Mar 11, 2010
Day Two Point Seven Five / Day Three
When last we met, Donnell and I had just left Le Cafe des Deux Moulins. We quickly got our bearings and navigated to L’Étoile d’or, a gorgeous chocolate shop in Pigalle very near the super-famous Moulin Rouge. We haven’t sampled the chocolate yet (having decided, in my case at least, to do so once we’ve returned home as a way of extending our vacation a little bit more), but I am assured that it is to die for.
Dinner consisted of Indian take-out and a very nice wine purchased from a really cool little shop just down the street from Judah’s apartment. Everything was just right, and we slept well that night.
This morning, Donnell and I left just before Judah, and went to the Centre Georges Pompidou to take in some modern art. I thought I’d read that the Centre opened at 9:00 AM, but we arrived and quickly discovered just how wrong I was. So, our entrance was delayed for an hour or so, and left us just enough time to find a nearby café and enjoy a lovely breakfast of orange juice, coffee (I have become addicted to sweetened espresso, I’m afraid), and a croissant with butter and peach jam.
The Centre Pompidou was…well, the Centre itself was nice, but I guess I’m just not a modern art kind of person. There’s not much nice I can say about it, but I’m also not sure that the artists whose work we saw had much nice to say about anything.
We met up with Judah outside the Centre, and had a quick lunch before heading off on foot to find a newly-opened Muji store, where goods were exchanged for currency, and then through a set of winding streets to La Place des Vosges, one-time home of Victor Hugo. Espresso, tea, and hot chocolate were consumed. Next up: more shopping!
Le Bon Marché is, put simply, one of the world’s most extensive department stores. We picked up some paper and writing supplies at the papeterie on the second floor, then went to the 3rd and browsed the wide variety of knitting supplies. Then, because Judah had plans to make dinner for us (again!), we went next door to La Grande Épicerie (the grocery store arm of Le Bon Marché). Some time later, we emerged with some beautiful brussels sprouts, a lovely cheese, a variety of potato chips, some lemon-and-ginger chocolate bars, a baguette, and who knows what else.
One last stop: Pierre Hermé for macarons. Eat your heart out.
Dinner, consisting of creamed brussels sprouts (served atop spaghetti) and wine, was to die for, and the macaron that finished the meal was perfect in every way.
When you get tired of that yucky French food, come up here and I’ll fix you a smoked brisket sandwich on white bread. And Donnell won’t have to fly. Oh, and bring some macarons, please. Can you get those when you come through West?
Macarons are fabulous. I’ve decided to learn how to make them. Brisket on white bread with mayo and red onion sounds great. Going anywhere in the next few weeks is not going to happen though.