Paris Again, April
Tuesday, April 2nd
Back in Paris, we navigated the RER and Metro to our next apartment in the Marais. It was just a few blocks from our first apartment but much smaller, though nicely decorated. We had breakfast at a tiny restaurant and were the only customers for the first 45 minutes. The onion and chuck tart was the best I’ve ever had.
We spent the day wandering and ended up at Rue Cler, a charming market street with shops and fruit stands. We enjoyed a glass of wine and melted Camembert with honey there. That evening, we went to Le Meurice, a tropical-themed tapas bar. The cocktails were strong, and the plates were small but tasty. The bill was about 100 euros, which felt pricey after Africa, but we had a great time. We went to bed early since we were still recovering from travel.
Wednesday, April 3rd:
We slept okay, though the bed had a big sag in the center that made us roll together. Ronnie got up early, and not wanting to climb the squeaky platform stairs again, moved to the small couch downstairs.
We had croissants and cappuccinos from the boulangerie around the corner, then set out for Versailles. Getting there was complicated, but the palace was worth it. The place was massive and full of extravagant detail, which made the causes of the French Revolution easy to understand. We saw Marie Antoinette’s escape door and explored the endless gardens.
That evening, we took advantage of happy hour and tried several dishes—escargot, oeuf mayo, tomatoes with mozzarella, and flan. Everything was excellent.
Thursday, April 4th:
We woke up practically on top of each other again because of the bed. Our last full day was spent in Montmartre, my favorite part of Paris. We sat on the steps of Sacré Coeur Cathedral along with hundreds of others and soaked in the view. We placed a lock with our names on it along the fence, which was a fun little tradition.
We wandered into Place du Tertre to see the street artists. I had an amazing mushroom and cheese quiche while we people-watched. We also had our portrait drawn by a talented artist before walking down to see the Moulin Rouge.
Dinner that night was at a lively, popular spot in the Marais. Ronnie had an incredible steak, and I had chicken with mashed potatoes. Both dishes had amazing sauces. We shared escargot to start (still not as good as the dish in Eagle). After a short stroll, we went to bed early to be ready for our flight home.
Friday, April 5th:
We took the Metro and RER back to Charles de Gaulle, finally getting the hang of the route. The airport was busy with long lines, and my bag had to be checked because it was overweight. Thankfully, we arrived early enough to still make the flight in time.
The flight home was much smoother. We entertained ourselves with movies and games before landing in San Francisco. We drove back to Pacific Grove, where everyone was happy to see us.