On our last full day in Paris, we ate breakfast at the hotel and walked to Le Marais quarter. A few weeks before our trip, we had contacted
Paris Greeters to be matched with a Paris resident to meet us for a stroll through a neighborhood of their choice. We were assigned Francoise and arranged to meet her at the carousel at Saint-Paul Metro Station. We arrived a little early so we took a few minutes to visit Eglise Saint Paul – Saint Louis, 99 Rue St. Antoine, 75004. It was beautiful.
 |
| St. Vincent de Paul |
 |
| I loved this painting of Joseph teaching Jesus carpentry skills |
Our greeter was well-prepared and offered interesting historical information as we meandered through the Marais neighborhood. Highlights of our walk included seeing a cannonball in the side of the medieval building at Hotel de Sens (a lone cannonball remains lodged there from the French Revolution), Place de la Bastille, and learning about the gold foundry that existed in the neighborhood long ago. The foundry chimney now runs through a Uniqlo store.
 |
| Can you spy the cannonball hole above the window? |
 |
| The gold foundry chimney as seen from the outside |
 |
| The gold foundry chimney seen from inside the center of a new Uniqlo store |
We had a nice, long lunch at Les Philosophes, 28 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004. We had a very sweet server and a delicious lunch. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way about eating raw milk cheese. Did I learn nothing from Sex and the City? Apparently not. I really wish I had remembered the episode where Harry and Charlotte make the unfortunate decision to have a cheese plate at a French restaurant. Digestive mayhem ensues. Readers, learn from my mistake. It still makes me feel sick just thinking about it.
 |
| On a happier note, this was our adorable server |
 |
| Number of baguettes when we arrived |
 |
Number of baguettes when we left
|
After lunch, we did a little shopping at Le BHV Marais (Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville), 52 rue de Rivoli, 75004, and then explored a few rooms in
the Art Squat of Paris, 59 rue de Rivoli, 75004. I don't know if it was the beginning effects of the cheese, the summer heat, or bizarre artist juju...but it was a bit of a surreal experience.
At last, we headed back to the hotel to pack for our departure the next day.
