Canals and islands

Another anniversary in Paris day three

04.09.2022 - 04.09.2022
View Another anniversary trip to Paris on ToonSarah's travel map.

Fountain in the Place Saint Sulpice

I hadn't slept too well as I'd developed back ache the previous evening, so we had a leisurely start to the day. It was Sunday so we went to Mass at Saint Sulpice, with beautiful Gregorian singing. We then had a late light breakfast in the Place of the same name, enjoying the sunshine, the sound of the fountain and some people watching.

In the Eglise Saint Sulpice

The fountain in the Place Saint Sulpice

Canals …

After breakfast we took the Metro to the 10th arrondissement to enjoy a Sunday walk along the canals: Saint Martin and the Baisin de la Villette. We watched a cruise boat navigate the locks and found lots of photo opps.

The Canal Saint Martin

The Canal Saint Martin, and some local street art

Street art near the Canal Saint Martin

Seen better days?

We found a nice pavement café for lunch (quiche and salad) near the Rotunda de Stalingrad, where I watched a street artist working on a piece involving strips of coloured paper.

Street artist at work

Street artist at work, and the finished piece

Then we continued along the Baisin de la Villette, enjoying some warm sunshine, until we reached the park of the same name. Rather than visit the park we turned down a side street to reach a Metro station, Corentin Cariou.

Street art near La Baisin de la Villette

… and islands

We returned to the city centre and to the location of last year's Paris stay, the Ile Saint Louis. On this hot day I craved an ice cream, and Berthillon make the best ices in Paris! We stopped off for one at a favourite cafe on the island and then strolled over to the Ile de la Cité to see how work was progressing on Notre Dame. There was more scaffolding up than last year and we could see the new timbers in the roof space, but of course much remains to be done.

Ice cream on the Ile Saint Louis, and a street performer on the Pont Saint Louis

Notre Dame in scaffolding

And in the evening

After a break back at the hotel we went out for an early dinner. Chris was keen to see if the Relais de l'Entrecote here in Paris measured up to what is one of his favourite London restaurants. They don't take reservations and we'd already seen when we passed it on our first evening how long the queue can get, so we went out in time to join it c 20 minutes or so before it opened.

Queueing for Le Relais

We passed the waiting time chatting to the American couple in front of us, who'd joined the line without having any idea what to expect! We were able to explain the formula here: one starter (a salad) and for mains the only question is how you like your steak cooked. It comes, always, with the restaurant's secret recipe sauce, and fries. Only when you reach the dessert stage do you get a choice! But they are good at what they do in London and the same proved true here in Paris. We enjoyed our dinner and as we'd eaten so early stopped off for drinks at a friendly cafe on the way back to the hotel.

Posted by ToonSarah 17:55 Archived in France Tagged food paris fountain church cathedral street_art street_photography frankincense

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Comments

Thanks Sarah, i love your account of the walk round lesser known parts of Paris to me. Thanks again.

by alectrevor

Place St. Sulpice looks charming but you know my first love will always be canals and the ones you feature here look wonderful.

by planxty

I really like all the street art and that lion on the fountain is very cute, too. I must admit I wouldn't have queued for dinner. If I can avoid doing so, I won't queue for anything.

by irenevt

Thank you all Glad to have introduced you to some new areas Alec, and shown you some Parisian canals, Fergy

Irene, I wouldn't normally queue either, and especially for a meal I can get here in London! But Chris loves their steaks and wanted to see how it compared (identical except for an even wider choice of desserts). A lot of what we did over the weekend was chosen by me so I felt it was only fair he got to try this restaurant. We both regretted it to some extent, as you'll read in my next post!

by ToonSarah

Don't know if you have time, but there is a relatively new street art museum (outside in the streets) in the 13th arrondissement. Google street art 13th and you should get directions. It's a bit of walking to see much of it, but some magnificent street art on a very large scale. The last time we stayed in the 5th right next to the 13th and managed to see quite a bit just wandering around.

We often attend Mass at St. Sulpice just because of the magnificent organ there and I love the beautiful fountain in front of the church. It's a lovely part of Paris.

by Beausoleil

Thanks Sally, but we're no longer in Paris - this post relates to a short trip at the start of this month. But we'll almost certainly be back next year and that museum sounds right up our street, so I've made a note

by ToonSarah

I like how you placed the street artist photo beside the one with icecream, gives the impression that the artist wouldn't mind to have some icecream too

Wow, I have never seen line that long to the restaurant! Glad it was worth the wait!

by hennaonthetrek

Haha, I hadn't thought about that particular juxtaposition Henna, but I see what you mean! The dinner was good and Chris loved it, but as you'll see from my next post I ended up wishing we hadn't got in

by ToonSarah

what a relaxing Sunday, never heard of Le Relais but sounds interesting! Steak isn't my preference of protein, but when abroad, I often make other choices than at home!

by Ils1976

Not my favourite either Ils, and even less so after the night that followed this meal!

by ToonSarah

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