Un soir avec le Pain Perdu

We are starting to get a feel for the city. I’ve told some of you about the bar we went to our last night in Montmartre. It was called Footsie, which is a play on FTSE the name of the stock exchange. Each 3 minutes the prices of drinks change based on supply and demand of what people are ordering. 

This quarter is also the Opera neighborhood by the Palais Garnier. Check out this dream like ballet shop. 

The little girl in me definitely enjoyed this. Also, the year round flat wearer in me loved the displays of street wear flats.

Yes, please. However, I’m guessing it would have been a very ‘Pretty Woman’ experience if I had attempted to buy some of those. They’ve got to be outrageously expensive. 

Yesterday, Paul, Kate, and I headed over to the Latin Quarter to walk around. There are a ton of greek restaurants there, so Paul enjoyed a massive Gyro. 

Afterwards, we walked by the bouquinistes (sp?), the book stands by the Seine, tea shops, and the cool old buildings in the area. 

I loved the above music boxes. They are the same kind Keegan got Jude except they play the Amelie soundtrack and Edith Piaf songs. I took a little video that hopefully I can make work on here later. 

Above is the Institute of Arab Culture. It was built after all the conflicts with Muslim immigrants. Supposedly, there is an amazing Lebanese restaurant at the top. All around it are little Arabic bookshops and stores. 

Here’s Kate laughing at her host mom’s personal card. All of the walls in her place are tiger print. 

Afterwards, we walked up to see the Pantheon. We didn’t go in yet, because we had a lot to do, but it looks amazing. This is where Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Voltaire, and many other important French people are buried. 

Afterwards, we walked to Montparnasse (the old artists’ district) via the Luxembourg Gardens. This is thus far my favourite place in Paris besides the Champ de Mars at night. It’s so picturesque. I can’t wait for Timshel and Skip to come. It’s the perfect romantic location of a picnic or a bottle of wine. 

Afterwards, we headed back to the apartment. When we showed up Patricia and her son Nicolas were waiting for us to make Le Pain Perdu ( The Lost Bread). This is where Americans got the idea for French bread, but it’s with a french baguette, of course. It originally came from families that didn’t finish their baguette the night before. Naturally, the bread hardens and needs to be used, so they make french toast or Le Pain Perdu. 

It was delicious! Afterwards, we sat around and talked about politics. Patricia is really sweet and kept saying “Tu as compris, Polo? Je peut parler plus lentemenet, juste dit-moi!” That translates to, “Do you understand, Paul. I can speak slower, just tell me.” The sweet part is the french nickname for Paul, which is Polo. I think it fits pretty well.