DATELINE: Paris (8)

This is a no-photo day since I didn't take my camera with me when I set out this morning.  Mr. C was feeling mighty poorly so he stayed home while I ventured forth to see what I could see.  I have been searching for a requested item to bring home and, so far, have not been able to find it.  But I went off this morning with high hopes that I would come across it in my wanderings.  (I did not.) 

My first stop was at a newish store here in the Marais called Merci.  It's a mix of the old Design Research with a bit of IKEA and some Conrans thrown in.  It's got the flair of DR and its price tags with the stripped-down designs of both IKEA and Contrans.  But it did not have what I am looking for.  Some great stuff nonetheless.  For the next couple of hours I strolled through the neighborhoods of the 3rd and 4th, noticing the changes in these arrondissements.  There are so many up-scale stores ~ mainly women's clothing.  This area has gotten very jumped up in the last few years.

Back home for a quick lunch and then back out for the great hunt.  This time I headed down rue de Rivoli toward the new Bastille opera house to see what I could find.  Still no luck but I did come across a great place to buy scented soaps of every size, shape, color and couldn't come away empty handed.  Also found a good-looking fist restaurant that I may choose for lunch tomorrow.  I revisited the Place des Voges to see if we had somehow overlooked Le Muoe du Pape but, alas, it is truly gone.

In desperation I sent an email to our apartment's owner asking for advice on finding what I'm seeking.  He gave me some great hints (two of which I had already tried) including an area very close by called Le Village St. Paul that is mostly antique and antique-type stores.  Even if I don't find what I'm looking for it will be fun (for me!) to poke around and see what's there.  So, rain or shine, that's on my agenda for tomorrow.  Depending on how he's feeling, Mr. C may join me.