Day 2 (10/29/13)

For the love of brunch!  We are ready to go on our 2nd day in Paris.  The weather is amazing.  A crispness in the air and the smell of fall lingering in the background. Its a Tuesday and pretty quite this morning.  We set off around 10 knowing that there is brunch on the horizon. 

Jeremy was QUITE the skilled food-looker-upper (yes that is the technical term).  He found a list of the best brunches in Paris (which is apparently a new concept this city) and Coco & Co was one of them.  They changed there name somewhere along the way but we found it under Eggs & Co and decided it looked like it was worth the trip!  (take a look at the website and you will see why we went! Eggs & Co) 

Speaking of worth the trip...  We have to mention that one of the BEST parts about traveling around Paris were all the musicians in the metro stations and on the trains.  They would play in the halls or hop on to your section at one of the stops and play.  Of course they would ask for money and I know its silly but I wanted to give them every thing we had each time I heard them.  Our first encounter with this was this very morning.  He was kind enough to let me take his picture and I, of course, dropped a couple euros in his case in return.  It was the most magical sound -- the accordion playing french music by a little old man in the metro...  lol  I was in love already!

  

 

 Back to brunch! Let me first say that this bistro is located in the 6th arrondissement in a neighboorhood called St. Germaine.  This would turn out to be our most favorite arrondissement and one in which we spent a great deal of time.  This, to us, felt like classic Paris.  Tiny side streets full of cafes and art galleries and one big "rue" with tons of shops to explore and art everywhere.  I didnt stop long enough to see what this piece was - but it was really amazing and was a great way to welcome us to the "hood."

walking to brunch from the metro - in awe of all the architecture

We really enjoyed our walk to breakfast... there was so much to see and all the cream colored buildings and narrow streets just made us feel like we had found our way home for the first time.  If I close my eyes I can still hear all the noises, and birds and people speaking to each other on the side of the road. More romantic than anything we had ever experienced. 

Side note: This blog is just as much for us as it is for you so if you were expecting short and sweet posts -- well then you are in for a surprise!

Nous en sommes arrivés à EGGS & CO!  Little did we know... this was about to blow every brunch/breakfast we have ever had out of the water.  Jeremy and I have taken a ton of pictures of storefronts and cafes to get ideas for our own cafe -- I always told him I loved simple black white and red -- and Ill be damned if this place didnt seem like perfection already!

We walk in and I almost thought that this was just a walk-in boulangerie since the only thing there was room for was a counter and a bathroom!  We are greated by the most ADORABLE man and we tell him we have 2 for brunch!  He leads us up the tiniest most narrow staircase into this upper level with 5-6 tables then asks if we want to sit up top -- I have no idea what he means but OK!  Lets go for it!  A few more steps up and we enter a room with ceilings so low we almost had to duck to get in and walk bent over to get to the table.  We didn't care -- this is the CUTEST PLACE EVER!  White walls, beams in the ceilding, old windows, black cafe tables with red napkins.  I was in love!

Where we sat there was a little -- hmmm best I can think of is diorama -- of an old chicken coop french country style.  I nearly died of cuteness.  We were in heaven -- just the best surprise of the morning.

The adorable waiter came back up and took our order and we were promptly served our green tea and fresh squeezed oj...  And this Orange juice... OMG the best I have ever tasted.  I've never eaten an orange that good let alone the juice... holy CRAP!  Either way -- Jeremy and I cheers (as we usually do with every meal) and we say a few words about how awesome this is already!

What we are about to receive will blow our minds!

Are you kidding me!???  This is not only the best benedict I've ever and will ever have.... but I actually enjoyed a salad with my breakfast and the creme fraiche and the perfect little potatoes... I dont think Jeremy and I said anything for a while.  Just really took our time and savored every morsel there was.  I dont even think they really needed to wash the dishes after we were done.  My mouth is watering just looking at the pictures and remembering that flavor.  (I tried to recreate this once we got home -- it was good -- but not THIS good -- something about theirs just tasted richer)

I got the perfect picture of Jeremy after we finished (and were waiting for breakfast dessert).  I dont think I have ever seen him more content....

This makes me smile just looking at it.  We felt like this the whole trip. C'est parfait!

Breakfast dessert was a pancake and fresh fruit with syrup that was cultivated in the alps... I died.

