Another Day in Parisdise

April 03, 2025

Another Day in Parisdise!

As luck would have it, not only did many of today's photos feature a glorious blue sky, but I kept running into this Paris model who insisted on getting in the picture. Here's hoping my luck continues!

Today, we returned to Notre Dame for a 9:30am entrance, for which I had jumped on the website in Toronto's Pearson airport, having learned that the tickets get scooped up after midnight Paris time for the following three days. We waltzed in at 9:25, and after taking pictures of every nook, crook and cranny, dragged our feet out at 12:45 (including attending a 12 noon mass). We are very familiar with Notre Dame de Paris. Catherine even gave an American family a guided tour at one point; after discovering Catherine was Canadian the grandmother said "Will you forgive us". It took a while to sink in that she was apologizing for Trump's treatment of his friendly neighbours to the north. Cath didn't direct her to the confession box, but I'm sure she was tempted.

If you saw Notre Dame before the fire, you must come see it again. We both strongly felt that during our earlier visits we hadn't been moved by the cathedral - it was rather dark and dingy, in our memory. But now it is bright and the colours are so rich that you can't help but give thanks to God and the 340,000 donors (not to mention the firefighters and builders) who helped raise it from the ashes. I'll let it speak for itself:

After another baguette lunch and afternoon nap chez nous, we jumped back on the metro, this time landing in Jardin #2: Le Jardin des Plantes. For our Ontario and Saskatoon family members, you might not want to look at these, as they will suggest to you that April is only a cruel month in your neck of the woods.

I would be remiss if I did not respond to my mother's request to say something or show something of notre quartier. We both feel very fortunate to have landed where we have. Montparnasse is located in the 14th arrondisement, and our apartment is a stone's throw (Tom Brady distance) from Gare Montparnasse and the Montparnasse Bienvenue metro station. This gives us access to 4 different metro lines, which means we can get to the attractions along the Seine in about 20 minutes or less. Moreover, although the area is less trendy than, say, Germaine des Pres, the Latin Quarter, or Le Marais, we have found it to have a touch of central Paris with the conveniences of areas further afield. We are a one minute walk from two major grocery/department stores, including the Monoprix, that sells just about everything. We have found a boulangerie 30 seconds away that sells baguettes to die for. Just north of us is home to about a half dozen creperies (Gare Montparnasse serves Brittany, which supposedly explains their presence here). And finally, we love our apartment! It is your typical Paris apartment with heavy tall doors, floor to ceiling windows looking out on a courtyard, and the space is big enough that I can't hear Cath when she asks me to help in the kitchen - Parisdise!