The One with the Perfect Sunday

After snoozing for at least a half hour, we got up and quickly got ready to head to mass at Notre-Dame. Really, mass at Notre-Dame. But we had one quick stop we had to make first. Behind our apartment building there is a tiny bakery I'd been dying to try. On our bucket list, number one is to find a bakery and make it our own, you know, the kind where you walk in and know the owner by name and she even knows your favorite type of croissant or baguette. Well today we found the bakery! The people were so friendly and very cheery. Now we just have to make it our own.

Once we each got a buttered or chocolate croissant we started off towards Notre-Dame. We walked along the Seine river the entire way there and the scenery was beautiful. There was a perfectly blue sky without any clouds, the river twinkled, and we could see the giant church in the distance. The old buildings make you feel like you are in a movie. We got to the bridge and crossed onto L'ile de la cite, the island of the city. Like walking into any other church at home, you simply entered the doors and took your seat for mass. Except it isn't like any other church: it was glorious, artistic, Notre-Dame! The strange part was that while mass was going on in the center of the church, visitors, tourists, and non-catholics walked around the outskirts taking pictures and admiring the architecture. We waited until after mass to take pictures ourselves but it really was an amazing experience.

After mass we crossed onto the smaller island to find the most amazing ice cream shop in Paris, Maison Berthillion. We each tried a different flavor and loved it. Then we wandered the tiny streets and wondered into a bright colored candy shop, when out of no where, who would walk in but moviestar Emma Thompson! We said hello and told her how much we each love the movie "Love Actually" and she asked us about school and finding french boyfriends. She was as sweet as can be to our group of loud American girls. We explored the tiny shops down that street a little longer and then sat along the river to do some people watching before heading home. We walked slowly, laughed often, and soaked in the sun in this warm Paris January. So far, it's been a perfect Sunday.