Mom and I woke up to our last day in Paris with a sigh. It had gone too quickly, of course, but this we knew before we embarked. We planned to spend this last bit with leisure, strolling and shopping along the Left Bank.
The morning brought sunshine with simultaneous sprinkles of rain. Umbrellas popped and red wellies on, I felt like an imposter Parisian, if only for the post-breakfast walk. We started with a stop at Samaritaine, an upscale department store that had been closed for many years for a remodel. It was quite pretty on the inside, and we enjoyed a little poke-around. I found a sweet little music box to bring home. My grandmother always had one, and I loved it. Of the things I bought on this trip, this little trinket was my favorite.
From there, we crossed the Seine and made our way to Shakespeare and Company. I bought books for the kids and had them stamped. It’s so funny; each time I am there, I consider all the writers who have slept there. And I can’t help but think, it’s such a dump! Of course, this is part of its charm. But really, how could you actually live there for periods of time?
We had worked up a pastry-sized appetite by this time and, bon chance for us, we were near Odettes. We stopped for their famous pate a choux, which was my second favorite sweet of the trip (see day 2 for the best). Delicious! Then, we made our way along the streets, stopping to look at the books and the paintings and the little nick-knacks that lined the boulevards.
For the first time for both of us, we stopped into the St. Germain church. What a beautiful sight it was. I am glad we stopped; the inside was vibrant. The colors were so unusual, so much brighter than most.
We popped in and out of shops along the Boulevard Saint-Germain and eventually found ourselves ready for a late lunch. We opted for a seat at the well known Cafe de Flore. I love the waiters’ tuxedos, though our server was a little cranky. C’est la vie … I suppose not everything in Paris is perfectly sweet. My croque monsieur was delicious, however.
After lunch, we found ourselves at the Ralph Lauren shop and restaurant, which is among one of the most beautiful I have ever been inside of. I hope there are many “next times” in Paris. And so the next time I am in this lovely place, I want to stop for a drink and dinner here.
On our way back toward the Tuileries, I was charmed to see a familiar sight. Years ago, Jason and I rented a little apartment on Rue de Lille, and we used the Rue de Bac Metro stop to come and go. It was one of our favorite trips. This trip with my mom will also be in my favorites book.
We stopped to sit, and I tried my best to take a mental picture of the moment. I leaned my face up to the sun and breathed in my fortune. Sitting beneath a cotton ball cloud sky, among people of the world- different but much more the same, beside my mother whom I am also lucky enough to call my friend, glimpsing an Eiffel Tower in the distance. It will be my 40th birthday snapshot.
Alas, it was time to head back to pack up. It was a jigsaw puzzle to fit in our purchases inside the suitcases, but we succeeded. We weren’t hungry enough for a big dinner, so we found ourselves a quiet cafe and brought our books before saying good night to Paris one last time.
To mom, thank you for a trip to remember, birthdays to honor, your company, your spirit, and for loving this city as much as I do.
Until next time, Paris, tu es belle.
Loved reading about your special trip!! Two cute ladies out on the town..as Eloise and Lindsay call their special outings! Here’s to your next big adventure, I’ll be waiting to read all about it! 🥂love Audrey