Tea & croissant: Almost Very Famous

Tomatoes so symmetrical that they are just too pretty to be eaten. Is it just Asian tomatoes that don't look nice?

It isn't just their fruits (or vegetable depending on which school of thought you belong to), their flowers are also prettier. However, I wouldn't say it's cheaper here, post currency conversion. Can you spot our bougainvillea in the midst?

You know of the shows where the man picks up a bouquet of flowers from a florist by the road side to surprise his wife/lover? It does work out here, thanks to the cold climate. Meanwhile, back home, the only flowers that can survive outside the house are those meant for your ancestors.

Since we were quite jet-lagged and still acclimatizing to the weather and time zone, we took it easy on our first day in Europe. The streets are very pedestrian friendly. Traffic was not heavy though we didn't go to the usual tourist spot. Instead, took to the lesser known streets of Paris.

This place was not in my itinerary. It just happened to be close to our position so we decided to pay a visit. It was a slight uphill walk that shouldn't be an issue unless you've got creaking joints.

Not knowing what it was and there was an entrance fee, we only surveyed the Panthéon from outside.

Flags were up everywhere along with police patrol. Not sure if they are just patriotic in general with a high emphasis on security or the fact that it was the weekend before their election.

Right across is the Pantheon-Sorbonne University. Or at least part of it.

There is never a shortage of churches to be amazed at in Paris generally.

By random luck, this one turned out to be quite famous and was open to the public. For free to boot.

My first church visit turned out to be quite famous. Saint-Étienne-du-Mont was quite deserted as it was a Saturday afternoon only.

It was quite spellbinding, the architecture and details. If you also take into consideration that these were built before modern machinery were invented, it becomes even more amazing.

Having seen stained glass walls in films only, it was almost surreal to see them in real life.

To be honest, they weren't that magnificent but you would probably enjoy it more, had you understand better the story of Christ.

Some of the panels are hung with paintings of different stories. Again, I ain't no art aficionado.

Compared to my Taiwan trip, I came better prepared with my trusty camera. Somehow, I gave it/my shooting skill wee bit too much of credit so a number of the pictures turn out blurry as I didn't want to hold up the journey.

So yes, these pictures don't do them justice.

However, I don't want to look back in regret like this fellow about not having any memory keepsake.

Or at least that's what my Taiwan trip left me.

The place was bathing in the warm sunlight.

The area was buzzing with activity though it's hard to tell if they are local or tourist since all Westerners look quite alike. However, the French (women, at least) do have a rather distinct combination of brunette with brown eyes but English facial features. Almost exotic when they start speaking in French. Just so you know, the French themselves are able to tell their countrymen apart from the other gwailos.

The very first sighting 🗼

Friends forever 💞