Paris Blog and Lots of Tips for Visitors

Our last day. I checked in online for our flight tomorrow. We ate breakfast and walked down to rue Mouffetard to souvenir shop. At the Florel en Provence tea shop we got Peg some mint tea and a cute little tray. We wanted a scarf for Jean and that was a bit more challenging. The first shop wasn’t completely open yet and we couldn’t get to the scarf display. Walked past several places that had scarves but we didn’t like them. On our way back to the first shop hoping she’d gotten set up, we passed a tiny store with clothing and I spotted a scarf rack. In we went and the perfect scarf was waiting for us. What luck!

We walked home, deposited our treasures and logged them in my book for Customs. Then we walked up to Marty Restaurant on the ave. des Gobelins stopping on the way for some cash for our September trip. We were nearly the first at Marty and got the same table we had before. Ed again ordered the daurade and I got the lamb. Both were excellent. Ed got Baba au rum for dessert and I got a moelleux au chocolat with pistachio ice cream. Fun waiter, nice wine, excellent food . . . good lunch!

Walked on up to the Gobelins Metro stop and rode to Châtelet where we exited and walked to Ste. Chapelle. The line didn’t seem too long so we got in line. That was deceptive because once through Security, you moved to a much longer line for tickets. We waited. Finally got our tickets and entered a very crowded Ste. Chapelle. Checked out the beautiful ground floor and climbed the circular stairs to the chapel with the gorgeous stained glass. While we were there, the sun came out and the stained glass windows glowed. Fantastic! We couldn't have had a better day.

Rose Window at Sainte-Chapelle

Stained Glass at Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

We walked over near Notre Dame and ended up having to circle the block and go up rue d’Arcole. They’ve opened the street up to the church but there is a wall, fences and police so you can’t get in front of it. I got pictures from the side and that will have to do. We walked back toward the right bank, crossed the Seine and continued east to the Pont Marie Metro station where we caught the train home. Time to clean the apartment and pack.

June 8, 2019 — Day 30 (Saturday)

Up at 4:30 to finish packing and ready the apartment for inspection. Alex managed to arrive at exactly six o’clock. We got a text from Air France changing our flight time from 10:05 to 11:35 but our shuttle was coming at 6:15 so it didn’t make much difference. We checked out of the apartment and Alex told us Joyce would reimburse our deposit. We left to wait outside where it was cool but not raining.

The shuttle arrived very close to 6:15 and had a couple people already. We stopped at a hotel on rue Monge to get another woman and were on our way to CDG with very light traffic. Arrived at the airport, found the baggage check area and managed to scan my phone and print boarding passes and luggage tags. An Air France lady put the tags on and a gentleman helped us get them on the luggage belt. Off to the gate and we spotted a Paul’s so I grabbed a table and Ed got us each a chocolate crossant and hot chocolate. Walked to the gate and found seats for a very long wait. We’re now boarded and waiting takeoff. I’ve got my USA SIM card in my phone. Now all we do is sit for 10+ hour and we’re home.

Postscript: Arrived in San Francisco without incident after a painfully long flight. Got our luggage, went through Customs and took the BART to Pleasant Hill where we got a taxi to Peg’s to retrieve our car. A nice long drive through SF traffic and we’re home and happy to see Jean and our kitty again.