Paris - Quatrième Jour (Fourth Day)

Is that a lesbian couple making out? - 'moi'

A sliver of sunlight peaked through the double window's screen, announcing the arrival of a new day. The small fan whirred softly on top of the dresser, airing our quaint room with an invigorating breeze. I've neglected to mention that a/c is not one of our hotel room's amenities. Despite the lack of a/c, the room is surprisingly cool owing to the fact that the hotel sits on a slight incline with the room's position sheltered from direct sunlight.

We planned to take it easy on the fourth day, after a gruelling walkathon session around the city on the third day. To paraphrase Ruby Ahmad, an unstructured day lazing by Paris' famous garden, Jardin Des Tuileries and strolling and unwinding by the riverbank.

Sick of street food - baguettes galore - which we consumed for dinner in the past two days, hubby bought some scrumptious Moroccan fare at a restaurant near our hotel ton the third night. As wont, the food was emporter (take away/to go in English) for our gluttonous consumption in the room. The veal Tajine (or Tagine) dish hit the spot and we slept like a baby that night.

First of firsts, we commenced the fourth day's excursion by scouring Printemps and Galeries Lafayette in order to find a suitable toy/souvenir for Sadia. Due to some renovation works, the selection in Printemps was limited and bland. However, Printemps didn't wholly disappoint since I managed to procure the much-touted Ladurée divine macaroons. Three crumbly mouth-watering chocolate macaroons.

We thereon adjourned to the neighbouring and favourite department store, Galeries and were pleased with the wide range of toys and other knick-knacks on the same floor as Lina's Cafe. Kill two birds with one stone. Eat and shop!

Like a fish to water, Sadia was delighted by the array of playthings colourfully organised on various tables and shelves. Her favourites were undoubtably the soft toys which she hugged one after the other. Also, there were the deftly-crafted wooden rocking horses, one of which Sadia happily mounted. Predictably, with her short attention span, she hopped off and scurried over to another row of table on which she cuddled some more of the soft toys. When Sadia yanked out a big teddy bear from his place on the display, a stocky old lady stopped in her tracks and reprimanded us in French. Eventhough I couldn't understand her, her glower was universal in its expression. And yet she was not wearing any badge or insignia which says she's a staff. Strangely enough, the staff need not don any uniform, nor an ID tag.

I promptly took Sadia away to find hubby who was checking out the interactive toys on a different section of the floor. It was time for lunch. Since Sadia's mind was however still on those exquisite toys, we took turns eating. When Sadia checked out the rocking horse again, that same glumfaced woman was in the vicinity and as soon as Sadia came off the horse, she picked it up and angrily put it back at its correct spot. She was showing a female customer some toy options on the adjacent shelf and I guess we're in her way. But there's no need to be so rude! Even the customer was a bit uneasy. I think Galeries should re-think their hiring policy especially for those assigned to the children's section. Not some sullen middle-aged worker please!

Amid Sadia's cacophonic cry, we exited Galeries and re-entered the Metro for our first stop - Place de La Concorde, the largest square in Paris with a 23-meter tall obelisk as its centerpiece. The 3,300 year-old Luxor obelisk is originated from temple of Ramses II at Thebes and is flanked by two fountains. Geographically, it is located between the Tuileries Garden on its east and the Champs-Elysées on its west.





After we resurfaced from underground however, the Place de la Concorde was cordoned off from tourists and locals alike due to some road construction. Bummer! As such, we only snapped some photos from afar. With the Tuileries right at its doorstep, we ambled around its 'hallowed' grounds, absorbing the lovely ambience and pleasant scenery. There were trampoline site for kids as well as a mini amusement park complete with bumper cars, merry-go-round and various rides for all ages. Fancy a pony ride around the Garden? That could also be arranged for a price. We chose to rest at an alfresco cafe near a small pond, ordering coffee and iced tea at Paris-inflated prices. Whilst Sadia satisfied her curiousity by walking with her Yayah towards the amusement rides, I wolfed down one of them macaroons. Fluffy with a generous amount of chocolate filling. :)











With Sadia refusing to take her nap, we decided to walk down to the other end of the Garden and came upon a resplendent white ferris wheel on our lefthand side. It was an awesome sight to behold with another stately fountain standing right across it. One thing to bear in mind while visiting Tuileries Garden is that one is not permitted to step anywhere on the grass, which to me, somewhat marred the whole Garden experience. I reckon the high cost of maintaining the Garden hinders its visitors from walking and rolling on the grass. A small girl with pale complexion and Annie-like curly hair crossed our paths near the fountain. I couldn't help but to capture the eye-catching locks!






