We took the train down from Amsterdam to Paris – first class as it was somehow only 2E more expensive than coach. This means we are served lunch aboard like fancy people. We take the metro to our AirBnB’d home away from home.
Once settled, our first stop is BHV to get umbrellas. Will got a cool one we’d seen people carry in Amsterdam – it’s not perfectly round and is somehow more aerodynamic so he looked a bit cooler than I did with my cheap, round umbrella.
From there, we wandered through Paris. This first day was a bit of the “highlight reel” – Notre Dame and the Luxembourg Gardens (our apartment was by the Eiffel Tower so we’d seen that first and would see it in more detail in a few days time).
Skies were grey for most of the day, but perhaps that makes Paris look more dramatic.
When I studied abroad I’d bring books to this exact spot of the garden to read. I’d arrange two of the “lean back” green chairs and spread out across them.
That night, after dinner at a rather touristy brasserie (which you know I felt all bad about because despite not having been in Paris in 10 years and being on a student budget when I was, I felt like I should know all the places to eat. Anyway!), we grabbed drinks at a bar near the Louvre where we tried picon beers.