Stands for the Heat in Paris

 Hi everyone, I'm still slowly returning to something like a normal routine. You may not think so if you read my TIOT post today, but really I am!!

The heat in Paris was fierce but it wasn't going to stop my Granddaughter and I visiting the sights!

Thursday was Le 14 Juliet  - known as Bastille Day by English speaking visitors to France, but known as Féte Nationale Français by the French. 

We had watched some of the Military parade on TV while getting ready to go out so I decided that our first stop should be Place de la Bastille for a short history lesson. We walked along Rue Antoine where there are many reminders about the revolution. 

Place des Vosges used to be named Place Royale until after the revolution, when it's name was changed to honour the place to be the first to pay taxes to Napoleon's newly formed government.

We stopped off at this restaurant - The Place Royale - we were shown to a shady spot under the second archway from the right. There was a lovely cool breeze blowing and we chatted and did some eavesdropping and people watching.

I spotted the chalked specials board come out and thought we should move on, but that breeze was so welcome that I decided to take a look.

I asked if we could just have a starter and dessert - of course it was OK!  There was something there for me - Onion and anchovy tart but Emily wasn't so keen on anchovies. Our waiter very helpfully fetched the main menu and suggested a vegetable tart for her. It turned out that this was her favourite meal of the whole trip.

We did have a dessert but I didn't take photos -so here we are after our meal. The drinks on our table were Coke for Emily and Tonic water for me. As is usual in France we also had water. 

I'm sharing these pics at 'T Stands for Tuesday', where Bleubeard and Elizabeth are inviting your drink related posts. (Elizabeth - the coke did arrive in a glass bottle but was poured into glasses and whizzed away!)

Refreshed, we took a walk in Place des Vosges

  

This statue of Louis Xlll is a replica of one destroyed during the revolution

There is plant of shade for those that want it, although there were plenty of people sunbathing too!

There are two fountains too - we hoped to get splashed  but the breeze wasn't strong enough to blow the water our way!

We walked to the nearest Metro 

The bears made us smile.

I'm sure you can tell where we went next!

The queues are much bigger that I remembered them from years ago but we did get to see The Mona Lisa. It just so happened that there was free entry to the Louvre to celebrate Bastille day (hence the huge amount of people

Ive deliberately left this as a small image because (if you haven't already seen it) it is quite a small portrait)

Emily loved walking through the galleries with huge paintings in them and she also loved being inside the pyramid.

We ventured into the heat outside for more photos

..and then back inside again to go to the Metro.

Here is a different view of one of my favourite shops...

...and a familiar view from inside

Emily was suitably impressed with this.

We looked at some skirts - the cheapest we could find was £420 and we didn't even like it (Emily said she might pay £20 for it!

We drooled over the Tiffany jewellery - prices in the thousands!

During the Summer several outlets are providing seats where customers are invited to strike a pose - a chance too good to miss for this Miss.

Having had our treat in the restaurant (worry not there will be pictures next week) we set off to our next destination! 

We walked toward Pont Neuf and the Metro - it was going to be a great evening!

More next Tuesday!

Thanks for looking, Chris