Following in the Steps of Emily in Paris….and More

Morning Market

It’s overcast and a little drizzly this morning but I don’t care. Today we are doing many of the Emily in Paris and Left Bank sites. We are conveniently staying in the 5th Arrondissement which is where a lot of Emily in Paris was shot. Coincidence? I think not.

I’m putting on my most comfortable walking shoes and my umbrella and off we go.

We stop at the market around the Monge Metro. The food looks delicious and the displays are gorgeous. Even the fish is beautiful. And the flowers…

Emily in Paris Square

The Place de l’Estrapade is where Emily’s apartment, Gabriel’s restaurant, Emily & Mindy’s  favourite cafe and Emily’s favourite patisserie are located. It is (if possible), even prettier in person. Click here for a video.

There are a few other fans checking out the pretty square.

Pantheon

We go to a cafe near by (because the patisserie that Emily went to is closed) so that my sister can get her coffee (which she promptly spills on herself). Oops. After she drinks a replacement coffee, we head to the Pantheon where many famous French people including  Voltaire and Louis Braille are interred.

The Cluny

Our next stop is the Medieval Cluny Museum. This is my favourite museum in Paris. Today is French Heritage Weekend so we get in free (as we did to the Pantheon).

We head straight to the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. They always cast a spell over me. Pure magic. They are from the 1500s. Click here for a short video of the tapestries. We spend quite a while with the tapestries before we visit the rest of the museum.

The lower levels of the museum are ancient Roman Baths from the second century AD.

When done, we head towards St. Chapelle but get side tracked with shoe and clothing shopping. So much fun…too much fun.

Lunch is at a delicious gyros restaurant.

Sainte Chapelle

We finally make it to Sainte Chapelle but there is a bit of a line but only have to wait 30 minutes.

Entering the lower church you cannot help but notice that the dominant colour is blue We climb a steep, narrow, spiral staircase. At the top, I am awash in glowing cobalt blue light. The stained glass is so vibrant. There are hundreds of stories in the glass. I find some panes that I remember first discovering with my boys when they were young. So absolutely beautiful…all under a blue vaulted ceiling filled with golden stars. Click here for a short video of the Chapel.

The Conciergerie

The Conciergerie is next door, so we decide to do one more tour for the day. This old palace became a prison during the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette was imprisoned here before being executed, as were hundreds of others.

Dinner is La Diva de Pres

Back at the apartment we change and meet our friend Zoe for dinner at La Diva des Pres restaurant in the Saint Germain des Pres area. Zoe just flew in from London so that we can have an evening and day together. Unfortunately her flight was delayed by a couple hours but it is so good to finally get together.

Although I don’t usually have meat, tonight I order the steak tartare after all, when in France…

We must have looked confused in the Metro because a charming French man came to our aid…actually a lot of friendly French people have helped us on this trip.

It was a wonderful evening; good friends, good food and lovely location.