Sunday in Paris with the Sisters

Sunday was Cathy's choice. As she LOVES to shop, she chose a big 'flea market' at the end of one of the subway lines.

 But first we meandered down towards the Seine for our breakfast. We stopped every few minutes to exclaim over door knobs, balcony balustrades, shop windows, and the view of the Seine. 

We made our way to a sweet little restaurant on Ile de la Cite. We ordered the petit dejeuner, which included coffee, juice, a quarter baguette smeared with butter, another quarter baguette smeared with jam, AND a piping hot croissant. For each person.

 We then wandered through the back streets of the Latin quarter to the metro. 

We figured out the ticket machine for the metro, and ventured north. When we emerged from the subway, we weren't 100% sure how to find the flea market. While Cathy & Dar went off to find a toilet (in MacDonald's), I got directions from a crepe salesman. 

We walked in the correct direction, into an outdoor market. I was a bit disappointed because it seemed to be a lot like a North American flea market, inexpensive purses and apparel. I said to Darlene, "I hope this isn't it." A passing couple overheard me, and assured us in English that, no, this wasn't the real flea market, we had to keep on going. We kept walking, past even more vendors of running shoes, and men offering us phones and watches. 

And then we found the real market, a warren of tiny streets lined with funky stores with everything from mannequins to winding staircases to massive fireplace mantels to brooches to nameplates from headstones. 

the ultimate cat toy

After a lot of wandering and exclaiming, we were ready for a snack. We found one restaurant, but it didn't seem to have anything suitable for a vegetarian (even the salads had some kind of meat in them). We ended up buying crepes and coke from a sidewalk vendor. We sat in plastic chairs, ate our crepes, and watched the people of Paris wander by. 

Back in our neighbourhood, after a cup of tea and another look at the map, we set off again. 

First we stopped in St.Eustach Church, built 400-500 years ago (it took 100 years to complete.) Unbelievably beautiful. And lucky us, there happened to be an organist playing for a crowd. 

An altarpiece by Keith Haring

After leaving the church, we found our way to Rue St.Denis. I said to my sisters, "When I lived here 10 years ago, this was a street where a lot of prostitutes did their business. It could have changed since then." There were some interesting stores (Cathy bought her first purse of the trip), but there were some other little shops that were definitely catering to a different clientele. We wandered over to the Pompidou centre, bought our dinner at an Indian restaurant, and brought it back to our little home away from home.  

Paris With The Sisters

     After a rough spring and summer, my sisters and I decided to meet in Paris for my fall break. We wanted to spend time just enjoying each other's company, and talking about happy things and being giddy and silly. 

As chance would have it, we all left the ground at about the same time, Darlene & Cathy from Toronto, and me from Tashkent. I had to change planes in Moscow, so my trip took a few hours longer.  Dar & Cathy were waiting for me at the arrivals hall in Charles de Gaulle airport. After a quick cafe au lait (for me), we made our way to the ticket office for the RER into central Paris. For 10 euros each, we took the train directly to Les Halles, the metro stop closest to our rented apartment. Les Halles is a massive metro station AND a big underground shopping mall, so it took us a while to find the correct exit. When we did, we found ourselves dragging our bags through an enormous street market. 

We passed glorious St.Eustache church, and found the street where our apartment is. It turns out to be right beside the church. The living room windows look directly onto the steps. As I write this, I can hear someone sitting on the steps, playing the guitar.

The view from the living room couch. 

After a tea and unpacking break, we set out to explore the immediate area. Paris to me is such an amazing city; the history, the vibrancy, the sheer beauty, the effortless stylishness of average people walking in the street. 

We decided to cobble together our dinner with offerings from different shops in the neighbourhood; a fresh baguette from the bakery, oranges from the fruit store, pasta from the pasta store, salads and creme brulee from the delicatessen. 

We brought our feast home and ate it while watching the scene unfold in the square just outside our window. We watched a young couple having a sad argument, then making up, a young family taking a break on the church steps, the 'village idiot' striding drunkenly around, talking to anyone and everyone. 

 

Saturday night in the city of light.