L’Arc de Triomphe today, and what a day it was! Again, like the Eiffel Tower day/evening, I am so glad I did this. It was an insanely windy, and also brisk with blue skies. I spent a lot of time at the top (la Terrasse), and some time in the souvenir gift shop, too. <wink> I just didn’t want to leave. I loved watching the change of shadows, and took in the views from all sides. Montmartre really stands out. Sacré-Coeur at the top of Montmartre is stunningly clear from up there. I well remember receiving Holy Communion there last spring.

I worked my way home on the Métro, buying another carnet of tickets. I will need them for two other museum trips I booked for myself because both exhibitions are only here for a limited time. They are: Schiaparelli (nod to my niece, Emily), and Frida Kahlo, respectively. Tickets were hard to get for both, especially Frida. Alliance Française organized a trip to see it, but I couldn’t get in! The event was full almost immediately, so I went online and was secured a ticket for myself late next week, in between class days. Schiaparelli leaves at the end of the week, so I’m going on Tuesday.

OMG, I just checked my health app, and it shows that I climbed 30 floors today. LOL! That tight spiral of stairs in L’Arc de Triomphe seemed endless at times, but whoever was ahead of me set a great pace. It was exhilarating! Lots of laughs (and a few grunts) could be heard as we journeyed to the top. (There is an elevator for children, those less inclined, or anyone infirm.)

Métro Line 1, with a change of platforms at Châtelet to Line 4, and I was on my way home. I was going to treat myself, but the corner bistro near the Saint-Sulpice Métro is closed on Sundays, so I stopped in the grocery store and picked up a few items. I was quite hungry – must have been all those stairs! – so I’m enjoying a nice hot Cup O Noodles as I write – Poulet à la Asiatique, if you must know. Delish.

As I said, I spent a lot of time there. I texted my family even though it was early morning back home – and texted my bestie, too, since we enjoyed Paris together last spring. When we were little, we could never have imagined being able to “talk” to each other live from Paris. I was able to send her photos and we really both felt nostalgic for last spring when we were visiting Dior and others sur l’Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The Avenue of Elysian Fields – a paradise in Greek Mythology. I’ll say.

Listening to the bells of Saint-Sulpice as I type. A beautiful end to a lovely Sunday.