A Little R&R

Some people say that jet lag is worse on the return flight after a long trip, and this time, I had to believe them. I was totally wiped out and was really a slug all day. The fact that my chronic cough seemed to be getting worse didn’t help.

I did manage to schedule a pickup order at King Soopers, and Tim offered to pick it up. At least we have a bit of food in the house now, although I’m thoroughly spoiled after not having had to cook for almost a month.

I guess we’ll slowly get back to normal!

Air France to Denver, with a Slight Detour

Tim and I were up early for a change and enjoyed our last breakfast before hopping in a taxi the hotel had reserved for us. We arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport with plenty of time to spare, but we continued our tradition of one tiny mishap after another.

Although our business class tickets promised a special Air Priority counter, we couldn’t seem to find it. Not to worry, a friendly agent helped us check in on the new self-service devices.

We then joined the line for customs, where I apparently broke the gate! I kept waiting for Tim who was behind me, but he had been directed elsewhere when the machine I used stopped working. I had no idea what had happened, but I finally saw Tim in the middle of a long line. He made it through customs successfully, and we then boarded the shuttle train to our concourse. We actually had no issues getting through security.

Once again, we walked from one end of the terminal to the other, first looking for the Air France lounge, a benefit of business class, and then to our gate at the very end of the concourse. The only saving grace was that we got to see Inès, a giant sculpture of a beautiful sleeping cat. We finally found the lounge, which was huge and quite luxurious, but there wasn’t enough time to enjoy the champagne and hors d'oeuvres that were being served. Nonetheless, the lounge was a nice respite after our long walk. We soon had to leave, and we made our way to our gate where we boarded the plane into business class.

Inès Is a Very Big Kitty

The Air France Lounge at Charles de Gaulle

The service on Air France was even better than United, which is saying a lot, and the food was excellent. The flight attendant who served me throughout the meal was so attentive, kind, and thoughtful. I happened to mention that the crackers accompanying the appetizer were delicious, and he brought me another box. When I asked, he recommended a wine for the starter but suggested switching to a different one with the main course. Both were fabulous!

I Gladly Accepted a Glass of Champagne to Start

Appetizer - Pea and Mint Puree, Mixed Green Vegetables; Starter - Shrimp with Seaweed,
Piquillo Sauce, Curd Cheese Mousse with Basil, Toasted Hazelnuts

Main Course - Salmon with Slow-Cooked Vegetables; Cheese - Our PDO Selection;
Dessert - Lemon Nonnette, Opera Cake, Mango and Passion Fruit Macaron

Another flight attendant served me coffee after lunch, but the flight attendant who had previously taken care of me said that the coffee was cold and that he would bring me a hot espresso. And he did. Perhaps it was all the wine, but I told him this was the best flight I had ever been on. I cannot express how wonderful this experience was. What an amazing way to end our trip. Perhaps I need to drink more wine when I fly!

My Favorite Flight Attendant

I certainly wasn't expecting to lie down during the flight, but I decided to take a nap after all, and fully reclining was so nice. Can I ever go back to last class? Thank you, Tim, for jumping on the upgrade offer to business! 

I don’t watch movies during a flight, since I prefer to read, but I do enjoy watching the real-time in-flight map and data tracking. It’s fun for me to see where we are, how many miles to our destination, and our speed.

Almost Everything You Might Want to Know about the Flight

We'll Be Landing in Denver in 18 Minutes

When we were very close to Denver, I noticed that the plane made a sudden hard right turn. Soon the destination was changed from Denver to Salt Lake City. That’s odd. I thought it was a computer glitch, but sure enough, we were now heading to Salt Lake City, due to severe thunderstorms in the Denver area that forced a diversion.

Um, What's Going On?  Why Does the Destination Read Salt Lake City?

Surprisingly, I wasn’t even upset, but once again, I was so grateful we were in business class. It made everything so much easier to bear. We finally landed, but no one knew what was coming next. We could not get off the plane in Salt Lake City, but we refueled and finally left for Denver after a few hours. I kept hoping that we would make it in time for us catch the last Landline bus to Loveland. 

