Paris's Notre Dame was our destination today, we have been in Paris for over two weeks now and have not yet seen it, even on past visits we had never braved the queues to enter. We braved the long queue today though and were prepared for a long wait. It wasn't nearly as bad as we had anticipated and we were inside the cavernous Notre Dame within ten minutes.
We enjoyed moments of quiet contemplation and while JR went off to take some photos, AJ and I sat in the pews and enjoyed some deep conversation about our beliefs. AJ is such a deep thinker at times and his thoughts on the big issues of life challenge my own thoughts and beliefs, he encourages me to think outside the box.
This afternoon the boys high-tailed it to an Aussie Bar in Les Halles to watch a few overs of The Ashes, they had a great time and later when AJ and I were alone he said how great it was to share that moment with his Dad.
It was time for AJ and I to hang out, we walked to L'Ile St Louis accross the bridge behind Notre Dame filled with bands playing old time jazz and massagers giving free 10 minute massages. We enjoyed a Berthillon ice-cream together, mine white chocolate and honey-nougat and AJ's chocolate and vanilla. The queues for Berthillon are always out the door and round the bend, they are nice there is no denying it, but this is the second time I have had Berthillon and I am yet to find my true nirvana.
I visited La Petit Scierie, my favourite foie gras specialist on the planet, as I have done twice before on visits to Paris. They are still the same and dare I say they are still serving up the best foie gras imaginable. Paul and I chatted for a while, he served me up some foie gras on crispy toast with a little glass of wine, what a lovely way to while away time.
AJ and I carried on our family tradition of sitting at the window table of the tiny Au Lys D'Argent and had one of their oober rich hot chocolates, unfortunately they arrived at our table almost instantly and were a shaddow of their former selves. In days gone by, you were advised to allow 10 minutes for their hot chocolates to be made while they carefully melted solid chocolate to order. Nothing stays the same forever but despite the hot chocolate disappointment, it was great to shoot the breeze with AJ.
