A Birthday in Paris

"Paris is always a good idea" - Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina


We went to Paris for the weekend to celebrate my 40-something birthday.  The weather wasn't perfect, but it didn't rain, so I'm not complaining!

I love just walking around Paris with no set agenda.  It's an easy flight for us, so we've been here a few times & there's no pressure to try to see everything because we'll be back.  And believe me, I know I'm lucky to be able to say that.

 



Notre Dame from the front



and the back .......



We spent most of this trip on the Right Bank.  And took a long walk one morning around the Louvre and Tuilleries Gardens

Irises in bloom



Babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





The Louvre Pyramid.

 If you know me, you know that a trip to the market is a must.  And I get terrible market-envy!  It's my dream to live near markets like this:



Pat checking out some cheese. 





Rotisserie chicken (and other birds) are hugely popular at these markets. 



We stayed near the Opera house in the 8e in the Hotel Scribe. 


The Opera House



La Madeleine, a Roman Catholic church in the 8e



me

 One evening, we went to a jazz club called Sunrise Sunset.  We've been there a few times & love it.  Great music, great atmosphere.  It's in the 1e, in a very busy neighborhood.  And every time we go, we seem to have dinner at a local cafe that is right across the alley from this bar called the Bear's Den.  If you aren't sure what a "bear" is, I'll let you look it up :)

lot of "bears"

It was a packed house for the show

In a lot of cities with pedestrian bridges, you'll often see a bridge with"love locks", where lovers attach a padlock to "lock" it forever.  I thought this bridge was interesting.  See the black hearts?  Each heart is for a victim of domestic abuse and has a scancode.  If if you scan it with your smartphone, you can directly support a victim and help "release" them. 

J'aime Paris à tout moment de l'année!