Because we got to the Louvre on a busy Saturday we didn’t get an opportunity to get some pictures taken in one of the most iconic places in Paris so we made a plan to get up at sunrise to walk over before the museum opened to get some shots in. I thought it was funny that my plan didn’t turn out to be that original as there were 4 other couples wearing their wedding clothes there with professional photographers. The tripod really came in handy as I was able to snap multiple photos of the same place and then layer areas over themselves so the final product looks like it was just us there doing a photoshoot.
Today’s forecast was 100% chance of rain so we had to think of a few activities to fill the day. I was hoping to go to the Monet museum since we had a traveling Monet exhibit come through town that we missed out on but unfortunately it’s closed on Mondays. It started pouring around 11 so we just hung out at the apartment until our hunger required us to brave the rain.
I found a Japanese bakery that made French stuff but with Asian flavors so I suggested we check it out since it was not too far from the Louvre. I turned the corner to the street it was on and was a little surprised to find ourselves in a Japanese neighborhood. I know I was slightly lamenting the fact that I was studying Japanese in a country that doesn’t speak it but today I had to eat those words in the form of a matcha eclair that I ordered in Japanese. We also got a matcha latte which had a paper lid. I really like the lack of plastic here in France, why can’t we have more stuff like this that isn’t horrible for the planet?!
I would have loved to have some ramen or soba noodles at the restaurants here but we’re here to eat French food even though I miss eating rice and noodles.
We then decided to check out the designer fancy schmancy stores since we had our best rain gear on. We walked past the Louis Vuitton store which had a line stretching around the block with people waiting to get in. I suppose with the weakened Euro and 20% return on sales tax, a name brand French thingie would be considered a good deal (I clearly don’t understand fashion).
Conveniently, the street they were on lead directly to the Arc de Triomphe, the giant stone arch that 12 grand avenues point to. I didn’t realize it was so huge or that it was built as a war memorial. Since this was more of a chill out day we took another couple pictures to add to the set of main attractions to visit in this city.
I think days like these are indicators to me that it’s time to move onto the next city because I need to scrounge up activities to fill the day otherwise you feel like you’re not fully taking advantage of the time you’re there. Tomorrow we’re headed to London where I hear the British Pound is on sale which makes this one of the best times to visit.
