i heart paris: Is it Wednesday?

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When I woke up this morning I couldn't remember what day it was. I guess I am lost in time.

Todays is Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. I guess everyone at home is running around like a bunch of nuts trying to get their turkeys, cranberries and stuffing. I don't think that's fun!

This morning I was not sure what I would get for breakfast. On one side I wanted a baguette from a new boulangerie at the St Paul Metro stop. The other side of me wants some sort of a pastry with a filling. So what did I do? I got both!

Big deal it only cost €2.50 for a baguette and a "pain au chocolate et framboise". Delicious!

Why do we have good bread in the USA? We are a nation of Wonder Bread and mass processed loaves. Yes, there are some artisan bakerys in New York but a plain baguette could cost anywhere from $3-5.

I am lucky, I do have a artisan baker in my little New Jersey neighborhood who makes their loaves in coal ovens. Their bread is delicious and costs just over a buck. I would say it's more of an Italian style bread rather than French. I have to admit, I don't buy loaves there very often because when I buy one I can eat the entire loaf in one evening. While here in Paris I am active all day but when at home I sit in my chair at work for most of the day.

I walked 11 miles yesterday. I started my wandering on the right bank but then I took the Metro to the left bank for lunch at Le Petit Troquet. It was one of the best bistros I've been to in Paris and I plan to return.

After lunch I walked the length of rue St Dominique and peeked into a few shops. After my stop at the pastry shop named Julian, I headed to rue Cler where I had a espresso in a cafe with the pistachio macroon I bought at Julian. From there I continued to walk the rue Cler. Rue Cler is a active market street with cafes, brasseries and stalls selling everything from food to shoes spreading onto the street.

From rue Cler I walked to the end of ave de la Motte-Picquet to Hotel des Invalides. From the Hotel des Invalides I walked to rue de Grenelle which is a picturesque street in the 7th. Rue de Grenelle leads to rue Bac where more shops and markets begin to appear as you enter St Germain.

Two of my favorite shops on rue du Bac are Cedre Rouge and The Conran Shop. Cedre Rouge is a great home and garden shop selling. All sorts of home items which reflect natural living and gardening. The Conran Shop is completely opposite and sells al sorts of item representing modern living. Both shops are in the area of rue de Varenne and are worth checking out for gifts and unique items.

While in the area I did a walk through Le Bon Marche department store (too expensive) then walked back to blvd St Germain for some more main stream shopping.

No wonder why I was exhausted last night!

One thing that I think really wipes me out is the Metro. I have come to dread having to make a transfer at any station, especially the Chatelet station. A map doesn't represent how much walking you will do in the endless underground tunnels and passageways. I never assume when I enter a station that the train will be right there. In New York when you walk down the stairs to the subway, the train is generally right there.

Well, it will be another day of walking and wandering. I am still trying todecide if I wantto take a trip to Fountainebleau. It's been very cold outside and I am not sure if I want to be outside all day far away from Paris.

Today I may tour Montemartre or maybe take one of those ferry cruises on the Seine. I decide once I'm more awake!

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