April 5-9 Paris Chronicles

We arrived around noontime on the Eurostar train into Gare du Nord. The station was crowded but we quickly made our way to the street to catch a taxi so we could pick up our keys by 1pm. What a mistake since the traffic was like nothing that I had experienced. It was tragic actually horrific but our driver was heroic or nuts bit sure which. After sitting at a light for about 20 minutes he started speeding in and out using the opposite side of the street in the wrong side following motorcycles… since I’m writing this I can say we made it to the grocery store to pick up the key on Rue Leon Frot and walk a short 100km to hour flat. I was worried about the Airbnb but it turned out nice. Centrally located in the 11th arrondisement with lots of cute restaurants nearby but farther away from the cultural touristy places. We dropped our bags and found a Lebanese restaurant where the ate fattoush salad and my husband had a shawarma. I must say that was disappointing but it did what it was intended and filled our bellies. We then went to the grocery store to pick up some food fruit, coffee and cereal… we rested for an hour or so and then went to Les Disquaires a short 15 minute walk to see a funk band. We had two coronas and watch then band and headed home after. We woke up the next morning and had a little bite and then proceeded to walk 1.16 miles to momartre to see Sacre Couer and go to the Dalí museum. We stopped on the way and had some brunch before walking up and being surprised by the amount of people waiting to go inside… we skipped that line and went inside a smaller church and then went and spent some hours at the Dali museum and it was a fantastic relief. His art, inspiration and love for his wife was quite inspiring. We then walked back and grabbed some Turkish food on our walk on the way back home. That night we went to the Super Sonic to see Spiral Drive and Tender Youth. This was a full day but many of the sights were familiar. The next day we woke later and decided to take an Uber to the Rodin but didn’t know we would run into the Paris marathon where there were tons of street closures. This Uber driver was less aggressive than our first but he was trying to maneuver in a Sunday. Sitting and trying to stay zen we heard a bang and I thought maybe it was a bomb or something and saw people running to someone and we saw a bike accident and a woman face planted and unmoving- we started to move again and we were all shaken especially the driver then we got to another stop and he told us that he couldn’t go over because of the marathon so we got out to walk 45 minutes or so but stopped to eat. We ordered chicken and salad which was meh or mid and it was raining so kind of feeling down but we went to the Rodin as planned and was feeling better the more we walked. The Rodin was exquisite and I was in awe of the volume of art these artists created. The outside sculptures included the Thinker and so many more. But then there was an inside chateau that included floors of art. But I was hot and tired at this point. We moved through with my husband being more engaged. After the museum we saw our good faithful and went to Le Pain Quotidian for yogurt bowl and croissants and lots of expresso. I was prepared to walke another hour plus but we called an Uber and the marathon was over by then since it was well after 6pm. We got home and rested but felt hungry for dinner. We found a Mexican restaurant 2 minutes from our flat and I got to enjoy tacos- my favorite- I also had a mojito and some chips and then we crashed at home. I can’t believe I have more to share. On Monday, April 8th, we woke up with energy went to Le Pain Quotidian for a late breakfast and proceeded to walk to The Lorengerie museum near the Louvre- yes, another long walk but the weather was warm around 68 and sunny. We walked fast and dashed and ran to an Irish but for a toilet along the way and water just to realize we couldn’t get in without timed entry. So I booked my reservation for Thursday the 11th. We walked back and I was famished in the heat and dehydrated. We wanted to eat but didn’t want to experiment and we found O’Sullivans - I said the Irish won’t fail us and they didn’t had a great meal chicken, salad, white bean and spinach meal! Awesome meal. That night we went back to Les Disqueries and met a nice girl but listed to a couple of bands!!! I’m rushing now since we have done so much! Today, April 9th we did nothing- I walked my husband to a massage parlor, went to the grocery store for more fruit  and boulengerie for a baguette. We laid around and went to dinner at Brother Sister but got caught in a downpour and ran a bit. I ate a quinoa salad with lots of veggies and it is now almost midnight as I write this. I’m trying to get all of this documented before I forget. Tomorrow