Snow in Paris

It snowed last night in Paris. When we awoke, the nearby roofs were covered by a thin veneer of snow; gradually disappearing as the temperature rose to around zero. Cars entering the carpark down on the street below our apartment carried a bright white carpet of snow on their roof and bonnet. After a leisurely start to the day we headed out to revisit Holybelly; a cafe now famous in tourist guides for the hip traveller as a place for Melbourne style coffee and brunch. Using the Metro and casting aside the logic of heading in a particular direction in favour of routes that provide maximum connectivity we used two lines to emerge at Jacques Bonsergent – not far from Gare d’est.

As before, Holybelly didn’t disappoint: busy yet personable and an excellent brunch.

We’d previously stayed in this area before so took the chance to revisit one of our favourite places in Paris: Canal St Martin.

We then set off on a meandering walk down through Place de la Republique with its statue and down to Bastille before once again disappearing down into the maze of pedestrian tunnels and platforms of the Paris Metro. Fast trains, arriving every few minutes; taking the thousands of users all over the city.

Tonight sees many of the bars and restaurants decorated and bustling with anticipation as France is ready to take on Morocco in the second semi final for the 2022 World Cup.

It is ironic that two of the key players; Kylian Mbappé for France and Lionel Messi for Argentina both play for Paris Saint Germain

We walk the few minutes from our apartment to Rue Moufftard and enjoy a magnificent Beef Bourguignon at Vieux Bistrot – a restaurant that oozes French charm. A meal and a drink each and then home to hear the car horns and cheers as France open their scoring account against Morocco before ending the match with a date booked for the final.

Tomorrow we’ll begin to explore some of the galleries and museums that characterise just one part or the Paris experience.