My 2022 Global Adventure: Day 7 (Montmartre! Eiffel Tower! Croissants!)

Day 7

H. and I started our first full day in Paris the most Parisian way we knew how: 

By buying croissants and enjoying them on the shores of Canal Saint-Martin.

We then traveled by metro to Montmartre. We climbed ever so many steps, and then -- finding our way blocked (they were filming a movie?) -- we trekked back down and took the funicular up to the top. (Funicular cost: one metro ticket, about €1.90.) Then we visited the Sacre-Coeur (cost: free.)

We also rode the merry-go-round, but it was kind of a dull ride.

After exploring Montmartre for an hour or so, we hopped back on the metro and took it south toward the Seine. We'd bought tickets online for the Batobus, a hop-on-hop-off boat thing. Unlike some hop-on means of transportation, there wasn't any narration or info. on board. You just floated. Still, for €17 (and 24 hours to use it), it is a nice method of transport that takes you to/past many of the major sights.

While waiting for the boat, we had fun watching a guy repairing/adjusting that clock. You could see him through the glass, and sometimes the clock hands would start rotating rapidly.

We rode the Batobus for a few stops, then disembarked. We walked to the Ile Saint-Louis, looking for two food places I'd marked from my Rick Steves guidebook. Since the guidebook was from a few years back, and lots has changed in the meantime, I was pleased to find the Cafe Med still in operation.

The crepes and the ambiance were both fantastic.

We ordered from the "menu," which for me included a savory crepe, a dessert crepe, and a glass of  cider.

After leaving the restaurant, we happened to spot this sign:

A LEGO exhibit, here in Paris? We took a photo and promised ourselves we'd look into it.

But first, some sorbet...

We walked around some more, then hopped back on the Batobus. We rode to the Eiffel Tower stop and got off again...

It was a warm day (one of many on our trip), and by about 4pm I was beat. We went back to our hotel and rested for a bit. While there, we googled that LEGO exhibit, and discovered it was within walking distance of our hotel! Okay, we had to go... so why not this evening?

Tickets to the exhibit were €10 apiece, and we both thought it was worth it. There was a very good "history" section featuring vintage LEGO sets and paraphernalia. The exhibit also featured MOCs, sculptures, and interactive elements. It was very colorful and well thought-out.

Galerie Joseph, 116 rue de Turenne, Paris

Things I learned today:

*If you see a souvenir you really want, buy it right then. Don't anticipate ever seeing it somewhere else. #noregrets

Tomorrow: Disneyland Paris!