Ne plus du chocolat

Tonight's snack

Had a most excellent dinner!  Barratu salade avec saumon fumé et pomme frites (mozzarella salad with smoked salmon and French fries!). The mozzarella was so fresh I think they milked the cow this morning!  Sitting at an outdoor table watching the world go by with a backdrop of a wonderful church and flower market - this is Paris!

The only thing funnier looking then the dress of young English men (horrid!) is American men trying to pull off European man purses. Don't worry - they know we're American - just use a backpack!

So I came all the way to Paris to meet - Barry Bonds!  (He's a famous and/or infamous baseball player) Ha!  Go figure!  No pictures - wasn't time or place to ask and was more fun keeping it "real"!

The Tour comes tomorrow and set up continues!  Amazing the logistics in putting on that race - there are events within the events within the bike race!  Can't wait - hope I get a good spot and can see!  Unfortunately torrential rain is forecast!

Checked out another old church today - and was serenaded by the organ!  For some reason I didn't grab a cell phone picture to share but it was magical with the organ. OK for a little while - then it was too loud and, well irritating!  But really magical at first!

I've noticed that the churches seem a little, well self serving. They tend to be more monuments to royalty, saints, and the Virgin Mary than anything. Just an observation. But wow, from an architectural standpoint they are stunning. And not only the architecture, the frescos, paintings, sculptures, wood work. Amazing artistry. I suppose that is why they so captivate us 

And visited Le Petit Palais and the permanent exhibit in display there. Another beautiful building and wide ranging exhibit. I admit to being particular to the older realist paintings (peinture in French!). I found this one wall mesmerizing

I'm a terrible shopper period. Awful at shopping for souvenir gifts. Something has to really catch my eye. Plus I have the serious limitation of one carry on bag. So no huile, vin, parfum, etc.  But I had good intentions right?!  

But chocolat - that I enjoy shopping for. Although right now - ne plus du chocolat (no more chocolate). Perhaps starting with Angelina's chocolat chaud wasn't the smartest. Then samples at each artisian chocolatier I could find quite seriously put me over the top (well I had already purchased the eclair so I had to finish it - it was just to top off the excellent dinner!). I walked all over and had a blast. A couple conversations were all in French so who knows what I committed to!  I'll share the chocolat next time we're all together!  It's some wonderful chocolate. And for those of you not liking chocolat noir I also purchased a selection of chocolat lait. And for the hard core a 100% cacao!

Great day!  But they all are, in Paris!

Look for me on TV tomorrow!  I'll be the one along the barriers taking photos!  Hahahaha me and 500,000 other people!

That's all for now!