Wandering Around Rue Cler

Our third day in Paris was so bitterly cold, I thought snow would fall from the sky at any given moment!  But we didn’t let that deter us from doing some more sightseeing.  Say what you will about the two of us, we love our DIY Walking Sightseeing Tours!

 

We started our day by walking to Rue Cler, a gorgeous street full of fresh produce, flowers and baked goods.  This is where the locals do their shopping and it was amazing to have the opportunity to see first hand how the French go about their daily life…

 

 

 

From Rue Cler we headed to Les Invalides, which was the most incredible building I’ve ever seen.  It was built in 1671 by Louis XIV who wanted to provide accommodation for disabled and impoverished war veterans.  Just quietly, I’d say he achieved his goal!

 

 

 

Once our history lesson was over, we headed back towards Rue Cler, where we thawed out with a hot chocolate.

 

 

 

 

And tried an authentic french macaron.  I can confirm that Nutella macarons are The Business (and presented so beautifully, it was almost a shame to open the package.  Not a grotty old paper bag in sight around these parts!)

 

 

We came home and cracked the bottle of bubbly our lovely flight attendant, Sylvia, gave me as a Happy Birthday gift.  Which, because all Parisian hotel rooms are the size of a shoe box and offer no in-room facilities, I drank from a coffee cup while sitting on our bed.  I know.  So classy.

 

 

Then it was time for dinner.  Which was on board a beautiful boat that took us on a gorgeous cruise up and down the Siene.  The meal was delicious and the service was outstanding.  And yes, I ate snails.  Which, believe it or not, were tres delicious!

 

 

 

This was the first night we’d been awake after 6pm (thanks jet lag!) and on our walk home from the dinner cruise we noticed lights twinkling against the buildings.  Not knowing what it was, we turned around to discover the tower twinkling in the most magical way possible.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect day!

 

 

 Have you seen the Eiffel Tower twinkle?  It’s she amazing?!