We finally arrived in Denver about four hours late. Unfortunately, because so many planes landed at the same time, the wait to pass through customs was about an hour. Although we had signed up for Mobile Passport Control, I don’t think it saved us any time at all. I guess it’s time to get Global Entry.

Yes, We Made It from Salt Lake City to Denver!

Even with the delay, Tim and I still had another long wait for the last Landline bus of the evening. The storm continued on our way to Loveland, with spectacular lightening. I had previously texted our wonderful neighbor Fran, who was going to pick us up, telling her not to worry about us since we would be getting in so late. But, because it was so late, we were not sure if we would be able to get an Uber or Lyft. Luckily, Lyft did respond, and Gary picked us up. We finally made it home after a very long day.

Our wonderful trip to France was over.

The Louvre, Finally

Happy Birthday to me! What a wonderful place to celebrate another year!

Tim and I got up a tiny bit earlier today, but we decided to stay in this morning. We finally walked over to the Louvre for our timed entry reservation, our last museum visit in France. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been to Paris about six times, but I had never visited the Louvre. Today, I would correct that omission. I also had not been to Paris since the construction of I.M. Pei’s Pyramid, so I was looking forward to seeing that as well.

The Louvre and Its Pyramid, from Outside and Inside

Sarah and Tim at the Louvre (We Still Haven't Mastered Selfies!)

Knowing that the Louvre is overwhelming even for those with lots of energy, Tim and I figured we’d need a strategy so as not to wander aimlessly around. On the museum’s website, we noticed several visitor trails. “The Louvre’s Masterpieces” sounded promising, and it was listed at only one-and-a-half hours to complete. “What exactly is a masterpiece? Follow this trail to find out!” We pulled up the trail on my phone, and we set out, happy to have step-by-step directions to follow.

Below is the Introduction to the trail for a little background:

Some artworks have survived over the centuries and made such a mark on history that we cannot imagine the world without them. Their influence has spread across borders and cultures, and to this day they continue to be distinguished by experts and admired by all. 

Where better than the Louvre to get a sense of the great artworks? The palace is home to some of the world’s most iconic pieces – paintings, sculptures, architectural elements and art objects by famous or anonymous artists of many different origins and eras. And no two masterpieces are alike.

The Louvre’s specialties include Greek sculpture, Italian painting, and French painting, and the Masterpieces trail mostly focuses on highlights from those collections. The trail includes the following eleven “steps,” and these are the masterpieces we discovered, as well as a few of our observations about them:

Ancient Masterpieces from the Royal Collections – The Caryatids

Four Roman-inspired caryatids support a musicians’ gallery in the Salle des Cariatides. These sculpted female figures serve as columns and were created by the sculptor Jean Goujon in 1550. This former ballroom is now where classical Greek and Roman sculptures are displayed, a practice begun during the Renaissance. I was a bit puzzled about the focus on the caryatids instead of on one or two of the ancient sculptures.

Ancient Masterpieces from the Royal Collections – The Caryatids

A Welcome Newcomer to the Louvre – Aphrodite, known as the Venus de Milo

This statue was found on the Greek island of Melos and presented to King Louis XVIII, who gave it to the Louvre in 1821. Venus de Milo is one of the best-preserved Greek statues in existence and a rare Greek original. She is quite the beauty in person.

A Welcome Newcomer to the Louvre – Aphrodite, known as the Venus de Milo

An Uplifting Sight – The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Standing at the top of the Daru staircase, The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a timeless icon of Western art, and its setting in the Louvre is spectacular. This statue depicts the goddess Victory, or Nike, alighting on the prow of a warship.

An Uplifting Sight – The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Italian Frescoes on the Walls of the Louvre – Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman

These Renaissance frescoes were created by the painter Sandro Botticelli, one of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance, and were discovered in 1873 during the renovation of a villa near Florence. Although the frescoes are beautiful, my eyes were drawn to the room itself and its magnificent ceiling.

Italian Frescoes on the Walls of the Louvre – Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman

The Making of Reputations – The Salon Carré

This step was a puzzle, until I learned that the masterpiece appears to be the history of the room itself. In the eighteenth century, the Salon Carré was used as an exhibition space for works by members of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Artists’ reputations were made or broken at these annual displays, and it was here that art criticism originated. Although the original ceiling and floor remain, the room itself bears no resemblance to its original glory. In fact, I found this room to be one of the least inspiring in the Louvre.

