- Eat Ice Cream
- Walk Around
- Eat Pizza
- (Unexpectedly Witness Electrical Fire)
Today was a day full of easily recognizable street signs. It started with a deck of cards that we found in our apartment. "50 Adventures on Foot", which contained index cards with a descriptive mile long walk starting and stopping at different Metros. The walk we chose was in a familiar location, but full of things the both of us still haven't done yet. Back to Notre Dame we were heading.
You could tell I was still a little groggy from the few hours of sleep I had the night before, because we found ourselves near a large, unfamiliar park on what should have been a very recognizable walk. The Rue Villie du Temple has become the landmark street that guides us between home and the River Seine. Considering the number of times we trekked along this road, I should have recognized the large park rising up on the right side of the street. Turns out I missed the left hand turn for the Old Temple Road and ended up turning on the new street, Rue du Temple.
Acknowledging that we were in the wrong place, we still entered the large, shade covered area to take a look around. First we were greeted by the typical French reminder to stay off the grass. After walking to the left of the trees and bushes, a duck filled pond and waterfall appeared behind the hidden entryway. Off to the other side of the park was apparently one of the few people friendly patches of grass in the whole city. Every patch was covered with blankets and families trying to grab some rays on this aptly titled Sun-day.
We didn't stay long in the park, but welcomed the respite as we continued to back track towards Landmark Row. Adriana had shown me a famous crepe place in one of the alleys down this street, and I was looking for it on the way down since I was getting pretty hungry at this point. The street had been blocked off from cars and was overloaded with people strolling about, so I was a little too overwhelmed to recognize Crepe Alley.
Walking past the crepe place was probably the best accident of the day, because then we decided on ICE CREAM instead. Today is the day that we got famous ice cream!!!
I don't think we stopped at the original Berthillon restaurant, but even so we stood in line for 30 mins. I guess that means we will have to go back the original store later to compare the experiences. Bummer... ;-) I walked away from the stand with a double scoop of Sea Salt Caramel and Banana while mom had a single of Pralines and Cream. (I won the ice cream selection, I must say). The banana was sweet and refreshing, but the caramel was decadent.
We took our cones and continued to head to the start of the walking tour, which meant re-crossing the bridge we already walked down. This was the 2nd time we walked passed the "legless" woman I've recognized moving around the city. I bet she makes bank panhandling in front of the Notre Dame with all those church going people lined up to get in to the building.
The start of the tour had us looking at these green boxes that people apparently own and sell stuff out of. Typically these people sell used books, but some of them have paintings or knick-knacks. We grabbed a couple items to take home, and finally reached the metro that officially commenced our walking trip.
A left turn onto the Bridge of Arts should have ended the opportunity for souvenirs, but brought me face to face with one last thing. Accosted by a Jamaican with some thread, I left the wooden bridge 5 euros lighter and plus 1 silly bracelet. I tried telling him that I didn't want his stuff, but I am too soft to say No enough. The guy had my number for sure. As he weaved the bracelet on my finger, he told me to make a wish and think of it while he continued to work. He continued to chat at me while he worked, suggesting I wish for a man, then later suggesting I wish for a woman. Then he said I should visit Jamaica, maybe I'd find a good woman there to take home with me.
... Ha, now you know that I cannot tell you my wish, but I don't think I'll be heading to Jamaica anytime soon.
The card for our trip told us to walk along the river to head towards the cathedral again. I thought this meant to go down along the bank of the river immediately. As we read the card further, we realized this should have happened later in the journey, but I couldn't understand why. Walking closer to the water was great. The air was crisp, there was a bit of a breeze, and people hanging around drinking or eating near the waters edge.
It was continuing the walk, along the crumbling cobblestones, that we quickly recognized why this was not the prescribed path. After passing an entertaining sign, we began to walk under a partially enclosed section of multiple bridges. The enclosure accentuated the purpose for the sign quickly and potently. See the sign said no urination, which made sense to post considering how many people were lounging along the river bank. As we walked into the tight space, stagnant urine burned our nostrils. No wonder we should have stayed up top a little longer.
Thankfully this dissipated quickly, and we continue on our walk below. See the purpose of this card is that we went along the bank near Notre Dame so we could look up at the buttresses and really see them from a better angle. It was worth, but I was also glad to move back up to street level.
We finally wrapped up by grabbing some pizza at this neat looking place I've wanted to try for a while. When I've walked past their specialty pizzas looked amazing, and Mom and I had been talking about eating pizza all day.
There was no outside sitting at the Pink Flamingo, but we were able to find a spot inside, and were quickly greeted by the frantic server doing all the work in the front. I ordered a pizza reminiscent of a bagel, with salmon, sour cream, cheese, and caviar. Mom got something blonde with cheese, arugula, Parmesan (which I get is a cheese too), and olive oil. They both were super delicious, and I overate the whole pizza.
We went home, exhausted as usual, and I crawled into bed almost immediately. Unfortunately, this immediate sleep was not to be found. Some loud truck was rumbling outside, so Mom got up to check it out. Not only was it some truck outside, but a fire truck with the lights on and multiple police cars. However, there were no sirens and no alarms, so I was still struggling to find sleep.
