A low-key day, which was welcome. We take the bus (finally getting that figured out) back to the Notre Dame area for some scarf shopping (5 Euros for really nice scarves!) and to visit the cathedral one more time. We eat lunch in the park and enjoy the beautifully cool weather.
An odd thing we noticed.....none of the souvenir shops around Notre Dame carry any sort of religious articles. Nearly every shop had goofy little plastic statues of Quasimodo (didn't even know it was him until I picked up the figurine and saw the little hump on his back) and Esmerelda (looking like a tramp), but nothing pertaining to the spiritual nature of the site. Notre Dame itself has a tiny "gift shop" (more like a small counter that too many people were crowded around and pushing to get into), but nothing like Westminster Abbey or even Sacre Coeur.
We stumble across a small newspaper/magazine shop and spy some metal statues of Archangel Michael in the window. Excited, we enter the shop, only to be greeted by a toothless old woman, guarding her possessions. We try to pick up one of the statues (obviously for sale since they all had price stickers on them), but were scolded in French to put them down. I say my standard line, "Parlez-Vous Anglais?" to which the old woman hisses, "NON!"
Alrighty, then!
Alrighty, then!
No purchases were made at this establishment.
We have our last dinner in Paris at one of our favorite corner cafes and enjoy the most heavenly creme brulee ever. Everything just seems to taste better when you are sitting a block away from the Eiffel Tower!
Like any big city, I know that Paris has its dark side, its dirty corners and shady characters, but the overriding impression I take with me is one of welcoming, sincere people who take pride in their sense of style, are quick to laugh and are willing to assist a traveller with the language challenges.
I was struck by the amount of eye contact that was made and the easy smiles. I felt welcomed and at home the entire time and am grateful for all those Parisiennes who made the effort to speak English with us, point us in the right direction when we were lost and feed us excellent food the entire time!
**Merci beaucoup**
2 comments:
Suzette, I thourghly enjoyed your travel log. At times poignant and hilarious as illustrated by your marvelous photos. Mystic indeed, I felt as though I was there with you and could easily see in my mind's eye all the places you and your sister travelled. Thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey here. You must keep writing as well because you are a natural. I may be biased but you write as I imagine people paint, with shades of dark and light and wide as well as narrow strokes. Bravo. xo Jen
Thank you, Jen! What an honor to be appreciated by someone who writes as beautifully as you do!
Always with Love and Gratitude,
Susette
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