A Day of Reconnaissance in Paris
Salut,
It’s Thursday in Paris, and we are ramping up for company with some housecleaning, grocery shopping, and pure excitement. Tonight we have the pleasure of meeting Joe and Marie Newberry from Huntsville for dinner (pics forthcoming) at a delightful restaurant called La Fermette Marbeuf. Google it and you’ll be amazed at the interior.
Tomorrow, we take the train at 8am to CDG airport to meet my son and his family. It’s not an easy task to find the just right arrival spot so we took most of the afternoon to make a dry run. Our Navigo card for the Metro covers the cost of the train ride which was great news. It’s a long way out and a bit complicated, but we are confident now that we will find it and be on time to say “Bienvenue” or welcome to Paris to the world travelers!
Unfortunately, there is much disarray in our immediate neighborhood as they are putting in new wiring and cable for who knows what, but it’s a big deal. Walking the sidewalks is tortuous, noisy, and dusty. Oh well, it’s totally out of our control.
Later in the afternoon after our trip to the airport, we strolled around the area of Place St. Michel on the Left Bank or Rive Gauche. It was 86 degrees! This is a very popular area and was stuffed with tourists.
With company, my blogging may be erratic but will do my best to continue to share our journey. We will be going to Normandy on Monday, and that inspires moving photographs. Stay tuned.
À bientôt,
L & B
June 15, 2017 @ 8:20 am
Love the reconnaissance mission and totally relate to your excitement!
Your photos are fantastic and grandchildren all gorgeous. Was lovely to see their photo after reading their names in your book dedication 🙂 Wishing your travellers a safe and smooth journey and many happy hugs on arrival.
Bonne journée à toute la famille! and à bientôt a Paris.
June 15, 2017 @ 9:09 am
Just love your comments as they are always so warm! Can’t wait to meet you on the 23! New friends are such a delightful part of our stays in Paris.
June 16, 2017 @ 1:35 pm
Merci Linda! Really looking forward to meeting 🙂 Enjoy these precious family days as I’m sure you will.
June 16, 2017 @ 3:45 pm
I apologize for the misspelling of Georges V. I slept very little last night and wrote the blog early and fast! Bernie laughed out loud when he read it!
June 16, 2017 @ 4:42 pm
Not sure I even noticed, in my admiration for your posting such a wonderful piece at that hour amidst lack of sleep and family-arrival excitement! Cheers and trust you’re all having a memorable first day x
June 15, 2017 @ 11:15 am
Your photos of rue de la Huchette, Place St. Michel, and the gyro shop bring back so many wonderful memories of one of my favorite trips to Paris. I stayed at the Hotel Mont Blanc right on rue de la Huchette and loved the lively little street. Reading of your adventures and accompanying photos is something I look forward to every day. Thank you!
June 15, 2017 @ 11:19 am
So nice to have you along and appreciate your kind words!! I can’t imagine staying on that busy street! Were you able to sleep?
June 15, 2017 @ 11:44 am
BUSY TIME…STAY SAFE…
June 15, 2017 @ 12:52 pm
Love seeing photo of your grandchildren. It will be a memorable visit as they get introduced to Paris and then you get to see Paris through their eyes. Have a fun time.
June 15, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
Beautiful article and photos as always 😊Wish you des retrouvailles magnifiques et de belles journées with family
The little theatre “Theatre de la Huchette” is a very special place and theater.
A tiny venue and 2 plays that have been performed EVERY NIGHT since 1957 … Yes … !!! Every night for almost 60 years. And still very successful I have seen this play a few years ago
June 15, 2017 @ 12:57 pm
Great information about the theatre!!! Hope everyone sees this. So good to hear from you and look forward to getting together later in our visit.
June 15, 2017 @ 1:04 pm
I am enjoying your stay in Paris with the great photos and your descriptive blog.
I interviewed the New York born owner of Thanksgiving some years back. She said Americans who live in Paris miss their Skippy peanut butter and Cheerios! Thanks for your daily stories.
June 15, 2017 @ 1:16 pm
Je vous en prie
June 15, 2017 @ 1:39 pm
Linda: Another couple good days from Paris. We never fail to learn something. Yesterday, it was chimney pots and their purpose. Also, after yesterday’s Purely Paris, I’ve learned that I will never wear a speedo. I believe Sybil is almost as excited about your children visiting as you. As luck would have it, the day they arrive we will be heading out and probably won’t have a chance to follow you and your family. We browsed your homepage and found under the ‘Blog’ category, you archive all your posts. We are already looking forward to catching up via these archives when we return. Don’t want to put any pressure on you, but there is a good chance for the next 100 years, your grandchildren will be re-living and telling of their time in Paris with granny Linda and Bernie who summered in Paris each year. In today’s post we saw that Thanksgiving Grocery can provide all the essentials the kids might need (M&M’s, Reese’s Cups) if Paris food doesn’t prove appetizing. Have a good time.
June 15, 2017 @ 3:44 pm
I simply adore the love locks! I would be the rebel fastening them to barricades and chains! So enjoying the trip so far! Happy Father’s day to all of y’all!
June 15, 2017 @ 4:27 pm
WOW! quality of pics is way up this year….looks like you are having fun
June 15, 2017 @ 5:44 pm
A lovely, busy area is rue du la Huchette and it’s surrounding streets. Very touristy, but definitely a must see area. Have you had the opportunity to visit Le Caveau de la Huchette? It is in a building that dates back to 1649, and has been a jazz club since 1949. Go in (there is a cover charge), buy your drink at the main floor bar and then head down to the cavern and listen to the live band and watch the Parisians do the jive. Join in if you are a couple, if you are without a dance partner (as we were, two females traveling together), you may be lucky enough to be asked to dance by one of the locals. Very patient with someone who did not grow up doing the Lindy Hop. LOL. An incredible evening.
I have to disagree about your description of the most nondescript but oft-described street in Paris, the Rue du Chat qui Peche, (the street of the fishing cat). You say it is named for the picture of the man holding an umbrella over a fishing black cat. It actually took its name from a sign that hung above a nearby shop, no doubt a fish shop. Before the street took its present name, it was called the Rue des Etuves, the street of steam baths. Over time it has also been known as Street of the Ovens, Street of the Fox and Street of the Boutiques.
The picture of the man with cat is a relatively recent addition and a nice example of modern street art by an artist named Némo. The subject matter depicted is based on a legend. The legend goes that in the 15th century a man engaged in alchemy, lived on this very street, along with his smart coal black cat, a particularly gifted fisher, who managed to catch fish with one swipe of its mighty paw. Three local students decided to kill the poor cat and throw it into the Seine. They were quite certain that both the alchemist and the black cat were the impersonation of one and the same creature – the Devil! Curiously, once the cat died, the alchemist disappeared… but only to reappear again a bit later, like a reborn dusty traveller coming back from a long trip. As for the cat, it continued fishing peacefully by the banks of the river …
June 15, 2017 @ 8:39 pm
I stand corrected and appreciate the lovely history lesson. May I include your response in my next blog?
June 15, 2017 @ 9:12 pm
Of course. I would be delighted! 🙂
June 15, 2017 @ 11:06 pm
I so enjoy your blog, Linda. Thanks for including us on your journey! Hope you have a wonderful “purely Paris” time with your family!
June 16, 2017 @ 3:34 am
So glad you’re along! Happy Summer