Our last day in Paris

We checked out early on our last day to Paris. After leaving our bags at concierge, we made our way to Galeries Lafayette and Printemps; two names which were famous in Singapore at one point but sadly now defunct. These two rivals are very much alive in Paris with lavish stores along . Galeries Lafayette has a dedicated Home section in a separate building on the road opposite to its main building. It is stores like this that made me wish I have my own flat! Gorgeous quirky furnishings including bright coloured 50’s style electric fans and over-the-top wooden frames in bright pink and acid green.

We bought lunches from Galeries Lafayette’s and ate our lunch off the steps of Opera Garnier, the opera house made famous by Phantom of the Opera. A quick bus ride and we were at the South Bank, on our way to Notre Dame.


Notre Dame

It was another hot, hot day. Notre Dame’s forecourt was awashed with tourists like us. Nevetheless, the way it rears up the sky is impressive in the afternoon sun. For a fee, you can climb up to the top where the gargoyles are. I had fun telling the little one about the gargoyles – that they are for funnelling rain water and since the noise it makes sounds like they are gargling, that’s why they are called gargoyles! We sat in the shade in the restive rear court. In this heat, with the wind blowing from the River Seine and a Jazz band busking at the background, it was easy to nod off to sleep.

After half an hour rest, we walked through the narrow lanes towards the metro with a pitstop at Berthillon, Paris’ best icecream. The queues for Berthillon’s icecream is long as always. We still think Amorino is the best icecream in Paris but it is so refreshining to have a cold sorbet in this heat.

We went back to the hotel, collect our bags and since we have about two hours, we sat at Leon, at Plaza de la Republique. I was extremely surprised that we did not discover this place sooner. They serve mussels and frites!! Yum yum! what could be a better finish to our Paris holiday than to guzzle mussels and fries? It is distinctly Brussels food but I don’t care. We ordered a large pot of mixed seafood with squid, prawns and mussels to share. The mussels were small, tender and absolutely delicious!

Before long, it was time to go to Gare Du Nord and head back to London. It has been a wonderful trip and I want to go back to Paris again.