A day behind

It is Saturday night in the City of Light.  We just got back from spending the day with my French family and I am a very happy camper.  I adore them all and there were relatives there that I have not seen for 13 years. There was lots of lively conversation about politics and other things; the food and wen were great, and there were lots of kisses all around.  The grandchildren are now teenagers and I was amused to see this ubiquitous activity is not confined to my own grandchildren at home. LOL.

Ophir (left)  generously tethered me to his phone so I could have wifi in his grandparents' house.  They pronounce it "wee fee" (of course).

Friday, another full day-- but less hectic than the previous ones.  My turn-- and I wanted to wander through the Marais, my favorite quarter.  We went to the elegant Place des Vosges which was the first planned square in Paris, built by Henry IV I from 1605-1612.  

 We visited Victor Hugo's house, which is there and then wandered the streets of the now-trendy district filled with galleries and shops.

We couldn't tell what this shop sold but the window was great.

This is referring to Chanukah which this year, is so early that it begins on the American Thanksgiving.

Once the home of Paris' vibrant Jewish quarter, it still retains its character on the Rue des Rosiers and rue Vieille du Temple. This was on the wall of a boys' school in the neighborhood...

And while the famous Goldenberg's delicatessen is now a clothing store,e scents of deli food and falafel were hard to resist.

We stopped for mint tea and pastry at one of the salons de thé late in the afternoon, just as they were getting ready to close.

  We will probably go tomorrow for lunch to one of its famous delicatessens, since Paris shops and restos are closed Sundays.

Thurs in Paris

The days have been packed and somewhat hectic,but entertaining.today, Notre Dame, the Louvre and lots of walking again. En route, we walked along the quai and noticed that the book stalls were also selling locks and keys.  Huh? When we got to the bridge, we saw why. 

The entire fence of the bridge was covered with love notes on locks.  Ah, Paris.

Apparently, the latest craze.  Actually, it looked quite nice from a distance.

I have been to Notre Dame numerous times, but it never fails to amaze me architecturally. I couldn't get back far enough to get the usual picture,but you know what it looks like. This picture was more fun.

 It is 850 years old and I guarantee that nothing we build will be around 850 yrs for now.  In fact, I am sure that at the rate we are going, the entire planet will self-destruct well before then.

Once on the île de la cité, we had to visit one of the iconic metro signs left from the days of Art Nouveau.  So elegant.

The queue at the Louvre moved quickly but the crowds were large once we got inside. I had seen the Mona Lisa up close 50 years ago, before they moved her and put her behind glass to prevent another attack.  But my travel companion needed to see it. Oy!  By the time we had climbed a millionstairsand pushedourway thrust the hordes, we were too exhausted to do anything but have a lovely lunch and leave.

Alight lunch was necessary because last night we met my cousins for a fabulous couscous dinner at their favorite Morrocan restaurant. To die for.  Afterwards, we walked it ff on the Champs 

Élysées to get the metro home.

The weather has been good to us.  I packed layers because the forecast was for cold and rain.  Thw days and evenings have been balmy and we have had only intermittent light drizzles. Nice!