Going to Paris to see Agnès

Last Saturday morning, I hopped on the train and headed out to Paris to meet Agnès, another of my mom's cousins. 

Agnès made a lovely, big Pot-au-Feu, which is a french beef and veal stew with potatoes, carrots, leeks, and turnips. I made a cute, new, little friend during dinner!

Félix decided that it was time for a group hug during dessert!

Afterwards, Agnès and I took a walk around their neighborhood in Paris. There were so many pretty flower shops.

Agnès took this picture and assured me that it is very Parisian to get a picture on a bench like this!

Then, we walked to a lovely park that is near their apartment. It was still all lovely and green even though it was the very end of November.

It's a nice place to have near the house since they can visit it with the children.  With the water and various types of vegetation, there's lots to explore.

The place even has a selection of unique waterbirds.

I couldn't believe how many different ones there were since in NY you mostly only see Canadian geese and mallard ducks.

I couldn't get over this little one with the puffy red head. I think it's a red-crested pochard.

Close to the park was an area for playing pétanque.

We also visited their community garden.  There wasn't much going on there since it's the beginning of winter, but hopefully in the spring I can come back and see what Félix plants!

We visited a large park nearby as well with this funny little windmill in the middle. Out of place in the middle of Paris, but fitting with the wild grass at its base.

Next to Agnès' apartment is a pottery shop with these lovely prints on the pots. She gave me one like in the upper left. Mine is in blue and pink!

When we got back, Edgar had just woken up from his nap. Thus the dazed appearance! That's Maxime, Agnès' husband with him.

Next, we visited the Galerie Vero-Dodat, which is near the Opera in Paris.

We stopped in a small music store for Félix since he enjoys instruments.

He was entranced by the guitar player.

Why so serious? You're so tall up there on daddy's shoulders!

We passed the Christian Louboutin shop there.  Outside was a long line of people waiting to spend well over $600 for these shoes. I really have to say, no matter how classy the shoe, I don't think I'd spend that much! But, they were fun to look at.

We then moved on to the Galerie Vivienne, which is nearby.  It was even prettier and bigger than the other one.

Who can resist old book stores?

What pretty covers.

Not sure what this store is, but that woman looks like she's hard at work.

We also went to the store "Si Tu Veux (Jouer)", which is a fantastic toy store.  Nothing mass-produced in there, just good old-fashion toys. (Many made of wood.)

Edgar must have been looking at something very interesting in that store.

Agnès browses the options.

Félix loved carrying the car keys with him.

Old fashioned model cars!

The play food sets were the best I'd ever seen.

They had miniature versions of common French foods like camembert, butter, canned vegetables....

...even packaged milk, paper towels and nutella!

Wooden eggs in their own little carton.

On our way out of the Galerie Vivienne, I was amazed to see a display of oversized wine bottles.  It seems a little hard to see in the photo, but they were massive.

We were also able to see the back store-room of the place.

Goodbye Galerie Vivienne! A la prochaine.