After retrieving our suitcases fairly easily at baggage claim, we met up with Papy (Jean-Michel) who drove me, S & J and the luggage to the apartment on rue du Cherche-Midi while Nico and Mamy (Marie-France), who couldn't really fit in the tiny Renault Clio, took public transport. We had a leisurely brunch at Marie Thé just below our apt, then said au revoir to Mamy and Papy before marching upstairs to nap off our jetlag.
Sophie woke up wanting to go to Berthillon for ice cream on Ile Saint Louis. Her French teach, Madame Giannella, had said it's "the best ice cream in the world," so, naturally, we were going. We walked from the apartment through Luxembourg Gardens, up the pedestrian-only streets in the Latin Quarter, and headed over to Notre Dame on Ile de la Cité for a photo opp. We then took the Pont Saint-Louis and found No. 31 rue Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île and got in (the loooong) line for ice cream. While waiting patiently on Papa's shoulders, Sophie remarked that she had just seen Mme. Giannella. We thought that seemed preposterous, but I took Sophie, and we walked across the street to see that YES, it was she!!! Madame was with her nephew, Pedro, and husband Fernando. We couldn't believe it! S & J each chose the same ice cream combo: reglisse (licorice) and pain d'épice (ginger bread). I enjoyed vanille and fruit de la passion and Nico had Agenaise (armagnac + prune).
On our way back, we stopped at a park behind Notre Dame where the kids played, and Nico and I scooched onto a bench next to a couple drinking red wine from Dixie-type cups and making out. I told Nico to sneak over to take a photo of S & J playing with other cute French kids, but it turns out the kids were American (slight disappointment ensued)! After a brief stop at Monoprix for food staples, we headed back to the apt around 8 for a light dinner before the Euro Cup match between France and Spain began. I took that opportunity to go for a run, hoping to take advantage of the late evening light. The gendarmes at Luxembourg Gardens were just closing the gates, so I ran around the exterior of the park a couple of times and vowed to run a little earlier next time. Upon my return, I learned that France was eliminated and that the kids were highly wound up. We finally got everyone in bed around 10, looking forward to Day 2.
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| S & J and the requisite Notre Dame shot. |
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| Gargoyles on the north face of Notre Dame. |
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| Running into Mme. Giannella was certainly an amazing surprise! |
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| The best ice cream in the world. |
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| Enjoying their choice of reglisse and pain d'épice. |
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| A prolific piano player on the Pont Saint-Louis. |
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| Mama and her kiddos. |
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| "Artsy" shot by Sophie, who we think has begun a series of asphalt/no sky photos. |
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| Park behind Notre Dame. |
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| Playing with other American kids - wish they had been French! |
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