Dimanche

Sundays in Paris can be a little strange. Everything is closed, there is no one much around, and there isn't alot to do except hang out with friends and eat. The sunday before last I had a true Sunday in Paris. The day started at the Baron Rouge, an old style wine bar near Bastille which still has the old oak barrels of wine from which you can fill empty bottles. I went there with VikiLee her husband and a friend of her's from australia, as well as a few other friend's of hers that live in the area. At this time of year (oyster season) they sell huge plates of fresh oysters out the front. I didn't eat the oysters but I did go for a cheese plate which came with three huge chunks of different gooey moldy cheeses, which looked a bit weird but tasted amazing and drank some gorgeous sancerre (both white and red) and some brouilly.

After that we went to a nearby bistro which still has the original decor from 1900. It is not flashy but it is gorgeous.We had a huge meal there which (in true french style) lasted several hours and included several bottles of gamme (red wine) followed by a digestif, I had an absolutely amazing raspberry digestif that I have never tasted before. We finished off the day at nearby bar and drank cheap cocktails.

Last sunday wasn't quite so indulgent, but I spent the entire afternoon waking around my new quartier, taking advantage of the unusually mild autumn to spend an entire afternoon outdoors. There were heaps of little streets I had never ventured down before and all of them were gorgeous. I am now really living in "Postcard Paris". The 5th is one of the more exclusive quartiers in Paris but, being in a university area, there are heaps of second hand book stores, independant music stores, and cosy cafes, mixed in with exclusive boutiques and flashy restaurants. The latin quartier and the pantheon are only a 10 minute walk away but I tend to avoid those areas as they very crowded and touristy, my corner of the 5th is much more residential. In a park just near my appartment I stumbled upon the ruins of an ancient arena from 195. I also found a vegetarian cafe (very rare in Paris) down a little side street, and a cave à vins (wine store) which is open on sundays (extremely rare). I ended the day on rue moufftard (a famous and gorgeous little street behind the pantheon) where I met up with alison for a cheap meal of cheese fondue.