Paris: Day 1!

We're back from Paris and we had an incredibly lovely time!  We'd both been before individually but never together, so we really didn't feel much pressure to do touristy things - we just wandered around the city and ate and drank and took it all in.  We get so many comments from people saying "Wow, from your pictures, it looks like all yall do is eat and drink!"  And...that would be accurate.  We're foodies.  So sue us.  

Our flight was at 6:20AM so we got up bright and early at 4AM (kill me) and got on our plane.  

Tiny ass planes mean big ass anxiety attacks for Lauren.

We made it to Paris in an hour and a half and took the train into the city...but not before some random woman kept asking us questions about the train and cabs and where we were stayingm and saying we should share a cab.  Uhh...NO.  I've seen Taken, thank you very much.  Not happening.

We stayed at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe, our first time using the Priceline bidding/Name Your Price thing, and we had a great experience!  Our hotel was super fancy and beautiful and luxurious and our normal king-sized room was probably the same square footage as our teeny shitty apartment.  But three times as nice.  I was pleased as punch.  

We got settled and headed out to walk down the Champs Elysees, grab a Nutella Crepe, and stroll through the Tuileries.  

Cutie with a crepe.

FDR Roundabout.

First view of the Eiffel Tower!

Arc de Triomphe.

Pretty Tuileries.

Relaxing by the fountain.  And looking like a tourist with a map.  Which he insisted on using the WHOLE TRIP.  But I guess that's ok cause we never got lost!

Me relaxing with my new pals.

We walked past the Louvre...but didn't go in cause the lines were bonkers and we'd already seen Ms. Mona and friends.

Then we strolled down the Seine and headed over to the Ile de la Cite for lunch and to see Notre Dame.

Hook 'em.
He didn't even TRY to look like a European!

Lunch at the Taverne Henry IV - a rec from Nell's blog!

Some white wine at lunch - so chic.

My yummy Salade du Jour - chicken, tomatoes, cantalope, eggs, rice, and a mustardy olive oil dressing.  YUM.

Another Special du Jour, though we never fully figured out exactly what it was.  It was tomatoes stuffed with veal and pork and something else and deliciousness.

Notre Dame.  Beauts.

Awkward solo shot - gotta love 'em.

 Then we moved on and headed up the Seine to the Musee d'Orsay!

The Pont des Arts and the many padlocks all over the bridge.  According to Wikipedia,  tourist couples attach padlocks to the bridge and then throw the key in the river as a romantic gesture.  DAMNIT!  We didn't know to do this!

Contemplating life.

Beautiful clock inside the Musee.

Montmartre in the background!  You can hardly see it though.  Dangit.

Sunset on the Seine.

 We were pooped so we headed home for a quick cat nap before our dinner outing in the Latin Quarter!

Cab pic.

My verre du vin and our plate of salted meats at the street cafe before din!

Oh hey!

Our friend Abby recommended this place to us, Le Petite Prince, and we were NOT disappointed.

Leek pastry with cockles, mussels, and saffron cream.  (Mine.)

Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup with hazelnuts, smoked duck, and ricotta.  (Drew's.)

Duck Magret with shallots and wild mushrooms, potato and bacon brochette.  Mmmm. (We both got that.)  

While the food was absolutely delicious and flavorful, our duck was a little...tough.  You basically had to take your knife and saw through it vigorously.  Which meant that the table shook when you cut.  Which also meant that your bottle of wine slipped off the table and broke into a million pieces, spilling red wine everywhere, on your husband's pants and shoes, and the neighbor's purse.  Which meant that the French owners came up, irritated, and cleaned it without saying a word, even though it was their tough duck's fault that caused the wine spill!  UGH!  Ah well.  It didn't ruin our evening.  Much.

The owner's cute pup that lived at the restaurant and hung out on the stairs!

  

Starry Night on the Seine.
That's a Van Gogh painting that we saw at the Musee!  And it also happens to be the background of my phone!   Cool!  Look it up.

Blurry view of the Eiffel Tower.

Another solo shot on the bridge, looking for a cab.

 We really had a great first day, despite the exhaustion caused from the early flight.  We wandered around remarking "Isn't this the best city in the world?  It's the prettiest city in the world!  This is ten times better than Dublin!  It's the most wonderful place in the world!"  And while that may be true, we both resolved by the end that we could never live here.  It's too huge and it would swallow us whole.  But that first day reminded me why I love it so much and why it's fun being there with people you love.  Stay tuned for the rest of the trip tomorrow!