I noticed that I had April as the date a few days ago. Must have been wishful thinking.
We slept in (for a change) and woke up trying to decide our plan for the day. Sandy went for a run, I had a tea and read the papers.
The food at the Brasserie Balzar, 49, rue des Ecoles, www.brasseriebalzar.com, was a consistently average as I remembered from our last visit but, in contrast to last night, Sandy’s and my lunch there was very fun because of the charming mâitre d’ and even more charming waiter. Makes much of a difference.
Since we were in the area, we walked through an older down and out part of Paris in the 5th along the rue Mouffetard, a lively market street now. Good walk, especially since I didn’t work out today but somehow we missed the St-Médiard church. Too bad since it was named after the patron saint of umbrella makers!
Still raining when we got back to the apartment for une pause.
And they were also charming and friendly, comme d’habitude, at L’Ecailler where we had dinner (again).
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- Our Brasserie Balzar waiter.
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- Ecole Polytechnique.
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- The dome of the Pantheon.
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- St-Etienne-du-Mont, a beautiful church.
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- Stained glass window inside, chapel of Ste. Genevieve, patron saint of Paris.
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- Wall mural and poem.
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- Remnant of 12th century Philip August wall.
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- Hemingway lived here and described this place in his excellent “A Moveable Feast.”
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- Orewell, who also lived around here on rue de Pot de Feu, described this area, place de la Contrescarpe, in his excellent “Down and Out in Paris and London.” Likely the Haagen Daaz shop wasn’t there at the time.
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- Rue du Pot de Fer (the name, iron pot, refers to the iron buckets used to carry water).
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- Old facade over shop front on rue Mouffetard.
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- On rue Mouffetard.
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- Fountain on Blvd. Saint Michel.
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- At L’Ecailler.
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- Ditto.