Friday morning in Paris was crisp and sunny – perfect weather for trekking across the city in search of the perfect pain au chocolat.  Our mission took us through Bastille to the charming  storefront of Boulangerie Bo, where we ordered up a pain au chocolat, a raspberry croissant, and a beautiful lemon tart.
In the name of research, we carried our goodies the few blocks to Ble Sucre, where we asked for a plain croissant and a kouign amann and taste-tested our treats at a little table out front.  The standout was Ble Sucre’s plain croissant, which validated our initial hypothesis that more butter = more better.
After downing all those pastries we felt compelled to get some steps in, so we opted to walk rather than Metro to Jardin des Plantes. I have the fondest memories of visiting this place in the spring, when poppies dot the pathways with red and orange – turns out it’s just as beautiful in October, when sunflowers and dahlias shine in all their early-autumn glory.
We spent a few minutes wandering through the steamy greenhouses…
And then popped back out ready to hit the streets again! Off we went to Place Monge to wander the stalls and pick up a market lunch.
Armed with bread, cheese, meat, and fruit, we made our way toward Jardin du Luxembourg, weaving our way through some of Paris’ quaintest streets.
And then found a couple of sunny seats at Luxembourg where we could catch some rays and spread out our feast.
When in Paris…!
My chunk of baguette smeared with salty, stinky cheese perfectly hit the spot. La Verne was pretty enamored with her ripe, jammy fig.
I’ve spent quite a few hours in these green chairs over the years. I love these chairs.
Autumn in Paris for the win!
We left the park and walked toward the Metro, happening upon Saint-Sulpice on our way. So we popped in, because WHEN IN PARIS…
We left the church in search of coffee and a sunny cafe terrace but again were sidetracked, this time by a couple of chocolate shops and this little alley. Really, our few days in Paris were one lovely detour after another…
Eventually, though, the need for a caffeine kick drove us to Cafe Mabillon, where we settled in with a couple of cafe cremes.
The forecast told us that Friday would be our sunniest day in Paris and we couldn’t bear to let that perfect Fall weather go to waste, so we boarded the Metro and headed north to Pere Lachaise for a cobble-stoned stroll, despite the fact that our Nikes had already logged about eight miles by this point. Some things are just worth pressing on for. Pere Lachaise is one of them.
This cemetery ranks in my top-three Parisian places, and it was in particularly fine form that day, golden and green and serene.
I mean, WOWSERS!
We spent a couple of hours chilling out back at the apartment in the evening but then figured, “why not rest our feet someplace scenic?”. Like on a boat! On the Seine!
We caught the last cruise of the day, which began near Notre Dame and floated west toward the Eiffel Tower. We heard jazz music in the distance and spotted this crowd of dancers practicing their moves.
Then it was one beautiful bridge after another…
And another…
There she is! As lovely and lacy as ever.
The full moon shone extra-bright that night, making the Seine extra-sparkly.
Post-cruise, we warmed ourselves with galettes and cider at Cafe Briezh.
I loved these nighttime walks through the Marais back to our apartment, making me feel as if we were ending the day on the highest of notes.
Looking back over these pictures, I can’t believe all that we packed into a single day. So much beauty! So many steps! (And so many carbs!) That’s the Paris buzz, though – you forget your fatigue in the midst of so much magic. This city is enchanting.
