Eiffel For Paris

OUR WEEKEND IN PARIS

***Remember, you can always just click on a photo to see it larger.***

The bells of the Eglise Saint Louis en L’Ile are soaring in the background as I write. In the city that attracted foreign writers such as Hemingway, Huxley, and F. Scott-Fitzgerald, I am inspired to write albeit without their talent. Ironically there are posters everywhere around town for the movie of Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby Le Magnifique.” 

Cindy at our apartment on Ile Saint Louis

On Saturday morning we stood in line to enter the Centre Pompidou, the city’s largest modern art museum. Unfortunately we were standing in the line for the museum’s library; we wondered why everyone else in the line appeared to be under thirty years old. Nevertheless, we were able to gain entry to the galleries from that direction and were treated to a wonderful display of recent art that was vibrant, and full of pulsating color that challenged and invigorated us. 

The Pompidou Centre

We were so inspired that we went home and took a nap…but not until we explored some of the best patisseries around to find our anglais avec apricot.

Pastries

Sunday we took the advice of our rental agent and visited the open market in the nearby town where he lives – Saint Germain en Laye. The town has a great chateau constructed in 1348. Louis XIV was born here. 

Saint Germain en Laye Chateau and Church of Saint Germain

There are also adjacent extensive gardens with topiary trees stretching to the horizon from which there is a distant view of the city of Paris. 

Inside the chateau complex there is also a lovely chapel:

    

Opposite the chateau sits the wonderful Church of Saint-Germain:

The main reason that we visited this lovely town was for the Sunday market where farmers and other merchants and artisans congregate to sell their wares. 

It was a pleasant, calming experience for us away from the bustle of the city. We had a cup of coffee outside at one of the cafes overlooking the market, and bought a chunk of nectar from a local chocolatier. For lunch we ate a Lebanese epinard that was hand made in front of us. We brought home a variety of fresh fruit, nuts, and olives.

Our Lebanese Epinard being cooked

On Sunday night we went out for a nice meal and found a Moroccan nouveau French fusion restaurant L'Atlas where we indulged in tureens of vegetables (sans viande), and humour fish with couscous. These steaming hot delicacies were washed down with a lovely glass of Chenin blanc. Romantic!

Once again, we crossed the bridge from the Latin Quarter and walked home with a distant view of the Eiffel Tower illuminated: