Paris - Day 3

Our flight didn't leave until 3pm on monday so we had the morning to venture out one last time. So where do you go, your favorite places of course. Adam and I's favorite place in Paris is walking along the Seine River and crossing over Pont Neuf Bridge to the Island Notre Dame is on. Walking around the Islands and looking out to the main land is quiet and relaxing in such a busy city. We took off first to the Champs Elysee  because I wanted one last picture with the Arc de Triumph and I thought Adam should see it close up. We were able to walk under the road and right up to it with only one other couple up and about over there.

Arc de Triumphe

After, we took the tram down to the Hotel de Ville, which is the Paris Administration Building, to take pictures and cross over to our favorite Islands to walk around.

 Hotel de Ville

 Saint Louis Island on the left and Notre Dame Island on the right

This is the Pulpit area and the famous glass window above

The inside of Notre Dame walking down the side looking into the middle Hall way

We walked up the island and over to Notre Dame, hoping to find some breakfast. There were quite a few tourists taking pictures, but more importantly there was no line to get in. So we walked in to see the church. It was quite and lit with candles and chandeliers, so dim and relaxing. We walked through and took a few pictures and then headed out to find breakfast. There really was nothing close to Notre Dame to grab a quick bite. We really just wanted to find a pastry shop to get something we could walk with. We headed back across Pont Neuf and after winding around the streets we found a great shop. Our favorites are the mom and pop pastry shops that are one of a kind. We just stood there and ate breakfast because we were eyeing the macaroons to take back with us. So after breakfast we bought a macaroon for each of us, chocolate of course for me and Pistacio for Adam. You know I get chocolate at every place I go because I think it's the best and Adam always wants to try a different one. I appreciate his desire to try new things because then of course I am able to try new things. But I love trying the chocolate ones at each place to get a feel for the difference in how each bakery makes them. I feel between the two of us we get the best of both worlds. Makes life more fun!!!

Our Breakfast Bakery

This was Adams breakfast pastry..a couple different kinds of cheeses and ham warmed up. Pretty good! I just had a Chocolate Croissant..but it was Awesome!

America might have Pumpkin Spice Latte...but Paris has Creme Brulee Machiato!!

Of course after our breakfast we both are wanting some coffee so I see a Starbucks around the corner and drag Adam in. We only have about an hour and a half left before we need to go pick up our luggage at the hotel and go to the airport so we enjoy the walk and the river as we stroll around the city in the morning. Most stores don't open until 10:30 on monday mornings so there are not a lot of people out right now. So the street is mostly to ourselves and we can just relax. Our favorite thing about paris is the architecture. The buildings are beautiful with great subtle detail, small balconies, and great decorative bricks. But now we have to say good by to Paris for now and head home to Switzerland.

Paris - Day 2 ( The Best Day)

Ok Well we slept in till 8:30 today and it felt so nice! First stop on the itinerary this morning..breakfast by Notre Dame. Unfortunately, I did not plan this out so well and forgot the fact that in Europe not a whole lot is open on Sundays. The concept of brunch really isn't that common over here either. So after looking around we found a place called Cafe Indiana ( complete tourist trap if I ever saw one). But hunger played a more important role and made us sit down. We plotted out our day while we dined on some eggs, bacon, hash browns, and pancakes. After breakfast it was off to Notre Dame!

Notre Dame 

 

 We crossed over to the island it's on and took far too many pictures. There were a TON of people there also. The line to get in was literally out of the door. So unfortunately Adam and I really aren't hey let's wait in line people. Plus once you've seen St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican it's hard to find something that compares. So we headed around back to snap more pictures and then went on our way to Saint Louis Island. Saint Louis Island is very quaint and so much fun. They have the oldest ice cream parlor on the island and a really nice bakery shop that sells shortbread cookies.

We walked around the outer edge of the islands to see the main land and from there you can see across to Hotel De' Ville, which is a beautiful building that is now an administration building. It is also the building that St. Louis City Hall is designed after.

After strolling on the islands we started back towards Pont Neuf Bridge. This is the famous bridge that connects Notre Dame Island to Paris main land over the Seine River. But more importantly it was in Bourne Identity the first one. So I took a picture of Adam in the center of the bridge facing east.

Adam is in the center we have the far away and the close up!!

Next on the list after crossing the Pont Neuf bridge is walking back to the Louvre to see the glass pyramids. We didn't buy tickets for this trip. We're planning on going through it our next trip there. It was so gorgeous outside we didn't want to waste a second of it. But we did get to see the surrounding building at the louvre and the pyramids which is always awesome to see. After spending some time there we were on to the next destination...The Eiffel Tower.

If you take the metro and get off at Tracadero it brings you up to this platform that over looks the Eiffel Tower and it's just amazing. We were able to get around the crowd and get a few pictures up there, but then walked down to the Eiffel Tower as well. Funny thing, as we were walking down next to the road a  huge group that rollerblades once a month around Paris was coming through. Some people looked very tired, but it looked like a blast. So next time we will have to time that right so we can participate.




Well as you walk under the Eiffel Tower you are in awe of how huge and beautiful it is. We took again, way too many pictures from every angle
imaginable, and then went and sat in the park looking at it. We definitely enjoyed our quite time just sitting in front of it for awhile. But we had tickets to go up at 7:30 and then on to dinner so we had to leave to get ready for dinner.

You've gotta get a smooch in!!!

Back to the Eiffel Tower for our reservation at 7:30 and we were up to the 2nd floor in no time. We walked around, not realizing how much colder and windier it would be up there. We ducked into a couple gift shops to warm up and after about an hour of walking around and walking down to the 1st level, we took off to get dinner.

 View of the Park in front of the Eiffel Tower

 View of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Love it at night!!

We did find a nice restaurant open on a Sunday, that was also an obstacle. Adam and I shared escargot which was delicious. Then our main courses of duck and chicken, and then dessert. When in Paris...get a crepe. I got a chocolate one but Adam got a cool one  called Grand Mariner which basically is pouring Grand Mariner liquor over the crepe and then lighting it with a match, it flames up...and is so cool. Adam waited for the flames to subside before taking a bite thank goodness, and it was worth it...very good!!

We attempted to walk off some of our dinner by heading back to the Eiffel Tower to get some late night pictures. Then off to the hotel again for some rest before our last day.

Paris - Day 1

Well to get to Paris we booked an early flight saturday morning. By early I mean We woke up at 4am and were at the tram stop by 5:15 to catch a tram to the Flughafen (Airport). We landed in Paris and took the train to our hotel and were all checked in and ready to hit the town by 11:30 am. Just in time for a quick lunch and walking around. The itinerary had us starting in Monmarte at Sacre Coeur, North of downtown Paris. Sacre Coeur was  a place I never made it to when I was in Paris the first time so we checked it out first. It is a beautiful Cathedral in a very artsy district. Also right down the street from Sacre Coeur are 2...count them 2 fabric stores that are both 5 levels. Can we say heaven for Abby.

This is the first one Called Marche Saint-Pierre 

Luckily Adam was smart and we stopped in to a bakery for lunch before any shopping was done. The bakery was amazing! Adam got a Quiche for lunch and a raspberry tart for dessert. I just had a panini and then a chocolate macaroon.

Adam's Salmon and Broccoli Quiche

Adam's Raspberry Tart

And My Chocolate Macaroon

After lunch we headed back to Sacre Coeur to take pictures and Adam let me shop in the fabric stores. I couldn't find anything unique to buy but I had a great time looking.

After that we took the Metro to the Champs Elysee to take pictures, shop around, and see all the fun stores. It's kind of like the French 5th Avenue. After that took the metro over to the St. Germain area, it was suggested that they had some of the best shoe shopping so of course I wanted to stop by. Yeah whoever said that in whatever article I read was soooo very wrong. Needless to say no shoes found along really with no shopping completed. Girls don't get your hopes up here. After roaming around that area for awhile we headed back to our hotel to clean up and change for dinner. Adam found a great place to eat...unfortunately we forgot to write down the specific directions so we never made it there =( maybe next time. We found another restaurant to stop in at. Mostly because I was tired and my feet hurt, and was already ready for bed by 9pm that night. So Adam got the Foie Gras  thinking it would be served the way it is in the states and to his surprise it came as a Pate...hehehe with Jam and toast. Very exciting first meal. After dinner we found the nearest metro stop and headed home. Too tired to walk any further and in much need of sleep.

More Recipes from the Ward Kitchen

Well I've gotten to the point where I didn't know what to cook anymore. So Adam and I decided to play a little game. Adam tells me a dish that he has had at home in restaurants...or here at a restaurant and I try to re-create it. Our first attempt was a Pasta Primavera from Tony's in downtown St. Louis. It's in Adam's building in STL so he would go occasionally for lunch. I looked up a few recipes to figure out what Pasta Primavera was. I'm pretty simple when it comes to my italian food. I like Spaghetti with meat sauce etc. so I don't change it up much out and about. I finally found 2 recipes that gave me the gist of the dish and then made up my own recipe. Here it is to try at home! Also remember in my recipes i'm cooking for 2 people so you might want to adjust it according to your crowd.

Pasta Primavera - Roasted Red Pepper Style

2-3 carrots finely diced

1 head of broccoli finely diced

1 red pepper finely diced

1 clove garlic

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 box pasta

1/4 C cream

1/2 C roasted red pepper pesto

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 C parmesan powder...it's easier to incorporate  the grated parmesan powder

1. Dice all vegetables and saute in frying pan with olive oil,  garlic clove, and salt about 10-12 min, on medium heat.
2. Start boiling pasta when vegetables are 3/4 the way cooked. After pasta has been boiling about 5 min take a ladle full of the pasta water and incorporate into frying pan of vegetables.
3. Mix in cream, Parmesan cheese, red pepper pesto, and red pepper flakes to vegetables and stir until it is all incorporated.
4. Once pasta is finished cooking mix pasta into frying pan with the vegetables and sauce.

This is my basic recipe but feel free to navigate from it. I always love to make changes and put my personal touch on recipes. I think the original recipe called for more cream but I don't like too much cream. Adam was  a huge fan of this and asked me to keep it in my recipe collection. 

HAPPY COOKING!!