The Making of Reputations – The Salon Carré (Historic Image Courtesy of www.louvre.fr)

Treasures of the Italian Renaissance – The Grande Galerie

The Grande Galerie is a majestic, long hallway and the most famous room in the Louvre. Displayed here is an incredible collection of Italian paintings, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest Renaissance artists. The space was amazing, but I never seemed to focus on a single painting. Tim, however, did find da Vinci’s portrait of La Belle Ferronnière.

Treasures of the Italian Renaissance – The Grande Galerie

A Superstar…Facing a Crowd of 132 – Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Known as the Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa has always been the star attraction at the Louvre. In 1966, the Louvre chose to display Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece in the Salle des États, the largest room in the palace. Although the Mona Lisa may be the most famous painting in the world, neither Tim nor I was willing to wait in the long line to get a close-up view of her enigmatic smile. The image I was able to capture, therefore, is a bit out of focus.

A Superstar…Facing a Crowd of 132 – Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, Wife of Francesco del Giocondo,
Known as the Mona Lisa

Romanticism, Topicality, Sensuality… - The Raft of the Medusa

The Red Rooms display some of the largest paintings in the Louvre, including masterpieces by the greatest nineteenth-century French painters. Most of the works here are “history paintings,” which were traditionally regarded in France as the most important and prestigious. Théodore Géricault’s huge painting The Raft of the Medusa, a dramatic scene illustrating the recent wreck of a French ship, is one of the more unusual ones in this genre. Once again, my eyes were drawn to the elaborate ceiling in this room instead of the art.

By the time Tim and I reached this room, I was mostly “checking the box” and looking only at the specific masterpieces on the “trail.” Sadly, I learned later that I totally missed other French paintings in this room that I likely would have preferred to see.

Romanticism, Topicality, Sensuality… - The Raft of the Medusa

Imprisoned in Stone – Slaves (The Rebellious Slave and The Dying Slave)

The Michelangelo gallery houses masterpieces of Italian sculpture, including the artist’s famous Slaves. These two striking sculptures, which were never finished, illustrate the mix of realism and idealism at which Michelangelo excelled. The Dying Slave is displayed against a monumental portal, which is quite effective.

Imprisoned in Stone – Slaves (The Rebellious Slave and The Dying Slave)

Bringing Marble to Life – Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss

At the far end of the Michelangelo gallery is Antonio Canova’s amazing sculpture, Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. Canova specialized in delicate marble depictions of mythological episodes and managed to capture emotion in stone. I was really drawn to this one, and it was my favorite of all the masterpieces we saw.

Bringing Marble to Life – Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss

A Transparent Controversy – The Pyramid

I.M. Pei’s Pyramid sparked a tremendous amount of controversy during its construction between 1985 and 1989. Although some people feared the Louvre would be forever altered, in fact, the project followed an 800-year-old tradition of architectural transformations of the palace. Today, the pyramid is loved both by visitors and Parisians, and it has become a tourist attraction in its own right. This former eyesore is now regarded as a masterpiece.

A Transparent Controversy – The Pyramid

As expected, the crowds were much worse at the Louvre than other places we had been, and visiting the museum was almost too much for Tim and me, even with the guide. I’m glad I went, and I seemed to enjoy the architecture as much as the art, but I won’t be rushing back anytime soon.

We took a welcome break at the same café where we ate the first night and decided to share another pizza. I celebrated the completion of our tour of the Louvre with an Aperol spritz, since I had enjoyed the one I had on the Viking Fjorgyn. The French attention to detail that we have encountered everywhere still impresses me. Even at an outdoor café, a white cloth napkin was spread on our table for a tablecloth.

Tim and I had fun watching some type of photo shoot near us. Two beautifully dressed women were sitting at a table, and a young photographer was instructing them on how she wanted them to pose. Jacket on or off? Hair flipped back or forward? Glass in hand or on the table? It was all quite amusing, especially watching the expressions on the photographer’s face. 

