Exploring the streets of Paris

We woke up to rain and pretty morning clouds. We got an early start and walked to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Getting there early worked to our advantage as there were fewer crowds and we were even able to attend Sunday Mass. The architecture is stunning and a treat to photograph. Be sure to take the trek up to the top to take in the views. After working up an appetite we had our first Parisian breakfast at Coffee Colonnade near the Louvre. It included croissants, baguette with butter and fig jam, omelettes and cappuccinos, so delicious. We took a scenic river boat cruise up the Siene to the Eiffel Tower where we took in the sights. The river cruise was well worth the 17 euros for a full day pass, it offers a great view of the city and takes you to all the tourist hot spots in a relatively short amount of time. We then made our way down the river to the Tulileries Garden which was lush and green with recent April showers. For dinner, we popped into the cafè Relais Odèon just below our apartment, where we enjoyed some amazing soup and risotto. All in all, it was the perfect first full day in Paris.

View from our Apartment 

Notre Dame 

A day of first in Paris