Sunday lunch took place at Le Procope where we ate in style as all the other "citoyens" did.
We took moments sampling the Beaujolais nouveau in its organic version at La Dernière Goutte rue de Bourbon le Château, discovered the mythical café of La Palette rue de Seine, visited Les Deux moulins café down rue Lepic in Montmartre where the film of Amélie Poulain was shot and we were served delicious pastry by a girl whose name wasn't Amélie. There were heaps of oysters at each street corner 
outside cafés and restaurants announcing Christmas and new Year Eve's "réveillons" and pâtisserie shop windows that made you feel guilty just to look at them!
We took moments sampling the Beaujolais nouveau in its organic version at La Dernière Goutte rue de Bourbon le Château, discovered the mythical café of La Palette rue de Seine, visited Les Deux moulins café down rue Lepic in Montmartre where the film of Amélie Poulain was shot and we were served delicious pastry by a girl whose name wasn't Amélie. There were heaps of oysters at each street corner 
outside cafés and restaurants announcing Christmas and new Year Eve's "réveillons" and pâtisserie shop windows that made you feel guilty just to look at them! The stroll through the Quartier des Beaux Arts was a surprise for someone like Richard even who has visited Paris many times. We managed to discover unusual places once again, chatted to 
people on the way and learnt about various ways of visiting Paris in the future, parking safely and economically.
people on the way and learnt about various ways of visiting Paris in the future, parking safely and economically.We also spent a few memorable moments in a little bistrot Boulevard Richard Lenoir...
Feeling a little peckish (!) after a couple of hours' walking all over l'Ile Saint-Louis, paying a visit to La Maison Berthillon, French Mecqua of ice cream, having a look at Nos Ancêtres les Gaulois restaurant's very ethnic menu, inspecting the crooked courtyards of the Marché Saint Paul and the quaint little Square of the Marché Sainte Catherine crossing the stunning Place des Vosges on our way to Bastille, we entered a café nearby (we'll let you find it all by yourself). We sat down and began to soak the whole ambience in; the place was warm and friendly with a provincial feel to it. There were banners advertising the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau in the windows, barrels by the counter, straw on the floor. Two young children walking around attracted our attention to one of the barrels on which sat two rabbits and two miniature hens happily munching and pecking side by side. Nice way of entertaining children whilst waiting for the order to come through we thought. The whole place felt quite unusual, surprisingly rustic but very relaxed and welcoming. Suddenly to our amazement there was the sound of a cockerel singing and that wasn’t my mobile phone ringing! People looked totally unperturbed and carried on eating as a magnificent bird flanked by a couple of hens took a few steps between the tables. They were obviously regular customers. Quite a sight really… and what a symbol too, that proud French cockerel ruling the place!
Feeling a little peckish (!) after a couple of hours' walking all over l'Ile Saint-Louis, paying a visit to La Maison Berthillon, French Mecqua of ice cream, having a look at Nos Ancêtres les Gaulois restaurant's very ethnic menu, inspecting the crooked courtyards of the Marché Saint Paul and the quaint little Square of the Marché Sainte Catherine crossing the stunning Place des Vosges on our way to Bastille, we entered a café nearby (we'll let you find it all by yourself). We sat down and began to soak the whole ambience in; the place was warm and friendly with a provincial feel to it. There were banners advertising the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau in the windows, barrels by the counter, straw on the floor. Two young children walking around attracted our attention to one of the barrels on which sat two rabbits and two miniature hens happily munching and pecking side by side. Nice way of entertaining children whilst waiting for the order to come through we thought. The whole place felt quite unusual, surprisingly rustic but very relaxed and welcoming. Suddenly to our amazement there was the sound of a cockerel singing and that wasn’t my mobile phone ringing! People looked totally unperturbed and carried on eating as a magnificent bird flanked by a couple of hens took a few steps between the tables. They were obviously regular customers. Quite a sight really… and what a symbol too, that proud French cockerel ruling the place!
We were lucky to enjoy a mild autumnal weather as we walked for miles as usual. We hopped onto buses and caught the metro to keep our schedule and even the “funiculaire” all the way up to le Sacré Coeur where we enjoyed the breathtaking view over the capital...
No better way to get to know Paris we believe and so does anyone who joins us…. Enjoy a few photos and keep an eye on the calendar for our next visit to Paris in April 2011!
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