Watching the Photo Shoot - I Loved the Photographer's Expressions

We arrived back at the hotel, and I decided to finally open the champagne that the hotel had given us on the first day. I enjoyed a glass, or two or three, as I finished packing. 

When I checked in with Air France for our return flight, we were offered an upgrade to business class for just over €300 each. When I mentioned the offer to Tim, he jumped at the chance. I sort of chuckled since we had agreed that premium economy was fine for a daytime flight and he’s usually more frugal than I. Once again, he totally surprised me, but I was totally on board with his decision. And why not?! Let’s end this trip in style, just the way we started!

A Surprise for Me in Paris

Tim and I slept late again and thought we were too late for breakfast. I really don’t think we were, but it didn’t seem to matter. The staff was so gracious and served us without a question. The hotel has worked out so well for us, and everyone here has been wonderful.

We decided to take another walk this morning, passing more expensive shops as we headed toward the La Madeleine, a Catholic church completed in 1842. The neoclassical design of La Madeleine is based on an actual Roman temple, La Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France. Fifty-two massive Corinthian columns surround the structure.

La Madeleine, and What It Might Have Looked Like

La Madeleine is another historic building that is currently under restoration, and the main portico was covered with scaffolding. Luckily, the northern façade was visible except for its column capitals. It was interesting that a panel on the fence describing the project included a drawing of an earlier proposal for the building. As we left, I could still recall our first guide’s advice to come back to Paris after the Olympics – every building will be renovated by then!

The upscale Madeleine neighborhood is known as one of the richest in Paris and is home to the stately Élysée Palace, the French President's official residence. Tim and I happened to walk by the palace when we got a bit lost, and we saw lots of police in front. Shortly after we arrived, the police cleared the sidewalk and blocked the road. I don’t know if President Macron was getting ready to leave the palace, but we did see members of the French Republican Guard Band lined up inside the gates, ready with their instruments.

Élysée Palace

As we continued walking, I happened to look in a shop window and did a double take – a display of Fornasetti pieces! Fornasetti is an Italian design company founded by Piero Fornasetti, a multi-faceted artist known for using fanciful motifs such as the sun, moon, playing cards, animals, and various Surrealist imagery to create thousands of objects. My friend Herbert introduced me to Fornasetti when I lived in Miami, and I have collected many pieces since then.

Tim and I couldn’t resist walking into the shop. What a treat! A lovely woman showed us around and told us about the original bar in the showroom, pointed out many of Fornasetti’s original drawings, and described the myriad of objects in the cases. It was all eye-candy for me!

I Had Never Seen So Many Fornasetti Pieces in One Place

We were just going to look, but Tim spied a lamp on the bar that caught his attention. I mentioned that tomorrow was my birthday, and perhaps he should pick out something for me. We hemmed and hawed, and Tim admitted that the lamp was the piece he wanted me to have. I had thought he might pick out just a small piece, but I was thrilled with the lamp. Best of all, the shop will ship it to us.

Don't Tell Anyone, But I Think Tim Wanted the Lamp for Himself as Much as He Wanted It for Me!

We left the shop with smiles on our faces and finally managed to get a bite to eat before our timed entry at the Musée de l’Orangerie. This museum is located in the west corner of the Jardin des Tuileries and is most famous as the permanent home of Monet’s Water Lilies. I’d been there on an earlier trip, but I was looking forward to visiting again, especially having just seen the actual water lily pond at Giverny.

Monet’s Water Lilies were painted between 1916 and 1926 as a gift for the French state, symbolizing peace at the end of World War I. The eight monumental paintings are hung across the curved walls of two elliptical rooms, exactly as Monet designed them to be displayed. Natural light from a glass roof fills the rooms, also as he specified. The paintings surround and encompass the viewer, and the effect is mesmerizing.

The Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie

Four of the Eight Water Lilies

I Love This Museum

Unfortunately, we did not have the energy to view the other collections. Instead, we walked back to our hotel through the Tuileries, picking up sandwiches on the way. We are certainly not partaking of any haute cuisine in Paris.

