Stopping to Smell Something

Today's Itinerary:
  - Get up and buy bread from a bakery
  - Go see something?

Well today is the first day we did not cross off everything on the itinerary. Bound to happen. Today we both woke up and were not feeling a thousand percent, so the morning started slowly. Mom had a hard time sleeping last night because she drank tea to warm up from the open air bus tour last night (caffeinated at 12:30). I, on the other hand, had a stomach ache and was waiting for the drugs to kick in.

Since we missed getting up for morning baguettes, we decided to take a look at the welcome packet Judith left us (remember Judith, the not old person renting us the apartment?). She had a map that showed us where a bakery and a park were located in the area, and those places became our early afternoon destinations. The bakery was uneventful, but it smelled delicious. We took our snacks and went looking for the park. 

The park was amazing! At first we couldn't find it (who is surprised, really?). We walked towards what should have been the entrance, but when we arrived the entrance did not look like we should be entering. Instead, we walked around to the other entrance on the map, and this was much more inviting. Upon walking in, we were greeted with a small, town-square-esqe scene. There was a small grassy court, sectioned into quarters by gravel paths and huge, climbing rose bushes.

We found a shady bench to share while we ate our pastries together, and basked in the scent of the all the flowers around us. I had a pistachio eclair and mom had chocolate bread thing. Mine was awesome, a bit sweet at the end to the point that I couldn't finish it though. Mom's was also delicious, very light and fluffy but crispy.

While eating our snacks, a cat with a bell walked up to join us. I assumed the mice had belled the cat, but mom figured it had an owner. The cat strolled between our legs and the bench, before it got curious about our food. Once recognizing we were eating, it actually hopped up on my lap. I was pleased to have a mitten to pet at least briefly, and named him Brian. Brian soon after ran off and found shade under one of the plants. A little later, a woman walked out of a nearby apartment and jangled some keys. Brian came running towards her and lead her back in the building. I guess the mice still have not belled a cat yet.

See me smelling that rose?

Some obnoxious kids came and played loudly in the park, so we decided at that point that it was time to head home. During our time in the park, I had started feeling a bit better, and we decided to walk to Notre Dame for the late afternoon.

The walk was nice and simple, one road all the way to the cathedral. We crossed the Seine on one of the famous bridges that were built strictly for travel to the middle islands. I guess before these travel bridges, all bridges had houses and the primary function was living - not crossing water. I think we passed the Ice Cream store that we are going to go to one day, but we weren't certain enough or in the mood to stop at that point.

The Cathedral was surrounded by souvenir shops and sandwich places. We walked in a couple and started our collection of things to bring home for others. Mom has quite a few people on her list, and I might just grab something if it jumps out at me. Which is what happened. I found a silly, racy, novelty gift that seemed appropriate for a friend of mine, and I walked out the store with this in my pocket.

I walked out the store and into the church, with my silly, racy, novelty gift now burning a hole in my pocket. Get the hand basket, I want a luxurious ride to hell when I go ;)

Pretend I took this

Really though, the outside of Notre Dame was impressive, and the inside even more so. Mass was going on at the time, I think in Latin. It was certainly one of those old style masses with no speaking, all singing, and burning incenses and stuff. We walked around the outside the mass to get a look at the stained glass and decorations. Earlier we had talked about attending the English mass over the weekend, but seeing all the tourist gawking while people were trying to worship seemed to take something away from the experience. 

We lit a candle for Grandpa, who passed away about a year ago. I guess in the midst of all the chaos, we were still able to have a moment.

After exiting the building, we walked along the outside next to the river. There was a couple posing for wedding pictures along the way (we later found out they came here as a destination wedding. I thought that seemed cliche, like you are over compensating for a lack of love so you come to the city of it to tie the knot. Jaded I guess). They were cute and looked happy at least. Fittingly enough, after seeing the bridge and groom, we came to one of the bridges that people apply padlocks to symbolize their eternal love. 

Finally, I was starving. We hadn't eaten all day and it was now approaching 6pm. Mom has been dying to eat Croque-monsieurs, and we passed a place selling them mixed in with the gift shops. The sandwiches came with toasted cheese on top, and were extremely good. When I've had them in the past, I remember that they were sweeter. I was glad that this sandwich was missing that. The cheese was a blend of Gruyere and a syrup, toasted perfectly. I'll likely eat another while we are here.

On the walk home, we saw this chalk drawing on a garage door. Pretty impressive right?

Considering that today started rough for both of us, the time we spent smelling the roses was the invigorating kick in the pants we needed to get moving.