Most likely more than 11K+…
We wanted this to be an easy trip and looking back on past ones, going someplace and setting up a household was always a favorite so that is what we did. Except this “household” trip is a little different, I am working while here. It has actually worked out quite well, I work when I get up for a while, we slip out for a few hours in the afternoon then I work again in the evening attending meetings with colleagues in North America. Overall a nice, balanced journey.
On one of our first afternoon outings, we visited Notre Dame and the neighborhood we usually stay in near Rui de Buci in the 6th arrondissement. Seeing Notre Dame in its current condition at first was sad, this is our first visit to Paris that we could not go in. Our perspective changed once we thought about it from witnessing history, we have now seen a historical location recovering and moving on to a new phase in its existence. The cathedral is on track to be completed in 2024 in time for the Paris Olympics.
Visiting the “old home away from home” was fun, it is always nice to see familiar places and what has changed. This time a block of stores we would go near the first apartment we rented is behind a huge construction wall, we will have to return to see what has changed. Luckily one of our favorite brasseries, Atlas was as welcoming as ever and we had lunch there.
On another afternoon Deb arranged for Kim and I to have a walking food tour of the Marais and Emily of Queen of Clubs – France gave us more than we expected. Meeting us at our apartment, Emily introduced us to many new places for food including Rue du Nil, Marché des Enfants Rouges and Florence Kahn to name just a few. She also took us to Place des Vosges which we have been to before and was nice to visit again. Many (many) fromageries were also visited much to Kim’s delight. Emily was great company as well as a guide, born in Australia she married a French citizen and moved to Paris. She dropped us off at Centre Pompidou, her accent changed depending on who she was talking to and we had great conversations on many topics. Thanks, Emily!
