Paris Is Always A Good Idea: Day Three

Welcome to day three of my surprise trip to Paris.  If you missed them, you can catch up on days one and two here.

Sunday morning was cloudy and a little misty, but we didn't care - we were in Paris!  We stopped for a pain au chocolat, and hopped on the metro for the quick trip to the city center.  Our first destination was Rue Cler, a neighborhood street near the Eiffel Tower that is home to a thriving local marketplace.

As we walked along, we saw children playing football, with the most beautiful backdrop.

We were headed to Rue Cler to get groceries for a picnic later in the day.  Every shop imaginable lined the street, and we purchased bread, cheese, salami, a small quiche, wine, and some fruit.  The stores were so colorful and beautiful.

Even though it was gray and cool, the Parisians were out in their Sunday best.  I want to be this couple when I grow up.

We had almost everything for our picnic, but still needed dessert.  And when in Paris, one must have macaroons!  At almost 2 euros each, it's best to choose your flavors wisely, but they were worth every cent.  My favorites were rose petal and pistachio.  A little crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and so flavorful.

On our way to the picnic spot, we passed the Neoclassical St. Sulpice church.  On Sunday mornings they have pipe organ concerts, but sadly we were a little too late.

And St. Germain-des-Pres, Paris' oldest church, dating from the 11th century.  That's my hubby in the bottom corner, carrying all the yummy food!

After walking for miles (which seemed to be the daily trend), we arrived at le Jardin du Luxembourg.

This 60 acre garden and palace is home to the French Senate.  There are very specific rules about where cards can be played, where joggers can run, and where music is allowed.  Luckily, we didn't jog or listen to music, but we did find a spot in the lovely garden and ate our picnic and people watched for several hours.

With full bellies and tired legs, we headed to our apartment for a nap.  Somehow we woke up hungry again, and had dinner at a cafe near Sacre Coeur, the end to another perfect day.

Be sure to come back next Friday for Day Four, where we head out of town, get completely lost in the French countryside, and meet some friends in Paris.