Walking all over Paris in the Rain

| An afternoon in the Latin Quarter. |

I made no journal entry for this day, so I will be doing the best I can from memory. :)

It always seems to be overcast when we go to Paris. Both times we have come here, it didn't rain in England, and then it rained most of the time in France. But it does make for a very poetic, postcard-looking atmosphere - even if your feet get soaking wet and you have to squish all over Paris in the cold and rain. Besides, there is always a delicious pastry awaiting you somewhere! :)

We had breakfast in (of all places) McDonalds. I must explain why, or we will sound like the most unadventurous travelers, ever. We buy our quiche and pastries in a delicious corner pâtisserie, which we happened to have about 100 yards from our apartment, and then take our spoils to a McDonalds, where coffee doesn't cost an arm and a leg. This particular establishment had a lovely view of the Clúny Museum (the museum of Medieval history) and a busy day in the life of a Paris street.

Our frugal but delicious breakfast of quiche and chocolate chip brioche with coffee at McDonald's.

Our view for breakfast.

 We were there because we had planned to visit the museum, but of course it was closed on Mondays, so we decided to visit the Hôtel des Invalides (the military museum, where Napoleon is buried). On the way we passed the Sorbonne University and the post office so Mom could mail her many postcards. (I didn't write a single postcard to anyone until the last day of our entire trip... I confess.)

A very nice couple from the Czech Republic took our picture in that lovely courtyard outside of the Sorbonne. Another sight on the way to the military museum is the Jardin du Luxembourg, which I have wanted to see for a long time, as it is the place where Marius first sees Cosette in the book Lés Miserables. :) It was lovely, even with the rain and the nearly leafless trees. The gravel crunched pleasantly underfoot, and it was enjoyable to view the orderly straight avenues and neat beds of colorful spring flowers.

Luxembourg Gardens tea and coffee house.

Some ancient and medieval queens of French history that graced the Luxembourg Gardens.

The Palais du Luxembourg.

The lovely spring blooms outside of the palace.

Love those avenues.

Continuing our exploration of the Latin Quarter.

St. Michel was another sight we found on our way to the military museum.

Across the street from the military museum is Rodin's house and garden, so we got a view of his 'Thinker'!
(That's his back in the middle, there.)

There is the Hôtel des Invalides in all its glory! We had to walk around the outside of the entire complex because we didn't realize we had passed the entrance at the beginning. When we got to this spot in the photo we couldn't find a way in, even though there were gates everywhere and people inside. At last we found an opening in the gate, but then we couldn't figure out how to actually get in the confounded building! We wandered around looking for entrances, and when we finally went up the steps of the domed building – the obvious place – everyone was leaving and the doors were being shut. It was closed.

That is one of those moments during a trip when you wish you were back home sitting comfortably in your living room. I wanted to cry. It was worse because I had been checking the time on my phone, and we were supposed to have an hour before it would be closed. But it was then that I realized: Paris is an hour later than London is... It wasn't 4:00, it was 5:00. My phone was in airplane mode, and had therefore not switched over, so we had been operating on a clock that was in the wrong time zone.

I hope you all learn a lesson from that. :)

We found a little restaurant on Rue Cler. Not only was the restaurant itself recommended by Rick Steves, but so was the entire street! It is apparently well known for it's high quality and affordable dining options. And not only was the food delicious, but it was a warm and dry place, which was almost as important at the time as finding a good place to eat. :) If you are ever in Paris and you would like to try it, I would recommend it: Le Petit Cler.

The awning of Le Petit Cler.

Mom having a warming cup of coffee.

Me waiting for our food inside the atmospheric Le Petit Cler.

Again, in Paris, it's about the food.
Here is my omelet.

My mother's steak and potato.
(I had a few bites, too...)

We left the warm and comfortable Le Petit Cler to find another rather famous monument several blocks away...

My feet were well and truly soaked by this time, but a view of the Eiffel Tower in a twilight rain is irresistible. So we braved the chill and the damp and the dark to see that ever iconic sight. And of course it was worth it. It was hard to keep our cameras dry, though, holding a camera in both hands and an umbrella with one, but we managed to capture some memories and keep our cameras in working order.

One plus to your camera getting wet: it makes for some artistic pictures.
It was unforgettable. The Eiffel always is.

© 2015 Anna Morton