Hey, you want to go to Paris?

Tuesday September 20th.  Lunch.  I ask "work spouse" DD about a weekend trip to Paris.  I knew the answer would be YES.  And we were off.....

Hello, Paris!

The genesis of the trip came from a Facebook exchange I had with Vern (left) who mentioned that he was going to be in Paris for his birthday with his boyfriend Anch.  Paris and birthday....of course I'm there.

The four of us spent the afternoon walking along the Promenade Plantee Park, which is an old elevated railway turned into a pedestrian walkway....think NYC's High Line.

One of the things I love about Paris is not only the people watching, the the "building watching."  This building with naked men along it has a police station on the ground floor.

I'll take the apartment with that top terrace!

DD and I committed to a "carbs and proteins ONLY" diet this Paris weekend.  We did pretty well!  The reason there are so many more pictures of me than normal is because DD is willing to play photographer.

After our walk, Anch and Vern had to take care of some errands so DD and I went to Montmartre.

Sitting at the highest point in Paris, Sacre Coeur is the "star" of Montmartre.  It was actually only finished in 1870 and there has been someone praying continuously since that time.

 

It's something to do to rub the foot of St. Peter's.  In both Sacre Coeur and St. Pierre-de-Montmartre.

Looking down the backside (North) of Montmartre.

Here we have St. Denis, the patron saint of Paris.  Legend has it that in 250AD, when the Christians were being persecuted, Denis had his head chopped off, then promptly picked it up and walked another 10km, preaching the entire way.

Three times I've been to Paris in the past six months.  Perfect weather each time.  Sunset light in Montmartre......

Who's Dalida?  I certainly didn't know, but in asking my European colleagues back in Rome, they all swooned.  Turns out she was an Egyptian born of Italian descent who was a naturalized French citizen who was a HUGE singer in the 50's, 60's and 70's.  She brought DISCO to France.  Sadly, she committed suicide in 1987 and this bust commemorates her in a plaza near her home in Montmartre.

We'll have to thank DD for taking one for the team here.  Art gallery and I was hungry.  I spied munchies and barreled my way in right to the spread.  DD tactfully spent a few minutes talking to the artist about the "inspiration" of the work.  Really, we both just saw sponges dipped in water colors thrown onto canvas.

At the base of Montmartre, the famed Moulin Rouge.

Vern's birthday dinner took place under the beautiful cupola and lavender tree of Brasserie Bofinger (Yes EC, it was a repeat!) in the Marais, near Bastille.

Protein......steak tartar, which I LOVE!

Sunday morning, perfect weather and time to rent bikes and ride through Paris.

I WISH I had a yellow shirt/jersey on as I am doing my best Lance Armstrong impression riding my bike up the Champs- Elysees.

We'll depart from Paris with this beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero.