Getting My Paris Legs

Silly, delusional me thinking I had skipped the jet lag phase of the trip.  Of course I slept for 7 hours on my first night here; I hadn't slept for the previous 24.  This morning wide awake at 4 am though stayed in bed until 7:30 with my Kobo and a terrible equestrian themed rip-off of 50 Shades of Grey.  Disgusting. 

If you can believe it, I went out again last night for a long walk.  Obviously I had to visit the Eiffel Tower (still there!) and then I wanted to find some long sleeve t-shirts to keep me warm during this rainy cold spell.  I am not complaining but I am starting to think that "Paris-in-the-springtime" is a myth as I am always cold here in the spring.  Naturally I couldn't find a long sleeve t-shirt anywhere but I did enjoy browsing H & M's selection of feathered, cropped, see-through tank tops. Especially the ones in leopard print.  I probably could have found one at the GAP but even if I was freezing to death, I wouldn't shop there in Paris. 

Waking up early also meant that I had a lot of time to think about what I want to accomplish in Paris.  And by "think", I mean "panic".  What if I don't accomplish anything?  Yesterday all I really did was walk to BHV and buy a flat iron.  Not very inspiring.

Aside from writing, I have a list, a very long list, of all the things I want to see and do this spring.  Many of them I have never done before like ride a bike or eat oysters in Les Halles.  But what if all I do is walk around the same arrondissements and buy sandwiches from Paul?

I knew that when I woke up at 4 this morning that today would be a long day and I would likely feel out of sorts and unmotivated.  It's fine and I had planned for a few quiet days, to get my Paris legs and visit familiar places.  So I had to take my own Paris advice today and try to relax and not get worked up about missing something.

I walked and walked.  I went for coffee at one of "our places" near Musée Orsay and forced myself to stand at the bar alone drinking a coffee and licking croissant crumbs off my fingers.  I window shopped at many of my favourite stores, dodging busloads of Asian tourists who seem permanently in line at Chanel or Louis Vuitton.  I browsed book stores and rode the métro from Notre Dame to Place de la Madeleine where for the first time I noticed the incredible stained glass windows at the station.  I bought a chocolate éclair from Ladurée for my dessert tonight.  I crossed the Seine at Pont Neuf and strolled along Rue Saint Dominque delighted by the different views of the Eiffel Tower - now you see me, now you don't.  I stocked up on Badoit, bought a demi-baguette, a roasted chicken leg and finally some flowers from Cler Fleurs, playing the role of a Parisian.

Cler Fleurs flowers.  Not quite as beautiful as the ones Chris bought me in 2011.

Now I am home and kind of tired thinking I may not make it out again tonight.  I may just stay in with my chocolate éclair, roasted chicken leg and 5 euros bottle of wine.   Tomorrow is another day and I feel ready to explore new parts of beautiful Paris.

Big Paris plans tonight!

 Best moment today...

Watching a nun shop for olive oil at the La Grand Epicerie. Nuns must be very well looked after in Paris! 

Best discovery today...

A children and parents' hair salon just off Rue Bac.  Instead of salon chairs, clients sit on wooden, pastel coloured vintage looking carousel animals: llamas, rabbits and horses.  The shop was guarded by a cat that looked very much like Sophie - expect way less fat.  Quelle surprise! 

Weirdest thing I saw today...

I sat next to an immaculately groomed, stunningly pretty Parisian on the métro who was eating Chicken McNuggets, complete with BBQ sauce, straight from the bag.