Paris 9.11 - Day 1

A blog is a way to capture your memories. I usually capture my memories right away but I’ve been busy. I scribbled some notes when in café’s or restaurants in Paris and as I read them now, I barely remember them, I’m glad I wrote my thoughts down.
I hadn’t been to Paris since college. I specifically wanted to avoid crowds at the Louve and Eiffel Tower but wanted to go to the Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame since I remember loving them. Here’s my two day adventure.

First Day

Arrived around 1 and was tired but went out and took the Metro to Notre Dame. I guess I don’t’ remember being there but it wasn’t as big as I remember. I looked for the Hunchback and bell towers but didn’t see them. It was SPECTACULAR, luckily I happened to be there during a mass and the Priests and Alter people came singing in. The smell of the incense overwhelmed my senses, and it felt like the incense formed an aura around me. I wish I could have recorded it on my iPhone for Goo Ma to hear. Tried to take pix of the beautiful stained glass windows, but no flash allowed so it was very dark.

I found the Café and Restaurant L’Ilot Vache (the island cow) a friend recommended but I was there ten minutes too early (6:50). They said to come back at 7, so I did, but didn’t have a reservation. Luckily I got a table. The funny thing was, as I shimmied in to the seat, my big butt hit the wine glasses on the next table and almost knocked them over. How embarrassing. I wanted traditional bistro food like Escargot, pate and found myself in the right place. It was a beautiful restaurant with big glass vases and chandeliers—reminded my of Tavern on the Green with that kind of glass. Usually you can make out a French menu but I saw something I didn’t recognize— Noix de St. Jacques----scallops and ordered them. Lucky I did—they were the best scallops I ever had in my life. Translucent juicy, not over-cooked, so garlicky and delicious, ummm. Loved it!!!!! (When you look at the picture, above left, the big white mound in the center is rice and the scallops surround the edges of the plate).

Took the metro back to my hotel and konked out. What a successful first day.


L’Ilot Vache (the island cow)
35 rue Saint Louis en I’lle 75004 Paris
Tel: 01 46 33 55 16
www.ilotvache.fr