We sauntered further down to see up close the Arc de Triomphe de Carrousel (not to be mistaken with the famous Arc De Triomphe itself). A triumphal arch, it was commissioned to commemorate France's military victories under Emperor Napoleon 1. The arch's detailed carvings and intricate bas reliefs attest to the French's uncompromising aesthetic. On the opposite end of the triumphal arch is Musee de Louvre. I was however not prepared for the dusty, gravelly pathway leading to the triumphal arch which coupled with the stifling heat, induced us to leave the area almost immediately.




By the time we hit the pedestrian walkway along the River Seine, Sadia dozed off without any protest forthcoming. Along the way, we passed La Passerelle des Arts (loosely translated as The Bridge of Arts) which beckoned us to tread on its wooden planks. Paris' first iron bridge, it is the only pedestrian bridge crossing over the River Seine, inviting patrons to sit down and immerse in the panoramic view.





Our leisurely walk proved to be cumbersome as our backs (more often hubby's back) would fall victim to Sadia falling asleep either in our arms or on our shoulders. Thus, the very delicate act of transferring her to the stroller must be well-timed as well as quietly executed. So where can such an apropos maneuver be done? From our vantage point on the narrow passageway, the extensive riverside promenade down below offered a perfect spot for Sadia to sleep for a longer period. We descended the wobbly cobblestone path down to the riverside and promptly seated ourselves on the ancient wall of the riverbank.




Aside from the breathtaking view by the river, a gamut of activities across the bank amused us immensely. An old man sunbathing in his underpants and a young couple - lesbian-looking according to our poor eyesight - all over each other, oblivious to people's stare and prying eyes. On our side of the river, a young man just solicited a sexy woman - halter top, well-endowed, tight jeans (you get the rough idea) - to join him and his friend for a drink and smoke to which she readily accepted. Wow! That was so easy! We also witnessed a Jewish guy donning a yarmulke getting hot and heavy with his girlfriend on a bench. I wonder if the orthodox French Jews have anything similar to JAIS, JAPP or JAWI in Malaysia. :)

Paris' humble beginnings can be traced to the river where people congregate for recreational, commercial and intellectual purposes. It is therefore no surprise that the people continue this tradition and enliven the banks with their respective 'places in the sun'. By the by, as it turned out, the alleged lesbian couple was in fact heterosexuals who parted ways with a series of amorous kisses. Ahh Paree!

After two hours of idleness lulled by the tranquility and breezy atmosphere, we left for the pier further down the road from which we were to board a sightseeing boat. We chose a small vessel under the service of Bateaux Parisiens for a one-hour boat cruise along the River Seine and back again to our loading point.

Together with the rest of the tourists, we initially sat outside on one of the row of seats. But being typical Malaysians/Asians, the unbearable hot sun caused us to find shelter inside, albeit a tad noisy from the sound of the roaring engine. It drowned out the English commentary from the female staff on board who took a fancy to Sadia. It would be an understatement to say that Sadia was fully roused out of her nap by the boat cruise. Moreover, the fancy macaroon restored her mood, so much so that her face was covered with chocolate streaks!

Among the memorable scenes we saw were the imposing Eiffel Tower, of course (do click here for a view), the heavily adorned Art Nouveau Le pont Alexandre III (or Bridge of Alexander III) and a line of nude sunbathers by the riverbank!






















Yielding to the call of our waning energy level, we decided to skip the plan to view Eiffel Tower at night and moved straight to buying dinner at the lively Latin Quarter, evocative of a small village setting thanks in part to its winding streets and an eclectic mix of patrons - from the professionals, to the academe, to the laymen. Rue Mouffetard remains as the main artery to traverse, with a bevy of interesting shops, international restaurants, student bars and cafés. We bumped into that lustful young Jewish couple here. Talk about small world!

Baguette with tuna (again) for three out of four nights, I slumbered to the lip-smacking image of nasi ayam in my dream. Can't wait to go home.....