then we walked around Le Puces. Most of the "stalls" were closed - I think the weekends are the only time to go. However there were many open but we didn't see any "bargains"...Not really worth the trip to visit but Sally has to see all things antique just to make sure she's not missing anything! After Les Puces we walked back to Porte de Clignancourt Metro - took it a couple of stops and got off at Chateau Rouge on the 4 Metro Line so we could walk up to Sacre Coeur. This did mean that we had quite a climb up the east side to Sacre Coeur, many steps - Sally kept asking if we really had to climb up so many steep steps! We made it to the top (the views were fabulous - it was crystal clear!) we visited the Basilica after which we wandered around Place du Tetre and continued down the hill on Rue Lepic to Blanche (Moulin Rouge). We took the metro from Blanche to the Etoile and walked down the Champs Elysee, turned right on Avenue George V...this then necessitated a snack at the George V Hotel. We had, Lobster Club Sandwich, Nicoise Salad and Pomme Frit with a nice Sancerre...truly delicious, and seriously, the best club sandwich and Pomme Frit I've ever had!! Then we continued down the Champs Elysee to the Hotel de Crillon at Place de la Concorde for a quick look see. Then and onto Angelina's (Rue de Rivoli) for Hot Chocolate (obviously!) with pastries: Le Mont-Blanc: Meringue Chantilly Legere, Vermicelles De Creme de Marron for Sally. Millefeuille A. La Vanille, Creme Legere a la Vanille Bourbon for me. We were enjoying the fabulous chocolate experience in Angelina's when it suddenly came to our attention that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays! That meant that Sally would miss the Mona Lisa/Louvre because the Louvre would be closed on Tuesday and all day Wednesday we are spending in Lyon, some 466 kms south of Paris! Then we are planning on an early start Thursday taking the Eurostar to London St.Pancras! This revelation (possible wrench in the works) propelled us out of Angelina's like a jet with afterburners engaged...it was 4:45PM and the Louvre closed at 5:30PM...luckily the Louvre is very close to Angelina's...we hustled over to the museum and just made it to the gallery where the Mona Lisa is displayed ( The Baron Dominique-Vivant Denon Gallery).....well that was another potential screw-up avoided. Sally did comment (as most people do on seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time) that she knew it was small but not that small. As the museum was in the throws of closing we virtually had the place to ourselves, fantastic. At least we can scratch that one of the "Paris Must Do" list. The Louvre is so vast it takes days to properly enjoy the museum so the Louvre is on the "rain check" list...
We then walked back to the apartment and recharged the camera and have a cup of tea, put our feet up before venturing out (no, not for dinner!) but a stroll down the Champs Elysee at night and a drink at the Buddha Bar on the way home....so, after Buddha Bar we decided to go to the Ritz Hotel in Vendome Place for drinks...super, what a beautiful hotel! When we came out (11:45PM) it was teaming down with rain so we took the third cab of our trip...two in New York and one in Paris....The weather has been stellar today overall, just right for all this walking.....who would have thought this time of year was conducive for travel to Berlin and Paris?
Last but not least.... Today's Pedometer stats:
Miles Walked:9.67
Steps Taken:20,401
Calories Burnt:563.06
Good night....
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