AMORINO GELATO

I feel disingenuous, but if I'm honest, my favourite gelato is found in Paris! I think there are pretty great scoops of gelato in Italy, and even in Montreal, but the prettiest scoop in the Amorino one in Paris. The first time I ever saw this on Ile-St-Louis, I had L'inimitable, a chocolate hazelnut combination that I remember loving. The rose shaped by an ice cream paddle makes the greatest gelato taste even better!

LA DUREE, Macarons on Champs-Elysees

If I had a million dollars, I would fly to Paris for these treats on special occasions.  This was the main counter and it is hard to choose! You can only eat so many in one sitting and they are hard to share! I tried the Strawberry Marshmallow Candy, the Chocolate Bergamot (of earl and lady grey fame),  the Sea Salted Caramel and the Liquorice. Next time, I will try the Chocolate Coconut Marshmallow, the Marie Antoinette (in Venice the bright blue ones were White Chocolate) and the Lemon Green Basil. Luckily, I can tide myself over with our local macaron place in Pointe-Claire Village called Rumeur. It is a smaller counter, but has some special flavours  like Green Tea, Cherry, Lavander, and Salted Caramel. And for a little less than a trip downtown, let alone to Paris!

Guimauve Chocolat Noix de Coco, Guimauve Fraise Bonbon, Pistache, Chocolat, Citron, Marie-Antoinette, Citron, Petale de rose, Vanille, Caramel a la fleur de sel, Fruits Rouges,  Fleur d'oranger, Chocolat Cafe, Framboise,  Chocolat Bergamote, Reglisse, Citron Verveine, Chocolat Pure Origine Peru, Citron vert basilic

CHAMPS ELYSEES (Elysian Fields) from the Arc de Triomphe aka PARADISE!

Many people wait in discouraged lineups to climb the Eiffel Tour. I prefer to look at it from all the viewpoints I can find. This one, from the Champs-Elysees, is worth the climb, more for the panorama than just the tower
, but it's a gorgeous view nonetheless.

First, climb up.

Second, admire Baron Haussmann's genius.

Third, admire the "temporary work" of Gustave's genius.

DISNEYLAND PARIS (Deezneelan!)

Aurora's Castle at the end of Main Street

Worth the wait to meet Mickey Mouse, the Polyglot!

JARDIN LUXEMBOURG

Studiously studying the guidebook

Horse Chestnut or London Plane?

Medici Fountain

LE BISTRO DU PERIGORD - 71 rue Saint-Jacques, Paris

This restaurant was a happenstance find near the River Seine. The salads were amazing! The main course even more so, that I forgot to take pictures of it! They allowed us to share our meal with our daughter and provided us with an extra plate for no additional charge.

This place is family run. The charming dad was at the till, and the cook and the waiter were his sons. A small kitchen with excellent food in a convenient location. We tried to make it back but found it closed on Sunday lunch. We'll check the hours and plan to go back the next time we are in Paris!

Blue Cheese Salad

Goat cheese salad

MAISON GEORGES LARNICOL, 132 Boulevard Saint-Germain

I loved the walk from our hotel near the Sorbonne down St. Michel to the Seine River at the Pont des Arts.  There are two chocolate shops that we passed by. This was our go-to everything-in-one spot!

Patrick Roger was never open when we by, but the life size model of a jaguar in the window was a show stopper!

Pyramids of macarons in a CHOCOLATE shop of the highest quality!

The house special - chocolate! Check out the colourful classic meringues in the upper left corner. They are the unicorns now! Best value, but, definitely, try as many of the chocolates and macarons you can! The variations are endless and amazing!

RUE CLER, PARIS : A FESTIVAL OF MOLD

WALKABLE PARIS - along the river Seine

The marker for the centre of Paris, just in front of Notre Dame, on Ile-de-la-Cite

Inside Cathedral Notre-Dame

A Rose Window in Cathedral Notre-Dame

Bartholomew, Simon, James the Less, Andrew, John and Peter.

Portail of the Last Judgement

 Paul, James, son of Zebedee, Thomas, Philip, Jude and Matthew.

Just a couple of the famous gargoyles of Notre-Dame

The Courtyard at the Hotel-Dieu Hospital. 

The Beautiful River Seine (left bank)

Activities on the River Seine

Tuileries Garden

L'Orangerie in the Tuileries Garden (a taste of Versailles and the Sun King Louis the XIV

My daughter's favourite moment with the Pigeon Whisperer of the Tuileries Garden

The Modern Louvre entrance

D'Orsay Museum

Pont Alexandre III

Flame of the Statue of Liberty and Princess Diana's Memorial (her car crash in the underpass  was under this bridge) on the right side of the Seine River

Fledgling Horse Chestnut Trees and the Eiffel Tour by Princess Diana's memorial (resembling the trees in Dr Seuss' books)

My favourite tree on earth (admittedly there are few other close in the running)

Trocadero

La Tour Eiffel!

2 story carousel near the Eiffel Tour

As my husband says, plagiarizing Rick Steves, "A Riveting View"

Classic photo!

JAPANESE GARDEN

Washing to be ready for the tatami room

Love the staying on the stones rule

CINQUIEME ARRONDISSEMENT

The first time I was in Paris, I went from the airport to the train station, transiting to an 'au paire' job in Franche-Conte. The second time, I went to Paris with my husband and we stayed at Hotel Beaubourg in the Marais district for a week. We walked everywhere and saw most of the sites by touristing dawn 'til after dusk. Two surprises were places I had never heard of and we stumbled on by accident. One of the places was the town hall (mairie) of the 5th arrondissement that we visited while waiting for the Pantheon to open. These are the murals I remembered on the 3rd visit, yet again waiting for the Pantheon to open (it opens late! and is under construction, so no Foucault's pendulum). They are exquisite, painted by absolutely no one I know (named Martin), and free for the looking, as you curl up the spiral stairs past a beautiful statue by no one that's announced.  The greatest thing about Paris, and Europe in general, is that there are gorgeous buildings everywhere filled with art that can be viewed in quotidian ways. This is what led us to stay on our last trip in the area - the 5th arrondissement is near the Jardin Luxembourg, the Sorbonne and the St Germain area full of chocolates and macarons. We stayed at the very enjoyable Hotel Excelsior Latin, ate breakfast at La Croissanterie, and often had a light supper at a creperie.