I love Paris in the summer, when it sizzles.
 – Cole Porter, American composer and songwriter

View of the Seine River near our apartment.

In mid-June, my family and I went to France for our family vacation this year. We hit and will hit a couple of important milestones in our family: my son, Jacob, graduated last month with honors at El Cerrito High School, he turned 18 in June, and David and I will be celebrating our 20^th anniversary in September. To commemorate these events, we asked Jacob last year where he would like to go to celebrate his milestones. He is a big WWII buff and immediately said Normandy. So, France was going to be our destination, and David worked his magic in creating our itinerary of what to see and do, and finding accommodations.

One of the main streets or rues near our apartment in Paris.

Art Deco-styled train signs all over the city. This one is near the quaint flower market.

We flew out early on the morning of June 14^th and lost a day of travel, so we landed in Paris on Friday morning the 15^th. It was our first day of 16 days in France – our first time there – culminating in our 11-hour flight home from Paris to San Francisco on Sunday, July 1^st. Before we even left, David was praised by colleagues who have visited or lived in Paris, for our first AirBnB location. Our front door faces the Seine River and is 10 minutes to Notre-Dame Cathedral to our right and Musée d’Orsay (Orsay Museum) to our left. Ten minutes beyond the Orsay Museum was the Louvre and a short walk beyond the Louvre was Musée de l’Orangerie with Monet’s waterlily masterpieces. The Eiffel Tower requires a taxi ride, though one evening we did walk the entire length from the tower to our apartment.

Not too bad for being jet-lagged on the first day of our vacation in France.

Notre-Dame Cathedral on a sunny June afternoon.

From the ground up, looking at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Details, details on the outside of Notre-Dame Cathedral. That’s St. Denis without his head.

More details of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Gargoyles protecting Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

These figures look like they are descending from a burned spire, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

More details with pigeon, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris with a vibrant sky and clouds.

Finally, inside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Breathtaking!

Stained glass inside Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Close-up of the stained glass in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Detail of the inside of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Getting oriented and situated, which includes overcoming jet lag, was the first step, though we were excited to get out and explore the city. A bistro is conveniently located next to our apartment, which is accessed by a tight spiral staircase four flights up, so we filled up on potatoes au gratin and wine before venturing out. Our first stop was to see the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Construction on the cathedral began in 1163 and was completed in 1345. The lines were long to get into the cathedral, but they moved swiftly. And what a sight awaited us – it was beautiful in side. We found out that you have to reserve your time slot to climb the steps to the top towers, so that would be for another day. We found a flower market by one of the train stations. Isabella found several patisseries that showcased macarons in enticing colors and ice cream.

Macarons! Isabella is in heaven!

Isabella’s Amorino gelato topped with a macaron near Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Our host gave us several recommendations for meals. Two restaurants – Ze Kitchen Galerie (4 Rue des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris) and its more casual Ze Kitchen Galerie Bis (25 Rue des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris). Both restaurants were within a five-minute walk from our place. The former is $$$ and we figured we’d have better luck at the bistro on a Friday summer evening with no reservations. We were in luck and were seated in a fairly secluded room next to the kitchen – maybe it was because we had no reservation or maybe it was because we were tourists who spoke only a few words in French. Well, for our first meal in Paris, in France, the bar was set very high. There were only two choices on the tasting menu – 8 or 10 services. Of course, we chose ten. I felt as if we were guest judges on Top Chef. With each beautifully presented course that was presented to us, the flavors could not be more intense and delicious. Though we were full before dessert, we, of course, had to eat the dessert. We waddled out of the restaurant. Too bad it wasn’t a long walk because we needed to walk off our full bellies, but with a full week in Paris and more than a week elsewhere in France, we knew we would be getting our steps in.

By the way, most of these photos were taken by David. Food photos by me.

Menu for Ze Kitchen Galerie Bis in Paris.

First course: d’oeuvres, Casarecce (black starch, wagyu stew, Sicilian tomatoes, and nduja) and Rouget grondin (red mullet carrots and thai bouillabaisse).

Epaule de cochon confite (confit pork shoulder, beans, and harissa condiment).

Merlan de ligne (Whiting fish, artichokes, Barigaule juice, and yuzu kosho).

Caille (qual, green asparagus, and tamarind condiment).

To top off our dinner, two desserts: glace menthe sauvage (wild mint ice cream, amarena cherries, walnut wine, and cocoa) and baba limoncello (limoncello baba, roasted apricots, and lemon cream).