L'anniversaire en Paris

I've posted some about my time recently in Paris for my sister's big 50th birthday

 but not really about what I did a week later on mine.

I started my day with the Brassai exhibit, 

For the Love of Paris

at...

the Hotel de Ville.

FYI: the exhibits there are always free!

Then a light lunch at my favorite little 

resto cave-a-vins

also known as La Reserve de Quasimodo

(or The Oldest Bar in Paris.)

And had my favorite entrees there:

the Rillette de Sardine

and a chevre chaud salad. 

From there, it's only a couple of short blocks to Notre Dame...

so I took a walk through to find some of my favorite angels...

(how gold his wings look)

and famous French martyrs...

I always love the shot of the burning candles

beneath one of the rose windows...

and the play of shadows on the ancient floor. 

Someone else also celebrated a birthday

recently...

Took a walk along the Seine ...

And in the evening had Birthday Tiramisu

(one of my favorite desserts)

after Ethiopian food with friends and family. 

It was a fabulous birthday 

in that most fabulous city. 

Don't remember the last time 

I spent a birthday alone

and enjoyed it so much. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Magical Paris Night Walk

While The Chef is in the country hunting lapin,

(or rather tromping through the woods with those carrying the guns 

and enjoying lunch at the hunter's lodge),

I took a magical walk by myself the other night 

from the Louvre, across the Pont Neuf down to Notre Dame.

Love how the roof of the Hotel de Ville now sparkles at night 

just like the Eiffel Tower. 

Life is such a sparkle.


(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)