After we finished we went downstairs (carefully) to pay and the man behind the counter spoke english.  He told me that the waiter thought my french was wonderful and that it was his pleasure to serve us.  He was standing there so I turned around and shook his hand and hold him how wonderful our meal was and how much we enjoyed our time.  He told me that no one has ever given him a hand shake and thanked him!  I was pleased to be the first!  I tried really hard not to hug him...   Little did I know that when we stepped outside to take a picture - he would make sure I didnt forget him.

I had no idea he was there -- he grabbed the camera from Jeremy and showed me and then gave me a hug!  Best waiter ever!

We will never forget this place or that breakfast for the rest of our lives.

SHEESH!  We are only just now finished breakfast and its probably 12:30 pm...  I think I could get used to these 2 hour meals!  Its not like here -- they dont hand you the check in the middle of eating your meal... you practically have to beg for it after sitting there with out any food left for 20 min!

The rest of the afternoon was lovely! We were close to a record store Jeremy wanted to visit, Superfly Records, so we took off walking and after wandering a bit found ourselves in front of the store on a quiet little street away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. While here, I discovered a funk/soul/jazz artist by the name of Bea Benjamin and I am now obsessed with finding more of her stuff!  If you have a chance to look up AFRICAN SONGBIRD - its really quite amazing. The owner was really nice and played all kinds of interesting things for us.  It was a really nice experience.  And I know Jeremy enjoyed himself!

Jeremy in front of Superfly records

Miles Davis: Bitches Brew artwork on the wall of the store.

Side Note: Jeremy is going to write a separate post on his experiences record shopping in Paris so stay tuned for that!

After the record store we decided to just take off walking and see what we found.  We wandered into the 10th arrondissement and happened upon some amazing architecture!  There was so much to see!  And this was just one road!

Ponte St-Martin: built in 1674 shortly after the completion of the nearby Porte St-Denis, the Porte St-Martin celebrates Louis XIV's victories over German, Spanish, and Dutch forces.

In 1837, Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas get the Duke of Orleans to approve the building of a new theater. Much of the art in the building is in the Art Nouveau style!!  It opened its doors for the first time on Nov 8th 1838.

In the early 19th century, a city worker and a barracks for the municipal guard occupied this place.
The barracks, burned in 1848, was replaced by the former Town Hall of the fifth district, which in 1860 became the
Town Hall of 10th arrondissement. The building was very damaged and a competition was organized to build a new one. The winner was Eugène Rouyer. The construction began in 1892 and the new Town Hall was inaugurated on
February 28, 1896 by President Félix Faure.

Église Saint-Laurent: Built on a historical site, the church as been built and rebuilt over the centuries. 
In the 6th century this site was the location of a church, monastery and gardens. 
The basic building dates from 1621 and has had many architectural elements added over the past 400 years. 
The gothic facade was added under Napoleon III by architect Constant-Dufeux

After an amazing day we headed back to the apartment for some pre-dinner wine and terrace time before deciding where we would go for dinner.  Almost all of our meals were spontaneous and never planned.  Just whatever we stumbled into or found at the last minute.

our sun set view from the terrace -- we never get sick of this

We did a little research and found that this was one of the most popular bars/brasseries in town and it wasnt far from us.  We hopped on the metro and in no time we were at dinner!  Not to mention is was conveniently located next to the metro station therefore very easy to find!

They had no problem seating us -- although the tables were so tight that they had to pull it all the way out for me to squeeze in to sit.  Didnt bother me -- the cosy atmosphere and all the people talking and the strange 80's french music videos on in the backkground made for quite and experience. 

So I think I have ordered a meat and cheese board and the duck entree to share -- as you can see... there is no cheese here.  I dont know what I ordered but it was AWESOME!  VERY rich so we couldnt eat all of it but Jeremy was happy to split that and the duck with me.  PS - my first time eating duck.  It was amazing!  The honey mustard wine sauce that went with it was almost good enough to rub on my face.

After such a rich and tasty meal we decided it was a nice night and took a walk to the Eiffel Tower (which was not far).  We strolled down the street as if time stood still just for us.  People laughing. a little chill in the air, smell of espresso wofting out of the cafes... we held each other closer as we headed through the park toward the tower. Other couples kissing on the benches just made us want to do the same -- we snuggled closer and just as we thought it couldnt get better than this -- we saw her!

Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of the day I would stand in front of this iconic tower.  I never thought it would happen.  And here we are - together - arm in arm - admiring how far we have come and how important this is.  He kissed me and told me he loved me and for the first time in my whole life everything in my world was perfect.

It was an epic day... little did we know that what we had coming up the next day would be even better.