What Time Is It?

So after a smooth and comfortable flight over the Atlantic, Rob and I crashed at the hotel.  We woke up at 1:30 in the afternoon, Paris time.  Now, Rob always tells me the best way to fight jet lag is to not constantly think about what time it is back home.  Just be what time it is, where you are.  This is easier said than done!  If you care, 1:30pm in Paris is 7:30am at home.  

Our systems were ready for some breakfast! But, it was lunch time where we were.  Either way, we needed some caffeine!  We left the hotel and started walking, looking for a cafe for a cappuccino.  We settled on Cafe Rendez-Vous, probably because it sounded more French than Cafe Indiana which was across the street.  Cafe Indiana, by the way, was home to every stereo-type of Native Americans you can think of.  Not too PC there, Paris!

This is where I made a big mistake.  I am a sucker for Orangina.  Nothing says, European Vacation, to me like Orangina.  And yes, I know I can buy it in the States, but I don't because I'm not on vacation in Europe!  And Rob told me to be on Paris time, so why not have an Orangina at 2 in the afternoon?  Well... because my stomach thinks it's 8am and I can't take bubble drinks first thing in the morning.  I should have had a cafe au lait, but I didn't and my stomach reminded me the rest of the day.  

After our drinks, we started wandering.  We have been to Paris once before, so we've been to the Louvre, the Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, etc. (I should dig those pictures up and do a blog about that trip some time!)  This time we just wanted to relax and explore the city.  Our eventual destination was Notre Dame and I noticed on the map that between our cafe and the cathedral was Luxembourg Palace and Gardens, so that was our plan.  It turned out to be a lovely little walk!

Fountain

Palace in the distance.

What is the Alamo doing in the middle of Paris?

One of the few remaining Belle Epoque Metro signs.

I had a total geek out moment when I realized we were at the Sorbonne!!! (Rob had no idea what that was, or why I was crying.)

Eventually we arrived at Notre Dame and went to the same cafe we had gone to 6.5 years ago after we had Mass at Notre Dame, Cafe Pannis.  Yes, it is probably a touristy place.  But where else can you sit and eat while staring at Notre Dame?  Plus, the food is really good.

Ok, so this time we weren't seated facing Notre Dame. But see that white building in front of us? That's Shakespeare and Company!!

This is a Croque Monsieur. This is my favorite thing to eat in Paris.

What a beautiful day!

Saint Jean-Paul II, flying buttresses, and a rose window.

I look at this and all I see is my hand sanitizer. How American am I?

Ok, here's a little Parisian geography.  The city is split in half by the river Seine.  In the middle of the river are two islands, Ile de la Cite is the island on which Notre Dame was built.  Behind it is Ile Saint-Louis, a quaint neighborhood with world famous ice cream and the some of the most expensive real estate in Paris.

Full of ice cream and beautiful views, we took a long meandering walk back to our hotel.

Restaurant Kootchi. Hehe.

Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, lived in this building for 2 years. Totally geeking out, again.

Back at the hotel we changed for dinner, which turned into a bit of a hike.  First we tried a place that Rob's captain had recommended, but it was full.  Then we wandered and wandered until we found a place with seats and the right atmosphere.

I was so excited to see the Hospital of Saint Anne, because our own little Anne wants to be a doctor.

French atmosphere? Check! Our waiter even had a well waxed handlebar mustache!

​And that was our first day in Paris!