Itinerary: Week Two
Day 8
On this day, it will rain. Trust me, it will rain.
We will wake up, see that it is raining, and decide to watch French television and movies (see our Movies page for a taste of French cinema).
After a breakfast of bagels of a variety of flavors made in the toaster oven, we make popcorn and watch a movie.
Then, we watch a TV show and make a pizza for lunch.
We watch two more movies and make spaghetti and meatballs with a baguette for dinner. We go to bed early.
Note that the toaster oven was used, not the toaster.
Day 9
Wanting to go out to breakfast again, we go to Casa Lola on 12 rue Francœur to try the egg and beef tartare. It will cost about 20 euro.
After breakfast, we go to Victor Hugo's house. Next, we go to Champs-Élysées, the most famous street in Paris. We eat lunch at Au Petit Verdot du 17e, a sandwich shop, for a quick bite. We spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. We go to Petit Bateau, an iconic French clothing store.
We return to the apartment at 6 and eat a dinner of salad aux lardons (includes a poached egg and Canadian bacon). For dessert, Gabby attempts to make creme brulee but fails miserably. In the process of flambeing the custard, she accidentally scorches the toaster. Here is photographic evidence of the incident:
On this day, it will rain. Trust me, it will rain.
We will wake up, see that it is raining, and decide to watch French television and movies (see our Movies page for a taste of French cinema).
After a breakfast of bagels of a variety of flavors made in the toaster oven, we make popcorn and watch a movie.
Then, we watch a TV show and make a pizza for lunch.
We watch two more movies and make spaghetti and meatballs with a baguette for dinner. We go to bed early.
Note that the toaster oven was used, not the toaster.
Day 9
Wanting to go out to breakfast again, we go to Casa Lola on 12 rue Francœur to try the egg and beef tartare. It will cost about 20 euro.
After breakfast, we go to Victor Hugo's house. Next, we go to Champs-Élysées, the most famous street in Paris. We eat lunch at Au Petit Verdot du 17e, a sandwich shop, for a quick bite. We spend the rest of the afternoon shopping. We go to Petit Bateau, an iconic French clothing store.
We return to the apartment at 6 and eat a dinner of salad aux lardons (includes a poached egg and Canadian bacon). For dessert, Gabby attempts to make creme brulee but fails miserably. In the process of flambeing the custard, she accidentally scorches the toaster. Here is photographic evidence of the incident:
Day 10
Breakfast: 7:00 at Le Flore en l’île, 42 quai d’Orléans 4e
approximately 30€, $39 total
Dishes to try: we are having the obligatory croissants and coffee, which we are a tad tired of by now, but it's pretty good nonetheless
After breakfast, we go to Marche aux Puces de Montreuil, a huge flea market. Gabby buys a liter of expensive French perfume and glitter. She regretted it when we returned to the apartment later and found out the perfume smelled of escargot a few hours after she sprayed it all over herself in order to attract some Frenchmen.
For lunch at 1:00, we make quesadillas because quite frankly we miss Mexican food. Luke chokes on melted cheese.
After lunch, we go to the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, a zoo that houses a botanical garden. In fact, it is the oldest civil zoological garden in the world.
Dinner: 6:45 at Chez Toinette, 20 rue Germain Pilon, 18e
Approximately €54, $70 total
After dinner, we return to the apartment. We only have three days left!
Day 11
Breakfast: 7:30 at a street vendor selling breakfast pastries
Approximately €15, $20 total
After a scrumptious breakfast, we visit the Panthéon. It was originally a church, but is now a mausoleum that contains the remains of distinguished French citizens.
Lunch: at noon, at Le Soleil Gourmand, 10 rue Ravignan 18e
Approximately €25, $33 total
Dishes to try: salads, tarts and baked bricks (stuffed fritters), tarte aux tomates confites (glazed tomato tart), tarte aux oignons, poivrons, raisins et pignons grillés (tart with onion, green peppers, grapes and grilled pine nuts)
After a delectable lunch, we go to the Musée de l'Histoire de France.
