Sunday in Paris - Notre Dame after the fire and a Paris walk

Started by opening Mother’s Day gifts from Peg . . . a lovely scarf and chocolate from Pike’s Place in Seattle. I got my other gifts when we celebrated last week before leaving on this trip. We walked down to Cave Bourgogne for lunch and had a nice salad and fun waiter. Left the restaurant and watched the dancing at La Place Georges-Moustaki at the foot of rue Mouffetard, and walked through the huge outdoor market. A horrible band was playing a few blocks away and we quickly escaped. Decided to check the Luxembourg Museum so programmed Google to walk to the Luxembourg Gardens. It was packed on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We listened to a fun community chorus and then checked the museum. Not too exciting so we’ll save it for a rainy day. Then walked over to our favorite restaurant La Bastide d’Opio that we heard had closed, and it is no more. It has been replaced by a “trendy” club. So sad . . .

Then we decided to walk down to Notre Dame and see what was left after the tragic fire. To get there we walked through a Fête du Pain along Place Louis Lépine which was set up with several large white tents filled with bakers and would-be bakers and lots of delicious sights and smells. It was also packed with small children trying to learn how to make bread. Great fun.

Every other tourist in Paris had the same idea, all looking for Notre Dame, and the police had blocked off all possible routes. We tried all the streets to no avail and finally went around the back where we got some photos of the poor burned Cathedral. The businesses along rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame next to the church are still closed but much of rue d'Arcole leading to the church is now open to tourists . . . and a living for the vendors.

Walked back looking for the #47 bus but couldn’t find it so just kept walking until we got home. Had enough time to change my shoes before we returned to Cave Bourgogne for dinner. Got a table and ordered a kir to celebrate Mother’s Day. For dinner Ed got the magret de canard and I got a gigot d’agneau. Both were excellent and we had another really nice waiter. Fun!!

Back to the apartment for some much-needed sleep.