A quiet Paris day

I'm trying hard to get on a schedule of getting up at 7 to not waste the day.  Today I was awake by 6:30 thinking about how much I wanted to go for a jog in Paris, something unique and worth the effort.   I convinced myself to get up and headed toward the Jardin du Luxembourg, very near our hotel, to check things out.  It was indeed close and really beautiful.  I did two laps to get the lay of the land and then headed back to find Bob.

After a shower, we enjoyed our hotel breakfast very much and then walked back to the Luxembourg Gardens.  An important attraction for us was the collection of photos on temporary display about the Tour de France.   There were a few dozen pictures mounted on the fence dating from 1920 to 2012.   This was the best "museum" I've seen to date :)

The weather app promised the sun would come out after 10, but we weren't encouraged by the heavy clouds.  We swung by the hotel for umbrellas and then headed to the train.  I was really, really tired from the trip so far.  Big props to Bob for being a trooper, because I was pooped.   I planned to take a boat tour on the Seine because I knew we could sit for an hour or more.   We made it to the Pont de L'Alma (near the Eiffel Tower) and looked for lunch.  The restaurants were too expensive.  While looking, we saw a steady stream of real people coming from a side street carrying groceries.  We headed in that direction and found a Carrefour Express and picked up sandwiches and other lunch treats.

Once that was settled, we went to the Bateaux Mouches dock and got tickets for the boat ride.  

After our boat tour, we went back to the hotel for a rest.  It was too dark and windy to inspire walking around (for me) and I wanted to pack up for our next adventure.   Around 5 we headed back out and walked into the 6th Arr near the Odeon and St. Sulpice.  It was a great area for shopping and food!  We stopped for a drink at a cool bar just to people watch.  This cool tree was in front of the cafe; if you look closely see books hanging within the branches.

Saint Sulpice (fountain out front)

We took the train back to our 'hood and found a restaurant with a prix fixe menu that appealed to me.   We sat down next to a woman who both Bob and I assumed was French. After a bit, she spoke up and was from Baltimore.  Instant dinner friends!

First, my DELicious first course:

 My second course, Sole:

Bob's veal:

We both had a chocolate cake for dessert:

Our new friend Aleka:

Aleka is just embarking on a 3-month tour to die for.  I am really looking forward to reading her blog.

And, for the small world portion of tonight...   We're chatting and Bob says "That's the guy from Versailles!"  He says it's the couple who asked us for directions at Versailles while in a pretty remote spot near the Petite Trianon.  Okay...  Well, the guy walks by finally and Bob talks to him.  It's actually him and we talk to the couple for a long while.  Small world!  They are from Brazil but live in Las Vegas and coincidentally, live in the suburb we favor due to it's proximity to the Red Rock Canyon.

Tomorrow we take to the train to Bayeux to start the bike tour.  We're excited!