Rainy Day Activities

When we woke up yesterday morning (at 10AM...guess jet lag is over!) the sky was gray and it was raining. We knew that this was bound to happen during our trip, because of the weather reports we checked before leaving, but rain definitely has a way of changing plans (picnic at the Eiffel Tower in the rain, anyone?). So we sat down to evaluate our options for the day, and agreed that it would be the perfect day for a museum. Well unfortunately for Parisian tourists on rainy Mondays, most museums in Paris are closed on Mondays. The only open museum (that I know of) is the Louvre. This makes Mondays (especially a rainy Monday) a really bad day to go to the Louvre, because everyone and their mother has had the same thought. But we ventured over there anyway, figuring that we could brave the crowds.

We were planning on getting a Carte Orange (weekly metro pass) for each of us on the way, so we stopped at the metro ticket window. The lady informed me that Cartes Oranges no longer exist (and haven't since January)!! For 1/2 a second I worried that we would be purchasing carnets of 10 metro tickets (from machines that don't take American credit cards) all week. But luckily, there's now a cooler, even more convenient option called the Navigo. This is a card with an implanted chip that allows you to simply place your purse or wallet on top of the chip-reader at the metro entrance, and open the gate. No more fiddling to take out the weekly metro ticket from your wallet, holding up the line of annoyed commuters gathering behind you. Purchasing the Navigo was quite an ordeal, with each of us needing to get new ID pictures, then cutting out the pictures and putting the packet of cards together. The process was made easier, though, by the amazing service we received from 2 French metro employees. I don't think I've ever received such help from metro employees before. They enthusiatically helped out at ever step, and even gave us some Paris maps/tourism ideas, and warned us to "watch out for pickpockets" (one piece of advice that's quickly becoming a theme among people wanting to help us out).

With our shiny new Navigos in hand, we swiped into the metro and headed toward "Palais Royale- Musee du Louvre." We quickly discovered that we were right in predicting that there would be crowds, but the line for tickets didn't end up taking too long. Plus, I got in for free because I'm still 25 and have a French ID!

I had warned Chris & Jessie that we shouldn't try to do the whole Louvre in one day, because we would be completely burned out and not really enjoy it. So we decided to see the Egyptian Antiquities, some Greco-Roman sculpture, the apartments of Napoleon III, and the must-see-while-you're-at-the-Louvre-just-so-you-can-say-you-did Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. All in all, it was a great visit! Once you're out of the lobby, you realize how gigantic the Louvre is, because you don't notice the crowds nearly as much (except around the Mona Lisa, where the amount of people is just crazy stupid). The Egyptians Antiquities were amazing, and we got to see a mummy. It was good to go back and experience another small chunk of the Louvre.

Afterward, we headed down the Avenue de l'Opera and stopped at Paul for a snack. Chris and Jessie (read, Jessie) ordered in French, which I think the waitress appreciated. We took our time and enjoyed the fact that you never feel like you're being rushed out in French cafes and restaurants. Then we continued walking toward the Opera, pointed out the famous "Cafe de la Paix" to Chris & Jessie, and kept going toward the Galleries Lafayettes-Maison. I wanted to show them the cool escalator with LEDs in it, designed by Ingo Maurer. Plus, I got to peruse all of the gorgeous textiles and table settings.

After picking out a set of 2 cute napkins I plan to use for my food blog photos, we headed underground to take the metro home. First, though, we stopped at La Grande Epicerie to get some wine and cheese for an "apero." Chris & Jessie got to see another of my favorite stores in Paris, and we all got to enjoy a 2002 Bordeaux (for 8 Euros...gotta love French wine!) and some tasty cheese. Finally, around 9:30pm, we figured it was about time to get ready to go out for dinner and headed down the street to a local restaurant called Oudinot- a regular spot of Trevor and mine when we come to visit. Once again, the service was incredible, the house wine was good, and the food was delicious. Chris and Jess generously invited us as a thank you for letting them stay with us (though "letting them" just doesn't sound quite right when we're enjoying their company so much). Thank you Chris & Jessie!

Once again, we had a great day! And I'm so so so pleased that all of our interactions with Parisians have been so incredibly positive. People often ask me if they should worry about being treated rudely by Parisians when they travel here, and it's always great to have examples of the stereotype being proven wrong! ...and now...off to enjoy the city.