For dinner we make french fries.
After a palatable dinner, we visit Napoleon's Tomb.
On this day, we really wanted to soak up French history.
Day 12
Today we are fasting to honor those who died in the French Revolution.
After no breakfast, we shop at the Galeries Lafayette, an immense department store that has ten floors.
After no lunch, we visit the Isle of Swans, which has a Statue of Liberty that is identical to the statue in New York City except in size. There are also swans.
After no dinner, we return to the apartment. We are starving but so were the revolutionaries of this splendid country, centuries ago.
Day 13
We sleep in and have breakfast at home. We have some leftover spaghetti at around 10:00.
Lunch is the classic PB&J.
After lunch, we go to the Musée d'Orsay, an art museum.
Dinner: 6:30 at Drouant, 16-18 place Gaillon 2e
approximately €35, $46 total
Dishes to try: plat du jour
We return to the apartment after a lavish dinner.
Day 14
Today is the day. Today is the day we use that revered kitchen appliance that is the humble toaster. Be gone, toaster oven. Make room for progress. As dearly departed Marie Antoinette would have said, "Let them eat toast!"
Breakfast: 7:00 at Le Flore en l’île, 42 quai d’Orléans 4e
approximately 30€, $39 total
Dishes to try: we are having the obligatory croissants and coffee, which we are a tad tired of by now, but it's pretty good nonetheless
After breakfast, we go to Marche aux Puces de Montreuil, a huge flea market. Gabby buys a liter of expensive French perfume and glitter. She regretted it when we returned to the apartment later and found out the perfume smelled of escargot a few hours after she sprayed it all over herself in order to attract some Frenchmen.
For lunch at 1:00, we make quesadillas because quite frankly we miss Mexican food. Luke chokes on melted cheese.
After lunch, we go to the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, a zoo that houses a botanical garden. In fact, it is the oldest civil zoological garden in the world.
Dinner: 6:45 at Chez Toinette, 20 rue Germain Pilon, 18e
Approximately €54, $70 total
After dinner, we return to the apartment. We only have three days left!
Day 11
Breakfast: 7:30 at a street vendor selling breakfast pastries
Approximately €15, $20 total
After a scrumptious breakfast, we visit the Panthéon. It was originally a church, but is now a mausoleum that contains the remains of distinguished French citizens.
Lunch: at noon, at Le Soleil Gourmand, 10 rue Ravignan 18e
Approximately €25, $33 total
Dishes to try: salads, tarts and baked bricks (stuffed fritters), tarte aux tomates confites (glazed tomato tart), tarte aux oignons, poivrons, raisins et pignons grillés (tart with onion, green peppers, grapes and grilled pine nuts)
After a delectable lunch, we go to the Musée de l'Histoire de France.
For dinner we make french fries.
After a palatable dinner, we visit Napoleon's Tomb.
On this day, we really wanted to soak up French history.
Day 12
Today we are fasting to honor those who died in the French Revolution.
After no breakfast, we shop at the Galeries Lafayette, an immense department store that has ten floors.
After no lunch, we visit the Isle of Swans, which has a Statue of Liberty that is identical to the statue in New York City except in size. There are also swans.
After no dinner, we return to the apartment. We are starving but so were the revolutionaries of this splendid country, centuries ago.
Day 13
We sleep in and have breakfast at home. We have some leftover spaghetti at around 10:00.
Lunch is the classic PB&J.
After lunch, we go to the Musée d'Orsay, an art museum.
Dinner: 6:30 at Drouant, 16-18 place Gaillon 2e
approximately €35, $46 total
Dishes to try: plat du jour
We return to the apartment after a lavish dinner.
Day 14
Today is the day. Today is the day we use that revered kitchen appliance that is the humble toaster. Be gone, toaster oven. Make room for progress. As dearly departed Marie Antoinette would have said, "Let them eat toast!"