Vendredi 24th June

The patisserie across the road from our apartment.

This photo is looking towards Rue Renne from the end of Notre Dames des Champs. Our apartment is about 30 metres behind where this photo was taken from. The corner bar is under the awning on the left hand side of the photo. The entrance to the metro is down the stairs in the middle of the photo.

This is the corner of Rue Renne and Rue Notre Dames des Champs. Our corner bar is on the right hand side of the photo.

Our apartment entrance is the big green door in the centre of this photo. Behind this door is a large courtyard that all of the apartments open off.

Today was the last day of our 6 week adventure. Before we went out this morning we packed - we seem to have a lot more than we arrived with ! Just as well be bought another bag in the sales this week.

The rest of the day was epent wandering around parts of Paris we have visited previously and enjoyed (Rue du Baci and Rue Cler). These are quirky shopping areas that include fromageries, boucheries, lots of art galleries and cafes. We also discovered another shopping area on the other side of Rue de Renne which is very close to our apartment. This is part of the attraction of Paris that no matter how many times you visit you still find new and interesting things.

Last night we ate at Restaurant Le Timbre which was right next door to the restaurant we ate at the previous night. Le Timbre only seats 20 diners and you sit shoulder to shoulder with the diners next to you at 2 long tables of 10. The food was very very good although we both passed on the fried pigs head  !

Tonight we stayed close to home and ate and drank at the bar on the corner of our street. When we first stayed in this apartment back in 2006 the bar was a very typical French corner bar serving those that wanted a beer or wine at 9am and tables arranged in booths.It was dark and uninviting. The barman that always seemed to serve us was a surly French guy with greased down hair and black waiters vest that we christened Guido. Since then we have known the bar as "Guido's" although when we here last it had been totally redecorated and is now a very up-market bistro type bar and attracts a much classier clientelle (and Guido no longer works there !).
While we were sitting there (in the window) we watched a "fashion shoot " happening on the corner right outside the window so we may well feature in the background of the next Vogue or Marie Claire!! Tomorrow morning we head to Charles de Gaulle and home (ash clouds permitting) otherwise we may be extending our holiday in Singapore (...and more shopping)!