Musée d’Orsay

Tim and I were feeling much better today, but we still didn’t make it down to breakfast until 10:30 am! I think we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re only going to do a few things in Paris this time. Luckily, I’ve been here multiple times, and Tim is fine with whatever we’re able to do.

We decided that today would be a good time to visit the Musée d’Orsay, since timed entries were not required. We walked across the Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, the pedestrian bridge that links the Jardin des Tuileries with the Musée d’Orsay, and here, we noticed love locks on the bridge railings. Has this become the new location for a tradition that refuses to die, despite the efforts of the city? A vendor was even selling locks.

The Musée d’Orsay is located in the former Gare d’Orsay, a magnificent Beaux Arts railway station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The station was almost demolished in the early 1970s, but a decision was made in 1977 to create a museum within the space. Today, the Musée d’Orsay houses the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world.

A Visit to the Musée d'Orsay

Luckily, with our Museum Passes in hand, Tim and I didn’t have to wait to enter the museum, and I was immediately drawn to the incredible space within. I could appreciate the architecture almost as much as the art housed inside.

What an Incredible Space - Looking Out through the Clocks Is Quite Popular

We decided to start at the top with the Impressionist collection. The museum was so crowded that it was difficult to see some of the more famous paintings, and I accepted the fact that I would need to be patient.

If It's This Crowded in May, I Can't Imagine What It Will Be Like Later this Summer

Because of our recent visit to Giverny, I tended to focus on paintings by Monet. It was especially fun to see some of the paintings that he had produced there. I also enjoyed spotting paintings of other places we had visited, and I included examples of those in the earlier posts on those locations.

A Few Paintings by Monet

Other Important Impressionist Paintings 

We moved on to the post-Impressionism collection, where we found several of van Gogh’s paintings from his time in Arles, as well as one by Gaugin after he had arrived in Arles at the invitation of van Gogh.

Post-Impressionist Paintings by van Gogh and Others

Tim and I was so surprised when we stumbled upon the Accro-Chat-Ge Exhibition, a temporary exhibit all about cats! Although we knew that cats had been represented in art for as long as art has existed, it turns out that in the nineteenth century, they occupied a supreme place. No one else seemed interested in the exhibit, so Tim and I were able to enjoy the various representations of cats at our own pace.

We Loved the Cats

I also enjoyed the expansive views of Paris from the windows throughout the top floors before we made our way back to the lower level. By this time, Tim and I were both tired and decided to call it a day.

Views to the North

Views to the West

We Enjoyed Our Visit

We walked back across the Seine and had a late lunch of quiche at one of the cafés in the Jardin des Tuileries. After Tim found a place for ice cream, we returned to our hotel.

A Late Lunch in the Jardin des Tuileries

A Day of Rest, Mostly

Neither Tim nor I was feeling 100% this morning. Tim was beat, and I was also tired, but we did finally make it to breakfast by 10:30 am. The hotel had a lovely setup for breakfast. The table was set with a basket of wonderful pastries, croissants, and breads, and then other options, such as fruit cups, yogurt, meats, and cheeses were presented to us on trays. The café au lait was delicious. We could have ordered eggs or other items, but Tim and I were satisfied with just what was offered.

Breakfast at Hotel Tamise

We went back to room for a while but left so housekeeping could tidy our room. This morning, we walked along the Rue Saint-Honoré, one of the most luxurious and fashionable streets in the world thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house. 

We ended up at the Place Vendôme, one of the most beautiful squares in Paris and a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture. At the center of the square is the Vendôme Column, with a statue of Napoleon Bonaparte at its top.

Place Vendôme

Place Vendôme has long been a symbol of luxury and glamour, and it has become somewhat of an epicenter for fine jewelry. The buildings flanking the square house such renowned boutiques as Repossi, Piaget, Boucheron, and Chaumet. The Ritz hotel occupies the buildings on the west side. Tim loves looking at watches, and he had a great time window-shopping.

Neoclassical Buildings Line the Place Vendôme

Tim Thought It Was a Great Place to Window Shop for Watches

One of the shops on the square is Louis Vuitton's Paris flagship atelier, and its façade was covered with dozens of convex mirrors and flowers. I later learned that this French fashion brand has redecorated some of its stores all over the world to celebrate its collection with Yayoi Kusama, the “Princess of Polka Dots.” I also remembered seeing two other Louis Vuitton stores covered with colorful dots, as well as a colossal sculpture of the artist.

