I discovered this brand when I was in Madrid in 2023 and it’s only sold in a number of stores outside of Madrid - one of which was in Paris. So after dropping my backpack at the hostel I walked through the 13th seeking sweet goodness!
The shopkeeper was quite taken aback when I told him I was from Australia and they I had deliberately sought out his store. He was so happy with the money I spent that I even got a free bag with my purchase. It has been a challenge over the last five days not to crack them open - but I’m saving them to share with the family so I’ve been strong.
With my one Parisian purpose fulfilled I decided to do a Seine walk and just walk the bridges back and forth across the Seine. So. Many. Bridges!
I paid my respects to Our Lady of Paris (Notre Dame) and was more than a little excited to see her rising proudly once again into the skyline. Hayden and I visited her in 2018 just before the fire that destroyed the old structure, and she was well on her way back to glory when I was there in 2023. Now they are doing a lot of work around her as well, so I can’t wait to see what she looks like when I’m back there again in a few years (just putting that out into the universe!)
I walked about 12k following the Seine and finally called time just before the Eiffel Tower - I was close to the bus stop I needed and my knee was starting to ache so I hopped a number 83 which dropped me right at the door of my hostel where I had a private room booked. Bonus - it was air conditioned.
The neighbourhood I was in even had a mini-mart so I was able to grab some snacks for lunch and then went in search of dinner. I settled on a delicious Thai meal from a non-tourist street and enjoyed a pad Thai at a table for one. I ordered a fresh coconut juice and was pleasantly surprised when a whole shucked coconut was presented with a straw to get the water from inside - it was so refreshing and cool and perfectly complemented the meal.
Back to my hostel and I sat out on my balcony for a bit just listening to the sounds of the city before settling into my bunk bed for the night. Weirdest bathroom ever - it had a blue light, an item I’m not sure is really needed in a bathroom, but you get what you get as they say!
Tomorrow I jump on my first bus tour to see a little more of Europe. Just enough time in each space for a taste of the area before moving onto the next.
