We slept in — haven’t really felt jet lagged, thankfully.  But hadn’t slept in a while! So popped out of bed at 915, due to be at St Michel fountain in the Latin Quarter at 1015 for a bike tour.  I totally recommend doing a bike tour in a big city, as it’s a great way to get an overview, learn some details/secrets/suggestions, and you cover tons of ground without wearing out your feet (although my knees didn’t dig the biking, but it was worth it).  We looked like crazy tourists even to the other tourists: no jackets for us, as it felt tropical at cloudy and low 60s to us winter-hardened Minnesotans. Dana was our tour guide for our Blue Fox bike ride (https://www.bluefox.travel/paris/) . We went around Notre Dame, along the Seine past the d’Orsay (on our list to see today), near Hotel des Invalides, by the Eiffel tower (can I just say catching glimpses of it for the first time was fricking rad?), back on the other side of the Seine to the Place de la Concord (seeing the Obelsik in my 7th grade French textbook was what made me fall in love with the idea of Paris), to the Louvre and back to the Ile de Cite.

Picked up our 6 day Musee Pass, and headed to Sainte-Chapelle. I was worried that it wouldn’t be as breath-taking as advertised, as it was a drizzly day, but it was glorious.  This stained glass masterpiece is not to be missed. Then we needed a wine break, so went to Bar du Caveaux (http://www.barducaveau.fr/), a tiny little spot in a charming triangle (not even a square).  Fortified by wine bread and cheese, we visited the Conciergerie (where Marie Antoinette and thousands of other prisoners awaited their fate during the Revolution, http://www.paris-conciergerie.fr/)  and the Crypte Archeologique (pieces of the original France, with arufacts walls, coins, etc http://www.crypte.paris.fr/).

Had hoped to hit Notre Dame but line was too long and we were pressed for time.  Hopped onto the metro, showered and relaxed, then it was off to dinner.

Amabassade d’Auvergne was our destination ( http://ambassade-auvergne.fr/fr/).  I had learned about aligot in a recent book, and when I heard they served it at this restauarnt I was all in.  It’s like the ultimate cheesy mashed potatoes — so smooth and elastic — think stringy mozzarella, but with potatoes.  Damn that was good.  I had mine with truffle, and beef steak and marrow bone. HWSNBN had his plain with sausage.  For dessert it was pear poached in red wine. Le yum!

Wandered back through the Montorgueil in the misty rain, and stopped again at Hoppy Corner for a beer before bed.  Place was, well, hopping. Then we hopped off to bed!

The plan for Friday: Latin Quarter, St Germain, wine tasting and the Louvre!