The Louis Vuitton Store on Place Vendôme

Other Louis Vuitton Stores in Paris

Tim and I returned to our hotel and napped all afternoon. We finally went out for dinner at Chez Flottes, a brasserie recommended by hotel. I didn’t realize that we needed a reservation, but we were able to be seated at the bar.

I wanted something simple and ordered Aubergine Rôtie Gratinée au Vieux Rodez and Tomate. Based on the description, I assumed that the dish would be similar to eggplant parmesan. When the server set the plate in front of me, I was shocked. It was a whole eggplant stuffed with tomato sauce and cheese. It was quite the sight! The eggplant was very good, but I could only finish a small portion of it.

Dinner at Chez Flottes

Paris Sights, People-Watching, and Café Culture

After a relatively uneventful ride through Paris traffic, our taxi dropped us off at Hotel Tamise. This small hotel, at just 19 rooms, is located on a quiet street just off the Rue de Rivoli overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries. It’s a perfect location for exploring the major sights in Paris, especially for first-time visitors like Tim.

Although I knew our room would not be ready, the staff at the hotel was nonetheless extremely welcoming at this early hour. After inviting us to sit down, we were offered coffee and breakfast pastries, and our luggage was quickly whisked away. We were told our room would be ready in an hour, so Tim and I set out to do a bit of exploring.

We walked to the Jardin des Tuileries, a public park located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. It is a popular place for strolls and is a cultural attraction for Parisians and tourists alike. The two ponds looked to be a wonderful place to relax, with people occupying many of the chairs. I found it interesting that as early as the eighteenth century, individual chairs replaced park benches because they were more comfortable. These green chairs have become an integral part of the parks in Paris.

Jardin des Tuileries

We walked through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde, located at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées. The centerpiece of the largest public square in Paris is the Luxor Obelisk, which the Egyptian government gave to the French in the nineteenth century. We dodged traffic to try and take a few photographs of the obelisk and the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

Place de la Concorde

We returned to Hotel Tamise and checked into our room. We were surprised at how spacious it was compared to many rooms in France, and we knew it would be just fine for five nights.

Hotel Tamise

After resting for a bit, we began our walk to Sainte-Chapelle for our timed entry. On the way, we stopped at an outdoor café for lunch. We ordered a croque monsieur (a hot sandwich made with ham and cheese) for madame (me) and a croque madame (a croque monsieur with the addition of a fried egg) for monsieur (Tim). Our server laughed, and we enjoyed the word play. 

Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most incredible churches I’ve ever visited, and I wanted Tim to experience the stunning beauty of its stained glass windows. Built between 1242 and 1248 for King Louis IX, Sainte-Chapelle is a gem of Gothic architecture on the Île de la Cité. We were lucky to visit on a sunny day so we could truly appreciate the dazzling display of the oldest stained glass in Paris.

Sainte-Chapelle

Dazzling Stained Glass Windows

The Rose Window

Unfortunately, it was very crowded, and sharing the space with hundreds of other visitors encouraged us to hasten our visit. Still, it was an amazing experience. Tim compared Sainte-Chapelle to the Sistine Chapel and said there was no comparison.

I Had to Include More Images of the Individual Stained Glass Windows

On the walk back to our hotel, Tim and I took a break at another café for coffee, wine, and crêpes. Here, we enjoyed people-watching, one of the most entrenched of Parisian pastimes. I enjoyed seeing the various flower shops with their sidewalk displays as we continued onwards.

Beautiful Sidewalk Displays - Even Paris Loves a Gnome

Tim and I both were very tired and looked forward to getting back to the hotel. Between the issues with my knee and Tim’s hips, I think we overdid the walking today. A brief nap was quite welcome.

We finally dragged ourselves up and out for an early dinner. We only wanted something simple, so we stopped at the nearby Café du Tuileries for pizza and wine, and some more people-watching. I think we’re really getting into Parisian café culture.