A Week in Paris #5

We didn't do the touristy thing ... we chose to explore and wander the streets and alleys of the city we both love. Transportation is amazingly easy and with a Paris Visite pass, you can use the metro and buses with just a swipe of the ticket. On our wanders, we did see famous sites ... take a look ...

Notre Dame - very crowded for some exhibit which we bypassed

A bride being photographed at a side door of Notre Dame

la place st. michel

 Saint Michael, the Archangel

Eiffel Tower as seen from the Pompidou Center rooftop

eglise st germain des pres

On of the three famous cafes of St. Germain des Pres. It once had a reputation as the rendezvous of the literary and intellectual élite of the city.

Another famous place for politicians and literary folks to hang out.

The third cafe known for its famous patrons

We had this at Les Deux Magots  - prices have definitely gone up since our last visit.  One hot chocolate (to absolutely die for!) one eclair, and one glass of white wine was 24 euro (approx. $33) ... but it was worth every penny and every calorie.

But back to famous places ...

A view of the tower behind a Haussman building. It was interesting to be reading "The House I Loved" by Tatiana de Rosnay, while in Paris.

A view from Bus #69 (thanks Mary Ann Moss for this suggestion). We avoided all the crowds and saw just as much as the tour buses.

Another view from Bus #69

And another.

One of the fountains at Place des Vosges - this is one of my favorite squares in the city.

Place des Vosges meets technology

Another Haussmann building

Le Bon Marche - I believe it is the largest department store in Paris.

We were looking for the Rose Bakery on the 3rd floor, but never found it. Rather, we ate at Primo Piano, which didn't get very good reviews on TripAdvisor but it was OK.

Except that dogs were allowed in the restaurant. For those that know us, we found this disagreeable. But it was very French!

Luxembourg Gardens - so much fun to wander around, watching children play and people enjoying the sun peeking through the clouds.

Of course I had to pay a visit to Shakespeare and Company bookstore, where I purchased Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, and The Little Prince by  Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

The location for Picasso's first studio in Paris

Sacre Coeur - so crowded! We walked past it ... we'd visited on a previous trip to Paris.

And one final view of the tower viewed from Bus #63.

Phew ... that was a lot ... all this seen simply walking around, taking the metro and buses.