I can't believe I'm in Paris! After months of wishing and hoping and unsuccessfully cajoling friends to come with me, I'm here. All thanks to Brad who casually mentioned he would attend a medical conference in Sept and would I like to come, too. YES, I said YES!
The flight went well, we took the RER from CDG into Paris and found our little abode (10 rue de Roule) a short distance from the station. It was almost too easy. The apartment is Ikea chic. From the living room window, just down the street, we can see the spectacular Church of St. Eustache, in the 1st arrondissement. It was built between 1532 and 1633 near the site of the medieval marketplace Les Halles and rue Montorgueil, both of which I will explore further. It is the second largest church in the city, just behind Notre Dame It is also one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen. And I have seen so many churches. I am definitely going back. Some of the artwork rescued during the Notre Dame fire is being stored there until it can all be returned.
We went into the Samaritaine, a building inspired by the Eiffel Tower and very lovingly restored down to every last detail. A spectacular showplace for high end luxury items like watches that cost 38,000 Euros and champagne bottles mongrammed in gold leaf. Over.The.Top. A friendly salesperson there told us about the church next door so, of course, we went there, too. It’s called Eglise Saint-Germain L’Auxerrois. There was a service going on, very sweet and very humble. Felt like ricocheting from the obscene to the sublime.
Bought pastries for tomorrow morning at the neighborhood boulangerie and milk for our coffee at a nearby market. And oh! Figs and strawberries at the corner fruit stand. Yes, I can feel it, I'm already slipping into a Paris State of Mind, to paraphrase Billy Joel, and it's only Day 1. Très dangereuse.
