But, morning traffic on the wide roundabout circling the spire at the Place de la Bastille is very loud from delivery trucks and cars and motorcycles and horns and raw noise. Where are the birds and the church bells and the smell of fresh flowers drifting on the breeze?
So we walked on, intending to walk to the next corner and find a quiet table on a side street. Soon we had walked an hour, looking for just the right place for our final morning cafe. Though most shops were not yet open, we meandered through the Saint-Paul Village, gazing into windows of art galleries and weaving in and out of the maze of shops off the main rue.
After cafe and croissant, we walked across one of the may bridges spanning the Seine and sat for a while to gaze upon Notre-Dame de Paris.
A little souvineer shopping along the quai, a nutella crepe from a street vendor, and now it's mid afternoon. I needed to return to the flat and complete my packing; Jerry will weigh my bag with his hand-held digital scale and prepare me for the 50 lb limit.
48 pounds-perfect!
The late afternoon sun is shining
tree branches are swaying in the gentle breeze
birds are singing
A scene is set by nature
--- all that one wishes for just prior to the first day of summer in Paris----and the last vacation day in the City of Light
We have dinner reservations at 8:30PM, which gives us time to stroll along the narrow streets of the Left Bank.
Warm afternoon light brings musicians, friends with picnics of wine and cheese, and bicycle riders onto the pedestrian bridge, Pont des Arts crossing the Seine. We and they relax and enjoy the view, and the moment...
Sitting at an outdoor cafe, watching the locals, listening to a language I don't understand, yet knowing that they are joyfully greeting their friends, we leisurely wile away an hour before dinner.
It's nearing midnight, and we make our way to the Metro for the ride back to the flat. The Metro is packed with people. I wonder where they are going and where they have been, knowing that I return to TN tomorrow.
This has been the most amazing day. Plan your last day in Paris to be one of very little packing and very Much opening your arms and embracing the City of Light.
au revoir
(My camera cards are filled with captured - moments of Paris. I'll post a link to my website once I have time to edit the images.)
This has been the most amazing day. Plan your last day in Paris to be one of very little packing and very Much opening your arms and embracing the City of Light.
au revoir
(My camera cards are filled with captured - moments of Paris. I'll post a link to my website once I have time to edit the images.)
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