Now with the windows open, Mom started shouting in French at people, hoping to figure out was what going on. No one knew, but I could see through some of the other windows and no one was evacuating. If there was a fire there would be more noise than a rambling truck, idling in the alley.
An hour later the firemen and the police left, but now I was wide awake... And thirsty. I stumbled to the sink in the dark and downed 2 glasses of water. The salmon pizza drained all the liquids from my body, so I grabbed another glass of water and curled up with the tv on the couch. Netflix in foreign countries is fun, so I might as well capitalize on that while I am not falling asleep. I've got all the things to watch.
You could tell I was still a little groggy from the few hours of sleep I had the night before, because we found ourselves near a large, unfamiliar park on what should have been a very recognizable walk. The Rue Villie du Temple has become the landmark street that guides us between home and the River Seine. Considering the number of times we trekked along this road, I should have recognized the large park rising up on the right side of the street. Turns out I missed the left hand turn for the Old Temple Road and ended up turning on the new street, Rue du Temple.Acknowledging that we were in the wrong place, we still entered the large, shade covered area to take a look around. First we were greeted by the typical French reminder to stay off the grass. After walking to the left of the trees and bushes, a duck filled pond and waterfall appeared behind the hidden entryway. Off to the other side of the park was apparently one of the few people friendly patches of grass in the whole city. Every patch was covered with blankets and families trying to grab some rays on this aptly titled Sun-day.
We didn't stay long in the park, but welcomed the respite as we continued to back track towards Landmark Row. Adriana had shown me a famous crepe place in one of the alleys down this street, and I was looking for it on the way down since I was getting pretty hungry at this point. The street had been blocked off from cars and was overloaded with people strolling about, so I was a little too overwhelmed to recognize Crepe Alley.
 |
| Ice Cream Flavors |
I don't think we stopped at the original Berthillon restaurant, but even so we stood in line for 30 mins. I guess that means we will have to go back the original store later to compare the experiences. Bummer... ;-) I walked away from the stand with a double scoop of Sea Salt Caramel and Banana while mom had a single of Pralines and Cream. (I won the ice cream selection, I must say). The banana was sweet and refreshing, but the caramel was decadent.
We took our cones and continued to head to the start of the walking tour, which meant re-crossing the bridge we already walked down. This was the 2nd time we walked passed the "legless" woman I've recognized moving around the city. I bet she makes bank panhandling in front of the Notre Dame with all those church going people lined up to get in to the building.
The start of the tour had us looking at these green boxes that people apparently own and sell stuff out of. Typically these people sell used books, but some of them have paintings or knick-knacks. We grabbed a couple items to take home, and finally reached the metro that officially commenced our walking trip.
A left turn onto the Bridge of Arts should have ended the opportunity for souvenirs, but brought me face to face with one last thing. Accosted by a Jamaican with some thread, I left the wooden bridge 5 euros lighter and plus 1 silly bracelet. I tried telling him that I didn't want his stuff, but I am too soft to say No enough. The guy had my number for sure. As he weaved the bracelet on my finger, he told me to make a wish and think of it while he continued to work. He continued to chat at me while he worked, suggesting I wish for a man, then later suggesting I wish for a woman. Then he said I should visit Jamaica, maybe I'd find a good woman there to take home with me.
... Ha, now you know that I cannot tell you my wish, but I don't think I'll be heading to Jamaica anytime soon.
The card for our trip told us to walk along the river to head towards the cathedral again. I thought this meant to go down along the bank of the river immediately. As we read the card further, we realized this should have happened later in the journey, but I couldn't understand why. Walking closer to the water was great. The air was crisp, there was a bit of a breeze, and people hanging around drinking or eating near the waters edge.
 |
| A warning on many levels |
It was continuing the walk, along the crumbling cobblestones, that we quickly recognized why this was not the prescribed path. After passing an entertaining sign, we began to walk under a partially enclosed section of multiple bridges. The enclosure accentuated the purpose for the sign quickly and potently. See the sign said no urination, which made sense to post considering how many people were lounging along the river bank. As we walked into the tight space, stagnant urine burned our nostrils. No wonder we should have stayed up top a little longer.
Thankfully this dissipated quickly, and we continue on our walk below. See the purpose of this card is that we went along the bank near Notre Dame so we could look up at the buttresses and really see them from a better angle. It was worth, but I was also glad to move back up to street level.
We finally wrapped up by grabbing some pizza at this neat looking place I've wanted to try for a while. When I've walked past their specialty pizzas looked amazing, and Mom and I had been talking about eating pizza all day.
 |
| Inside the pizza place |
We went home, exhausted as usual, and I crawled into bed almost immediately. Unfortunately, this immediate sleep was not to be found. Some loud truck was rumbling outside, so Mom got up to check it out. Not only was it some truck outside, but a fire truck with the lights on and multiple police cars. However, there were no sirens and no alarms, so I was still struggling to find sleep.
Now with the windows open, Mom started shouting in French at people, hoping to figure out was what going on. No one knew, but I could see through some of the other windows and no one was evacuating. If there was a fire there would be more noise than a rambling truck, idling in the alley.
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