A sunny Sunday in splendid Paris.

So, after being here in Paris for 4 months now, I have now had my most favourite day, and here I will tell you about it.

This morning I woke up to the fresh scent of bread being made. Not in my apartment, unless my new little fishy had turned into a baker overnight, but from the apartment across the courtyard. (Unfortunately the lady was not up for sharing, so I had a tea and my own toast for my average breakfast)
Today I had planned to meet my friend and have a picnic, so after making my picnicy goodies, I grabbed my shades (first outing this year!) and headed to get the bus.

The bus that runs from my house to my final destination went along the River Seine, so it was like a mini tour bus ride, catching the sights at fleeting Parisienne bus speed, but saw the sights never the less.

I got off the bus at Sorbonne in the beautiful 5th Arrondissement of Paris. Full of little bars and restaurants that were full to bursting on this Sunday lunch time. On a beautiful day like today I would highly recommend walking through the back streets of this lovely part of town and sitting and having a nice fresh glass of vin banc or rose to quench your thirst.

Whilst walking up Rue Descartes...

I saw this beautiful piece of work on the wall. Its this kind of thing and more that you find in this section of Paris, a totally different side of town, with only street savvy tourists or locals whizzing past you on their motos or bicycles.

Anyway, once I met Becky, we popped to a little parc near the university to soak up some sunshine and eat our picnic before she had to go to work.

Now my day didn't stop there. It was 2pm on a beautiful sunny day in Paris, no work to drag me away, no time deadlines, so I set up camp at a cute little bakery called Sugarplum. Now, let me tell you about this bakery. It is of american style and sells the most delicious cakes and cakey goodies you could find this side of the pond. I personally could not decide between the decadent double chocolate or the fruits of the forest, and after my lunch I don't know if I could have done both. So after consulting the sales team and thinking chocolate might me too much on this day, fruits of the forest it was.

After this I took myself to the nearest Velib station and decided to cycle to Jardin des Plantes... it doesn't permit you to cycle through there as I found out, so took it upon myself t cycle home.... I live in the 16th, it was about 8km, easy! The cycle ride was amazing. Cycling along the River Seine, taking in all the sights that i whizzed past on the bus, running over frightened pedestrians and stopping to sit by the river and sun worship for a while. Many people had taken to the cycle lanes of Paris today including roller skaters, skate - boarders and tandemists (not the right word, but I like it)  so we became a moving community of risk takers and pedestrian haters all chatting and telling each other of where we were going and exclaiming at how beautiful the weather was.

Now I'm going to be bold here. Cycling around Paris, there is no better way to see this beautiful city. Do it. Grab a velib (fantastic things) and go! .... NOW!