This being my first trip internationally, I've never been through Customs or even had to show my passport for anything. Standing in line, I cracked mine open so it could be seen when showed to the agents. The agent smiled slightly when I said it was my first trip out of the US, then stamped my passport with its first ever stamp. I feel like a little kid ready to show it off. "Yeah! I broke in my passport!"
The view from Blvd de Henri IV overlooking the Sienne toward Pont Marie was amazing. I could have stood there all day. Nothing like wanting to get a major dream out of the way early, seeing Notre Dame in person. Ah, the romance, the feeling! It was beautiful! Walking the Seine! A dream!
Who could beat a free bottle of wine in the room too? It's Paris, right? Ok, I won't deny, I enjoyed some wonderful wine every day I was in Paris.
Nothing like having a nice nap to be able to go out again an explore such an amazing city. We did not last long, however, making it as far as Place de Vosges. We adventurously tried out a local cafe, though it only took us two attempts to find one with an open kitchen as well as freely flowing wine. We at at Le Rampart (15 Rue Saint-Antoine), down from our hotel. I tried the tartar de salmone et .... well, let's just say, some other raw fish. I wish I had gotten a picture of it! Don't get me wrong, the raw salmon and the raw white fish was wonderful, I just wasn't expecting raw fish.
It had been a long day for me, so off to an early bedtime, sleeping some 12 hours straight.
My Reviews Of The Places I've Seen
"Small rooms, good price"
The room we had was tiny! But then again, I'm used to staying in hotels in the US. I've stayed places in the US where I could have had two of the rooms here. But it's Paris and I understand from other reviews that's pretty standard. The rooms were clean and the staff very friendly. One even joked that I had a good French accent!