand Boulevards, and Les Grands Magasins.
- Visited a Grand Magasin (department store) called Printemps.
- Toured the Opéra Garnier.
- Chilled in the Parc Montsouris across from the Cité U–saw some children riding mini ponies!