An Evening Stroll~ Missing Paris Day

Just a little walk for us tonight along the Seine.

I ate at the Cafe Marly many years ago for lunch

and I'm thinking it's time to renew that experience. 

But I loved this shot of the arched ceiling and columns of the entry

so even if we're not breaking bread here together,

at least we can share the beauty of the exterior

and pretend we're on our way in for a little glass of bubbly.

Now a little walk across the Pont Neuf ('New Bridge').

According to the Paris.fr page on it, 

the design of the Pont Neuf marked the end of the Middle Ages 

and was the first bridge to be built without houses on it. 

But my favorite line about it is that it was seen as a meeting place 

for every kind of pleasure in Paris.

It was said that one could meet,

"a monk, a white horse and a streetwalker' here.

Most likely we have and just didn't recognize them. 

A look back across the Seine toward Notre Dame

(its spires shining in the background),

the Grande Dame of Paris.

At a little cafe on a corner near Notre Dame,

we can partake of a Parisian favorite:

 soup a l'oignion.

I'm told this dish is traditionally eaten at the end of a long night 

on New Year's Eve in France

but clearly can be enjoyed anytime. 

And we end tonight's walk reveling in the mysterious beauty of the shadows 

of l'Hotel de Ville, giving a somewhat ominous but thrilling sense.

It feels to me a little like a particularly good ghost story.

And we all know there are plenty of ghosts in Paris. 

Hope you enjoyed our little stroll.

So glad you could join me. 

Nothing like a night walk in Paris!

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)