Notre Dame, Gelato, Musicians on the Bridge and the Tuileries

 11 June 2022.

There are always so many things to see and do in Paris, but our most favorite thing, truth be told, is just to BE in Paris. Strolling the city as les flâneurs is in fact what we enjoy most, I suppose. So off we went back on the Metro. This time we headed for line 6 just down the street. 

In planning our departure on Tuesday we wanted to see if we could get away with using public transport while schlepping our bags. A long escalator took us right to the metro platform. When we got off at Denfert-Rochereau, where we would catch the RER train out to the airport, we discovered one escalator off the platform but then a large flight of stairs to get to the RER platform. No problem. 

We got off the RER at Saint-Michel and walked over to see the construction project on Notre Dame. We were joined by hundreds of other like-minded folks as we walked past the barricaded structure to the bridge over to the Ile Saint-Louis.

the rear of the church

looking from the bridge to the tip of Ile de la Cité and the Memorial to Deportation

It came as no surprise that there was a musical group playing on the bridge since this is a favorite location for buskers and performers of all types.

Once on the Ile Saint-Louis we strolled down the central artery in search of a particular gelato shop (passing the crowds at Berthillon). One can't help but feel comfortable about this place where life seems to move differently than anywhere else. . .

At last we found our quarry: Amorino Gelato.

a shwarma sandwich shop across from the gelato store

We strolled along the island for a short while before cross the Pont Marie to the right bank where we hopped on the no. 7 to Palais-Royale Louvre stop. 

The day had warmed up considerably and it was quite hot in the sun so we kept to the shade as we strolled past the crowds waiting to get into the museum and on into the Tuileries gardens.

Anne Hathaway shilling for Bulgari

looking back to the Louvre

away from the crowds

Having quite enough of the heat we left the Tuileries and walked across rue de Rivoli to Smith & Son bookstore. We browsed for a bit before going back across rue to the Tuileries, the no. 12 metro stop and home.