Friday flânerie

Last Friday, I did some wandering in the Latin quarter. It's an area of Paris I really enjoy, and I haven't spent much time there this visit for unknown reasons.

I took a bus over to Rue Vavin, a delightful little street that connects to the Jardin du Luxembourg. I decided to eat lunch at the Café Vavin. It's a little corner café that Marc likes, and I've only been there once before, when my book club went there to celebrate Jana's birthday. It had been awhile since I sat down and ate something besides a sandwich, and they had a lunch menu for 14,90 euros, so that sealed the deal.

The special was veau Grand-mère -- literally Grandma's veal, or veal cooked Grandma-style. It was absolutely delicious, as were the mashed potatoes (not the usual French-style purée, runnier than we're used to, but pleasantly lumpy). It totally cracked me up that they put guacamole and tortilla chips on the side. What the? That didn't seem to go at all, but at least it was really good guacamole...

There was a choice of desserts, and I chose chocolate mousse. I chose well, because I think it might have been the best chocolate mousse I've ever had.

I loved sitting out on the sidewalk, watching the people go by. I also pulled out the cute little polka-dot notebook Hannah gave me and made some notes and sketches of things I didn't want to forget (like the darling family tree toy I saw at Du Pareil au Même, a favorite children's clothing store).

I couldn't take pictures inside, but luckily they had these owls in the window display. I love them! They come in all different colors and patterns and they don't look too hard to reproduce, either.

I thought this felt window display was a cute idea, too. Right as I was focusing my camera, a saleslady came over and thrust her arm in front of the display, so as to ruin my photo, but fortunately I snapped it super-fast and got an armless photo. HA! Take that, killjoy!

A nearby florist had these decorative cabbages out with the roses. I love their colors!

This photo shows some of the ubiquitous signs of Paris. RATP is the symbol for the transportation department, bus or metro. Tabac indicates a tobacco shop, where you can also buy stamps. Loto is for lottery tickets, also available in a tabac. Also visible in the background are bank, coiffeur, clothing store, and pharmacy signs.

I rediscovered a fun plastics store that I remembered from our first sojourn in Paris. One side has brightly-colored plastic items of all sorts, and the other has oilcloth (plastified) fabrics. I really loved these plates, which show princesses recounting the many ways in which they demonstrate good table manners. There was a boys' set as well.

For you, Mom! I've seen quite a few peace sign motifs in Paris as well. Here, on a hot pink shopping cart.

I bought a meter of this fabric to make a bag. Or something. Boy, was it hard to decide.

When I stepped outside and saw that this crêperie had purchased this green dot fabric to use as tablecloths, I half regretted my decision. I'm a sucker for polka-dots. And green. (I think I was trying to branch out. But occasionally branching out is regrettable...)

This window display made me think of you, Denise!

Why are small things so pleasingly cute? I wanted all of these tiny ceramic dishes.

I passed by these vanilla cakes cooling in a bakery window and was struck by the presentation. I think having a vanilla bean sticking out is brilliant!

And then, suddenly, there I was in front of Pierre Hermé. One can hardly just walk by Pierre Hermé, so I went in and bought some macarons. I shared them with Max and Marc later, and discovered that the white one that I bought because it was irresistibly iridescent was truffle-flavored. As in, truffle mushrooms. Luckily, Max and I shared that one, because at least we like mushrooms. But not so much savory macarons. Sorry, Pierre.

I enjoyed seeing these accessories, made out of one of my favorite Liberty of London fabrics. I would love to make Eva a spring dress out of that pink dandelion print!

I stumbled upon a nearly-invisible passageway I'd never seen before, complete with Christmas lights. This is the kind of thing I love about Paris, these little picturesque discoveries.

I saw this line of rubber ducks in two different stores that day. Sure it's cute to see rubber duckies in polka-dots or peace signs or skulls, etc. But here's the kicker: 15 euros. That's over $20, peeps. Who in their right mind would spend that for a rubber duck? I don't get it.

This store also had an Eiffel Tower cookie cutter that I was coveting, but when I discovered that it was also 15 euros, I had to pass. I just couldn't justify spending that much for a smallish, aluminum cookie cutter. But just imagine those cookies...

I found this herb shop I had read about online. Apparently herbal teas here are sold in herb stores. The thing is, the herb stores are medicinal in nature. So the saleslady just did not seem to get that I was looking for a tea that just tastes good, not for some specific remedy. Anyway, I did get some. It's not the best tea I've ever had, but it's good, and I have been enjoying having a soothing cup of tea.

While waiting for my bus, I walked into one of the many tourist shops and found at least 3 more scarves I wouldn't mind buying... I just don't know how many scarves I can justify having, especially when I don't need them as much as home.

The sun going down on Notre Dame and neighborhood...