Cruising along the Seine (Day 4)
Today was another day well spent in Paris although I got a late start because of last night's rendevous at the Paris-Plage. I started my day by hopping on the batobus and taking in the sights while cruising down the Seine. Paris life is centered around the Seine, and its banks are lined with some of the most magnificent architecture in the world; the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. I disembarked in the St-Germain-des-Pres; that's where Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Hemingway used to hang out so I figured I would be in pretty good company. I wandered the streets for quite awhile, finally settling in a little street-side cafe where I had a most wonderful lunch; a Tartine chaud Parisienne avec jambon blanc et emmental, and an ice-cold Coca Cola! After lunch I continued to meander through the streets of Paris and eventually made my way home. After a few hours rest, I explored the Ile St. Louis which is just across the river from my apartment. It is a picturesque and elegant residential area and turned out to be a nice place to get caught in the rain sans umbrella! For dinner, I met up with Patricia. We found a wonderful little bistro where we indulged on steaming bowls of French onion soup and listened to jazz playing overhead. Another wonderful day in Paris-dise!