is my birthday! We arrived around noontime on the Eurostar train into Gare du Nord. The station was crowded but we quickly made our way to the street to catch a taxi so we could pick up our keys by 1pm. What a mistake since the traffic was like nothing that I had experienced. It was tragic actually horrific but our driver was heroic or nuts bit sure which. After sitting at a light for about 20 minutes he started speeding in and out using the opposite side of the street in the wrong side following motorcycles… since I’m writing this I can say we made it to the grocery store to pick up the key on Rue Leon Frot and walk a short 100km to hour flat. I was worried about the Airbnb but it turned out nice. Centrally located in the 11th arrondisement with lots of cute restaurants nearby but farther away from the cultural touristy places. We dropped our bags and found a Lebanese restaurant where the ate fattoush salad and my husband had a shawarma. I must say that was disappointing but it did what it was intended and filled our bellies. We then went to the grocery store to pick up some food fruit, coffee and cereal… we rested for an hour or so and then went to Les Disquaires a short 15 minute walk to see a funk band. We had two coronas and watch then band and headed home after. We woke up the next morning and had a little bite and then proceeded to walk 1.16 miles to momartre to see Sacre Couer and go to the Dalí museum. We stopped on the way and had some brunch before walking up and being surprised by the amount of people waiting to go inside… we skipped that line and went inside a smaller church and then went and spent some hours at the Dali museum and it was a fantastic relief. His art, inspiration and love for his wife was quite inspiring. We then walked back and grabbed some Turkish food on our walk on the way back home. That night we went to the Super Sonic to see Spiral Drive and Tender Youth. This was a full day but many of the sights were familiar. The next day we woke later and decided to take an Uber to the Rodin but didn’t know we would run into the Paris marathon where there were tons of street closures. This Uber driver was less aggressive than our first but he was trying to maneuver in a Sunday. Sitting and trying to stay zen we heard a bang and I thought maybe it was a bomb or something and saw people running to someone and we saw a bike accident and a woman face planted and unmoving- we started to move again and we were all shaken especially the driver then we got to another stop and he told us that he couldn’t go over because of the marathon so we got out to walk 45 minutes or so but stopped to eat. We ordered chicken and salad which was meh or mid and it was raining so kind of feeling down but we went to the Rodin as planned and was feeling better the more we walked. The Rodin was exquisite and I was in awe of the volume of art these artists created. The outside sculptures included the Thinker and so many more. But then there was an inside chateau that included floors of art. But I was hot and tired at this point. We moved through with my husband being more engaged. After the museum we saw our good faithful and went to Le Pain Quotidian for yogurt bowl and croissants and lots of expresso. I was prepared to walke another hour plus but we called an Uber and the marathon was over by then since it was well after 6pm. We got home and rested but felt hungry for dinner. We found a Mexican restaurant 2 minutes from our flat and I got to enjoy tacos- my favorite- I also had a mojito and some chips and then we crashed at home. I can’t believe I have more to share. On Monday, April 8th, we woke up with energy went to Le Pain Quotidian for a late breakfast and proceeded to walk to The Lorengerie museum near the Louvre- yes, another long walk but the weather was warm around 68 and sunny. We walked fast and dashed and ran to an Irish but for a toilet along the way and water just to realize we couldn’t get in without timed entry. So I booked my reservation for Thursday the 11th. We walked back and I was famished in the heat and dehydrated. We wanted to eat but didn’t want to experiment and we found O’Sullivans - I said the Irish won’t fail us and they didn’t had a great meal chicken, salad, white bean and spinach meal! Awesome meal. That night we went back to Les Disqueries and met a nice girl but listed to a couple of bands!!! I’m rushing now since we have done so much! Today, April 9th we did nothing- I walked my husband to a massage parlor, went to the grocery store for more fruit  and boulengerie for a baguette. We laid around and went to dinner at Brother Sister but got caught in a downpour and ran a bit. I ate a quinoa salad with lots of veggies and it is now almost midnight as I write this. I’m trying to get all of this documented before I forget. Tomorrow is my birthday!