Europe '85, Part VIII

Thursday, September 19, 1985, 11:20am, Paris

I had great ambitions of perhaps going to Versailles this morning and Montmartre this afternoon.  No way possible!  After breakfast I walked around to the post office to buy stamps and thought I would take a couple pictures of la Sorbonne and the Pantheon.  I forgot they are almost due east and the sun is behind them in the morning.  Then I realized that the sun would be shining on the back and prettiest part of Notre Dame.  I worked my way through little streets towards Notre Dame and found some Vietnamese Restaurants.  Maybe I’ll try one tonight.  I also ran into an open air market at Blvd. St. Germain where I bought some paté au poivre vert and some grapes for lunch.

I’ll get the bread later. Oddly, the hotel provides towels but no wash cloths so I picked one up.

Artist at Notre Dame

Notre Dame et L'Ile de la Cite

I got to Notre Dame and took the pictures I wanted from le quai de la Tournelle. As I was crossing the street I looked up to see a man on his balcony about 7 floors up eating breakfast overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame. What an incredible view he must have had from up there! I was very jealous.

As I traveled up a small street (Rue de Bièvre) which runs between quai Tournelle and St. Germain, I noticed that the street was blocked to traffic and that a cop was stationed at each end of the street. Another cop was stationed in a beautiful courtyard in front of a rather nice house. I must remember to ask Jean-François if he knows who lives there. A Citröen limo was parked there too, so I figure it is someone important.

Now I am going to buy my bread and take my lunch in the Jardin du Luxembourg. I think I forgot to mention that the palace was built by Marie de Medici, wife of Henri IV in 1612.

PS. I’ve noticed several times what appear to be Roman ruins along Boul Mich. They are of the same style as the Roman wall in London. It turns out these were part of the Roman baths from 200 AD and that the Boul Mich was there in those days. Talk about walking along the roads of history! After lunch I will journey onto Versailles.