No Rush, No Commitments, Just Easy Strolling in Paris
Bonjour,
Yesterday, I totally forgot to mention Le Tour de France. We had watched it on television almost every day through the month of July except for the week we had company. We were primed and ready to stand once again on the Champs and watch the cyclists whiz by. Alas, the plan didn’t materialize due to a miscommunication with one of the security guards.
Getting to the Champs is not an easy proposition on Tour day as almost all the subway stops are closed along Line 1 which is Le Métro access. Bernie devised an alternate route which put us out on Avenue George Cinq so we could walk up to the Champs. It was totally blocked off, and Bernie understood the guard to say that we could not enter here or anywhere. We were mega disappointed and stopped at a café for refreshment since the weather was so nice. It was about 4pm. We sat next to a delightful young couple from Atlanta and had a fun time telling them about some things to do in Paris. They had just arrived and were first-time visitors.
When we returned to the apartment to watch the Tour finale, lo and behold, there were all the spectators on the Champs! The crowd was much sparser than normal and we presume there was no parade but we don’t know that for sure. Every year is about the same so I have pulled old photos from my repertoire of past years.
Our outing for the day was to try the new outside café at Musée Carnavalet, the museum on the history of Paris. It is free! It has been under renovation for the past three years or so. We will wait to see inside when the Bilbros come to Paris, but we were looking for a different spot to have lunch. It was certainly different with a most eclectic menu. Set in the lovely gardens, it was in essence a cafeteria, self—serve line. The food came stacked in small metal containers. I wish I could tell you what we ordered but I’ll show you instead. We’re glad we experienced it but probably will not return for the food. Of course, Jim Bilbro will know what everything is and can decipher for us so perhaps we’ll give it another try. First a little history followed by the gardens and our food.
Lunch was not at all filling and we decided to stroll the 4th arrondissement and look for some dessert. I ordered a cappuccino, Bernie a regular espresso, and some sinful cheesecake with framboise or raspberries. Sorry, no photo!
Our evening ended with a light dinner at Le Carette on La Place des Vosges.
Sorry, no doors or lovers today but we may find them at our picnic lunch on the river.
We understand there’s nothing but rain in Alabama and a soaring rise of the Delta variant. We are masking up everywhere we go with hand sanitizer required. Beginning on August 1, all Parisians have to show their Vaccine pass to enter a restaurant, public transportation, all shops, all bars, etc. We have nothing but our little paper card from the US so hope that will work for us!
À bientôt
L & B
July 21, 2021 @ 7:22 am
Thanks you so much for our daily tour of Paris. Your blog is a highlight of my morning. So happy that you are both back on your French adventure. Wish we could come and visit. However, the U.K. is terrified of the Beta variant coming from France ( that’s the South African variant) as the Astra Zeneca jab which has been used in the majority of adults is less effective against it.
July 21, 2021 @ 7:29 am
Bonjour Antonia, we will miss you guys this time! Have already walked past some memories over by the Place des Etats-Unis. This virus is just a curse for all of us. We’re trying to be careful!
July 21, 2021 @ 11:51 am
Hi, the flowers are called Baby Sage, also Blackcurrant sage, Graham’s sage, and Lemmon’s sage—that’s according to my flower identification app, “PictureThis. I’m not smart enough to know this without it, which is the reason I have it.
July 21, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
I am sorry you missed La Tour, but it sounds like you had an enjoyable day. The food at the museum cafe doesn’t look appetizing and most chef’s would say that the presentation is an important part of any meal, I think.
I read recently on another blog that one can download the French Health Pass app for Americans to a mobile device. Once you fill in your info, you can then go to a pharmacy in France, show the pharmacist the health pass on your mobile device, your CDC cards and the pharmacist will then complete your health pass. I believe the article said the health pass was then on your mobile device and you could show that for entry.
As always, your photos are wonderful!
July 21, 2021 @ 3:34 pm
OH, that’s wonderful info. We’ll try it. Merci!
July 21, 2021 @ 2:32 pm
The flower is baby sage.
July 21, 2021 @ 3:32 pm
Yes, several others have said the same thing. Merci!
July 21, 2021 @ 2:38 pm
When the cyclers roar down the street and pass the spectators, is there a charge in the air. Or is that only in my imagination? It looks like addresses on the napkin in your last picture. The addresses end with a series of 5 sets of 2 numbers. What are those number? It’s good the way the businesses and homes find ways to add a little green to their buildings and sidewalks.
July 21, 2021 @ 3:31 pm
There is a bit of a charge in the air when Le Tour passes by but they do it like 10 or 11 times. The numbers are the telephone number.
July 21, 2021 @ 7:04 pm
I am glad your weather is warmer now. Rained last night and this morning here.
Thanks for sharing your pictures. It’s amazing how all the greenery grows down the side of those buildings.
Such beautiful architecture on the buldings in Paris!
July 22, 2021 @ 4:48 am
Here is one link to the article (or similar one) she mentioned. https://thepointsguy.com/news/vaccination-proof-france-americans/
July 22, 2021 @ 6:09 am
Thanks for all the info from so many of you. We’ve gotten the app on our phones and now off to the pharmacy this morning to see if we can get a “willing” pharmacist to help us.