Fall 2019 Day 11

Another wonderful Paris day full of surprises!  We let everyone rest this morning because it’s needed and we had a long day ahead of us. We met at around 11 and had our first group ride on the Paris Metro system. It is an amazing thing!  Everyone really did great. First stop was the Opera Garnier, where Phantom of the Opera was based and set in. It’s such an opulent, beautiful building. The outside is spectacular, but the inside is really something. We finally got to get a good look at the Marc Chagall ceiling and of the whole stage area and seating. Incredible!!  Then we got to see where the rich went to see and be seen. It’s so much gold everywhere, frescoes on all the ceilings sculptures and busts. It’s a great place to see how the rich lived in Paris in the 19th century. After that, we decided to take the metro to the place we went last year that had the best hot chocolate we have ever had and it’s owned by the man Emily kind of idolizes and makes a version of his chocolate tart recipe. We went all the way there and it turns out, they stopped running it as a cafe. It’s just a chocolate shop now. No tarts or cakes, no seating and worst of all, NO HOT CHOCOLATE!!!  I was devastated!!!  At least 20 people came in while we were there talking to the people about the changes asking for hot chocolate and they just turned them all away. A lot of people left disappointed today!  But, alas, we move on. We went up to Montmartre to see Sacre Cour, one of my favorite churches. They have been doing some form of mass there for 24/7 since the church was opened in the 1870s!  It feels more like a real church and less like a tourist attraction, even though it’s definitely a tourist attraction. We left and took pictures of, what I feel is one of the best views in Paris, way up on the highest point of the city. Then we did a tour of the more bohemian side of Montmartre which is always fun. We shopped while waiting for our dinner reservation and then had dinner at a wonderful little place called The Letter Box. It’s a tiny 10 table place that has some of the most delicious food!  Everyone really enjoyed it!!  For an appetizer I had a poached egg in a mushroom cream sauce while Emily had carrot soup. Both were fantastic!!  For dinner I had a steak and Emily had risotto with Serrano ham. Both were amazing. We were supposed to trade, but Emily was so happy with hers we only did a 1/3 to 2/3 trade. After that we took the long ride home exhausted from a long day with no rests in the middle. Thanks to everyone who is making the effort to still find and read this blog. It’s been fewer and fewer since Facebook stopped lemme from posting about it. It makes me appreciate those who put in the effort to find it that much more!  I will always keep writing it because in the end, it’s really for Emily and I. And now it’s also for the people who have toured with us to remember their journeys too. But, it always motivates me more to know that more people are paying attention. Tomorrow is a HUGE day!!  Tickets to see the Leonardo daVinci exhibit at the louvre!  As if the louvre isn’t intense enough we needed to add the once in a lifetime experience of this Leonardo daVinci exhibit!  I am so very excited!  And we are having dinner at one of our truly favorite places!  Our Asian noodle restaurant!! We can’t wait!  We will see you then!  The pictures are gonna be INSANE tomorrow!!  Be prepared!