Really not possible to get folks up early. I finally have companions around ten, and we hit the road for a (as Tay insists) sit down breakfast. We find a spot on the way to the metro that the boys love, because everyone is watching rugby on a big screen. My favorite breakfast accompaniment! But we have a nice meal:
And head out to our first stop, the Arc de Triomphe. As we rise up from underground, it’s quite an impressive sight. Stop, pay toll, and we are ascending seemingly endless circular stairs up to the top to read through historical stats, and then climb the final staircase up to the spectacular view:
Here’s the Champs d’Elysee with the Louvre at the end, as seen from one side:
The spot of the Arc is also know as L’Etoile de Charles de Gaulle because it is at the center of the 12 boulevards that radiate out in all directions. Very impressive.
Under the Arc is where France’s tomb of the unknown soldier lies.
From here we hoof it through some mellow neighborhoods down to the river and across the bridge to check out the Eiffel tower, built in 1889 as the entrance to the Worlds Fair. Still pretty damn impressive. The tourists:
What? Time to eat? Onto the subway once more to head over to the little Indian spot I discovered on my trip with Nikki and Valerie. Just as good as I remembered it. How much do we love lamb in an indian restaurant? Let me count the ways…saag, vindaloo, ground northern style. Etc, etc. Smiling faces, all:
Well stuffed, and armed with research and information this time, we head back to boulevard St. Germain to check out the goods. Of course, it was just on the other side of the street from where we were the day before (and where Michael suggested we head). We do some quick in and outs amongst the other shoppers, then walk back home to rest up for birthday dinner.
An hour and considerable time grooming later, we head out to Isle de St. Louis for birthday dinner. Once again an intimate spot with about 8 tables – and a piano player providing jazz all the while what could be better? We ate, we drank, we gave cards, and of course, the obligatory birthday dessert (consumed by the not-yet-my-birthday mom):
Oh no, we are not done yet. Michael and I want to experience Saturday night in Paris, so we walk over back to our district and pass by a club that looks pretty quiet, but then wander through streets with people spilling out everywhere, laughing, drinking, smoking and cruising. We make it to Rue Des Lombards and check out a very famous jazz bar, but the set is almost ending there. So we head a little further down and go into the sunset club and then downstairs into a small room like being in the subway, but with a much lower ceiling. About 50 people are crammed together in two rooms, with a tiny stage set where they meet in a T. The Brazilian singer and her entourage emerge from somewhere and sing a nice set, although a little mellower than I might have wished for. After about 45 minutes, T is ready to head back, so she and I head back to the hotel and the brothers head out until about 4 am for some drinking, laughing and getting lost through the pretty streets and alleyways.
Happy 26th, Matty!