Today was our day to hit the stores. We took the Metro to Place de la Bastille, then walked around (delayed by several downpours) the Place des Vosges, where Suzie bought several prints, then walked to the Marais, where we found the best deal we’ve found so far in Paris for lunch, at a place called La Locandiera — an excellent satisfying lunch for 5, including coffees, for 25 euros.
We then took the Metro to the “Grandes Boulevards” for some big dog shopping, at various unnamed stores and at Au Printemps, one the “Grands Magasins” of Paris. Now those of you who know me well know what I think of shopping, especially in a department store … it is to be avoided until absolutely necessary. But Au Printemps was (oh hell, how do I say this?) pretty cool. Three large multiple-story buildings, the main building having on its top floor a relatively inexpensive cafeteria with an indoor-outdoor seating area having an excellent view of the Paris skyline. We had coffees and some pastries and enjoyed the sun, then Suzie and my mother shopped and, yes, I have to admit, I shopped, too. I did, I shopped.
We called it an early day after that, wanting to get a good night’s sleep tonight after the thunder of the night before.
One final picture of something the boys love to do more than anything: Flipping open the doors of the Metro car when it comes to a stop and it’s time to get off. So here’s Andrew looking very pleased that he is about to indulge in this pleasure.
Categories: Travel -- France