Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday in Paris

Ah, we're back to fresh croissants for breakfast! As good as the day-olds were, it's the whole process of going to a bakery in the morning that is so deeply satisfying: it's the aromas, the displays of new baked goods...


Paris with the family-3.jpg


... and even the lines of customers waiting for their necessity/indulgence -- it's all rather special.

I choose Les Gourmandises Eiffel for today's pains au chocolate and croissants. Funny -- we have a dozen recommended bakeries in the area and I go back to the two I tried the first day here. Shouldn't I try all the others? Shouldn't I?

I backtrack and go to Sainte Duchesne Boulangerie (a third option! nine more to try!) for a little viennoiserie for Snowdrop: a mini pain aux raisins.


Paris with the family-8.jpg



And, returning to another favorite, I stop at Harry Cover for fruits. Why go there when the city is filled with beautiful fruit displays? Well, you have to love a vendor who seems to care about every berry he sells...


Paris with the family-6.jpg



... and who carefully hand picks cherries for your pack...


Paris with the family-4.jpg



... and who then unloads your sack, so that the proper order is preserved: apricots on the bottom, then cherries, then croissants, then the delicate raspberries.


Breakfast is a feast.


Paris with the family-9.jpg



And Snowdrop loves fraises des bois! (As well as cherries. And blueberries. And strawberries. And raspberries. And as of today -- apricots, which were so magnificent in and around Sorede that for a minute I recoil.)


Paris with the family-11.jpg



And so today we are a family of four.

Snowdrop feels now perfectly at home here.

Paris with the family-13.jpg


(Here she is, running as if with a football.)


Paris with the family-14.jpg



Then I say the magic words -- want to go out for a walk?
Really? Really??


Paris with the family-15.jpg



But where to? Oh where to?

That's easy. To the place where I will return when we will be a family of six. To the place where I go all the time to get strength to inhale beauty to find peace, even when I am one. To the Luxembourg Gardens!

But we take a long while to get there. (Too, it is a long hike. ) I dont have as many photos today, but I have the important ones. Yes, there are fewer street scenes, like this...


Paris with the family-18.jpg



But there's lots of love, like here:


Paris with the family-17.jpg



It is definitely lunchtime now and I ask where we should eat: at the grungy Cafe Madame that's cheap and good and very local and very welcoming? At the prim but well regarded Bread and Roses Cafe Bakery?  At the bookish Les Editeurs? At some random place that catches our eye?

We wind up at the Cafe Madame and it's a good choice.


Paris with the family-22.jpg



The waiter is funny (at least he makes a concerted effort in this direction and I like effort) and kind toward Snowdrop (this part comes easy to him). The food is fine. It's a place where I would never want to see the kitchen -- something tells me it's cramped and loosey goosey with what goes where, but the fact is, the croque monsieur I order (because Snowdrop loves it so much!) is as good as the one at the more swank cafe, where I ate yesterday.


Paris with the family-31.jpg



We're right by the gardens, but we're not ready to let ourselves loose there yet. We're also close to one of my favorite children's clothing stores. Madame knows of Snowdrop from previous visits. (I'm not such a big customer. It's a matter of habit here: a seller works to establishes a personal relationship with the buyer.)

Too, Snowdrop is oozing charm. Madame and her friend are full of sweet caresses and words of endearment. Ma poupee! (my little doll), madame repeats again and again. Snowdrop responds with her best manners, waving and smiling and generally being not the child I know who is way delayed with her nap time.


Paris with the family-35.jpg



(Dresses to choose from...)


Paris with the family-63.jpg



And still we are not at the park. One more errand! Pastry shop!

(Snowdrop wonders - why are they staring at all these cakes? Can't we just get them all?)


Paris with the family-38.jpg



Finally, the park.

Freedom.


Paris with the family-42.jpg




Paris with the family-45.jpg



Pastries.


Paris with the family-50.jpg



And perhaps the best part for the little girl -- a completely unconstrained romp through the toddler playground (which as you may remember consists only of sand pits).


Paris with the family-54.jpg



(Is a pigeon like a small chicken? Will it listen when I talk to it?)


Paris with the family-55.jpg



(A Snowdrop downdog.)


Paris with the family-56.jpg



(Watching another child: a twelve month old, form Paris. We compare notes.)


Paris with the family-58.jpg



(Grandma, a flower! Just like at the farmette!)


Paris with the family-62.jpg



It's as if a nap is very yesterday. Today, there is Paris.

We walk back deeply satisfied. Snowdrop stays awake during the long hike and she protests a nap when we get home. There is a lot going on in her little world right now. I expect when she does finally get back home, she'll crash. For now, she is on the go.

And in fact, her mom and I take her out on one more quick walk -- to the grocery store! We need milk. We need diapers. We need Badoit fizzy water. We need snacks for the other young couple that arrives tomorrow.

Finally, the day draws to a close. The skies open up and we have a beautiful weather forecast (albeit only for tomorrow). I dash out to grab a supper for myself, trying out today yet another of the numerous little places in the neighborhood (Bistro St. Dominique). Snowdrop's mom and dad will be going out to visit night spots I never knew existed. Me, I order a home made terrine and a plain omelette and I ask (the unpardonable question in France) if I can be out within forty minutes.
Of course!  -- the genial waiter answers. We aren't called a bistro for nothing!



Paris with the family-4-2.jpg



Evening comes. Snowdrop is in bed now, her parents are out on the town. It's very quiet here on the 6th floor  apartment by the Eiffel Tower. A special kind of quiet.

4 comments:

  1. Snowdrop knows that there is just so much to take in! It is just so wonderful that you can share this love with your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful... as I knew it would be!

    Which two photos to download... hmm? Well, how about one Snowdrop and one family so let's see... Penguin football? Downdog? (Wonder what Parisian yoga is like?) Waving parents on bench? Snowdrop with menu while parents are with each other? Good thing you give me so many choices!!! Maybe I'll cheat and do all four :^)

    ReplyDelete
  3. When you find a place you love (bakery, cafe, whatever), it's hard to risk disappointment at a new place you think you should try. I must find Cafe Madame. Croque monsieurs have been a major disappointment since that perfect first one at an unknown brasserie near the Marmottan. It's almost unbelievable how badly some places prepare them. (Spell check is going crazy here but I'm not quite sure how to change spellcheck to French in blogger.)

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.