Paris redux

We are back in Paris after a really wonderful stay in Florence.  Despite the bad weather for the last couple of days there, we managed to get out and about and to see and be seen.  On Wednesday, our last day, it rained off and on but we headed out, umbrellas at the ready, on a final tour of this marvelous city.  First stop was Santa Croce, only two blocks from the apartment.  This is it's rather stark facade.

It's in the usual Florentine style of almost all of the big churches in the city.  Because of the rain the piazza wasn't too crowed and we could walk around to get a good view.

Next we walked over to the  Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi for a last big bite of beauty.  It was absolutely mobbed.

We walked through the colonnaded street to the Arno River and down toward the Ponte Vecchio.

What were once apartments for the uber rich are now jewelry stores for the uber, uber rich.  We strolled (as best we could, given the press of tourists) over the bridge, lingering in front the stores with the most incredible displays of over-the-top baubles.

Half way across we stopped and saw the beautiful Ponte Santa Trinita.  This is the bridge Mr. C and I crossed on our daily trip into the center of the city.  We got to the other side of the river, the Olto Arno and both of us were completely overwhelmed by the huge crowds.  Alex clung to me and said "Let's go home!"

On our way back we passed this gelato emporium.  These look like little Mount Vesuvius-es but so, so delicious.  We didn't have one bite of gelato this entire trip.  Our loss, I know.

Back home to pack up, clean up the apartment and get ready to move on to more adventures in Paris. Thursday morning we got a cab and made it out to the airport in plenty of time for a 12:45 flight.  Here's your last chance to pick up some Tuscan goodies to take with you wherever you're going.

Then it was another short flight compliments of Air France.

Isn't that a civilized way to spend a couple of hours?

A fairly speedy trip from the airport to our new apartment (photos later) in the beautiful 8eme, close by the Parc Monceau and the Champs Elysee.  We got all settled, went out to find a market ~ successfully.  We made a simple dinner and so to bed early.  But from our 6th floor aerie, he's a view of our street at night.

So that's how it went on Wednesday and Thursday.  It's raining here today but we have a couple of errands to run and then will go out to lunch, most probably at the Cafe de la Poste, about two blocks from here.  I'm thing a big bowl of Soupe a l'Oignon Gratinée to ward off the chill.   I'll let you know what I choose, and where I choose it.

Meanwhile, bonne journée.