L'Eglise Saint-Roch

Last Sunday I found myself alone with no plans (you know me, plans are scary). Sometimes when I realize that I can do whatever the heck I want, it becomes almost overwhelming - I could do...anything! 

Go to a movie

Visit a museum expo

See a friend

Read a book

Paint my nails

Write a blog

Go out for tea

Anything.

I decided to go the the Musée d'Orsay, which I am embarrassed to admit I have never visited.  I jumped on my Vélib and rode along the Seine, only to find myself face to face with about 200 people in line at the museum entrance. 

Scratch that. Move along. A three-hour wait was not on my "things I want to do today" list.

I continued to ride all the way to Concorde, made a right, and started to look for a parking spot for my bike. Finally, I found one - right across the street from l'Eglise Saint-Roch.

I figured I'd never visited the church before, and what else would my Sunday be good for if I wasn't taking in all that Paris had to offer. How many times do I just do the same ol' things? This would be a new discovery, so up the stairs I went...

I'm not what you'd call a big church person, but it was nice to escape the bustle of Paris into a place of quiet, calm and reflection.

I couldn't help but think about the number of people who had 

dipped their hands in here for a bit of holy water...

Or walked on these stones...

Or put money in this box for the poor...

Lit a candle for a loved one...

Made the sign of the cross while gazing up at this...

Cried for someone they lost in the war...

Felt comforted by a prayer...

Knelt in this confessional...

And felt hope when the sunlight streamed through this window...

As I rounded the corner of the nave, I heard a small voice over a microphone. I couldn't quite make out what was being said due to the funky church acoustics, but I quickened my step, worried that I was interrupting the beginning of mass.

Then, out of nowhere, music. 

I didn't know it, but an organ concert had been planned for that very moment - happy accident is what I call that.

I took a seat, and just listened...

I guess I missed this on the way in...

L'Eglise Saint-Roch reminded me of all of the other places in Paris I needed to see... but I still made room for an old standby for my afternoon gouter..

Tea and scones at A Priori Thé, is sometimes just what the doctor ordered on a lazy Sunday...

Paris Eats - Getting Brunchy With It!

For my copine's 33rd anniversaire, I took her to a brunch at A Priori Thé located in the covered passageway, Galérie Vivienne.  I had been there once before, but never for a brunch, and the whole package sounded fantastique.


Behold our lovely brunch:

The entrance to the passageway

We opted for inside seating, but you can also enjoy brunch on the terrace

This is what you see when you look up...

Even the floor is beautiful

Brunch first course: mini cornbread, scones and muffins, fromage blanc with raspberry coulis, tea (with milk for me!), freshly squeezed orange juice, butter and jams

Brunch second course: we both got zucchini stuffed with chèvre and pesto, tapenade with roasted noisette (hazelnuts) on top and fresh tomatoes

Brunch third course: I got the cheesecake with lemon zest, coconut and raspberry coulis; my copine got the double chocolate brownie....to die for.

The ambiance is cozy, service is friendly, food is delicious! Be sure to reserve - I've tried to pop in numerous times without one and it's not the way to go. Brunch was 30 Euros each and to be honest, we could have shared just one; afterwards we were sooo full.  We were there from 12:30 to 3:45pm...in other words, give yourself lots of time to grub and digest!

A Priori Thé

35-37 Galerie Vivienne

75002 Paris

Tel: 01 42 97 48 75

Metro: Bourse or Palais Royal

ps - We took a walk through Palais Royal to digest take in the scenery...beautiful!