Yesterday was our last day in Paris in the first stage of our French journey, so we spent it in a very… contemplative way: riding the Big Bus twice, making full use of the 24‑hour ticket. Let’s just say we had absolutely no desire left to tackle the metro stairs — where escalators seem to be a luxury reserved for a lucky few stations. Every descent and ascent is a small test of willpower, so next time I think I’ll go straight for the bus option. At least there I don’t have to prove to anyone that I can climb stairs at an Olympic level.

It drizzled annoyingly almost all day. The morning began gloriously with the clattering of the recycling truck at 6:30, followed by a heavy summer downpour, and the rest of the day stayed gloomy and wet. We, in true Canadian fashion — used to the cold — then walked the streets in summer clothes. Big mistake… Anna and George are now thoroughly sick. I have no idea how I escaped — probably my asthma meds are working miracles.

By the way, everyone here seems to have a tissue glued to their nose. Pollution and pollen are through the roof, so it’s no surprise Paris echoes with sneezes and coughing.

Even though we were convinced we’d end up memorizing the Big Bus route, a public appearance by President Macron shut down the Champs‑Élysées and forced the bus to change course. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise: we passed through side streets with gorgeous architecture we wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

We then stopped at a bistro right in front of Notre‑Dame, beautifully restored after the fire a few years ago. There we treated ourselves to an authentic soupe à l’oignon, a delicious croque‑madame, and a Tarte Tatin worthy of the original recipe.

Once our blood sugar returned to normal levels, we decided to go inside Notre‑Dame as well. We had visited a few days earlier, but only to see how many stairs we could climb without losing our patience. George loved the spiral towers and narrow staircases; I… less so. But yesterday we figured that since we were already there, we might as well visit the interior.

It’s worth recalling the dramatic episode from 2019, when a fire broke out in the attic of the cathedral, quickly engulfing the wooden structure, collapsing the spire and destroying the roof. The interior was largely protected by the stone vaults, but the damage was immense. Restoration took years, and the cathedral we see today is the result of an extraordinary effort.

As soon as we stepped outside, the rain decided to return in full force, accompanied by strong winds. The weather this week seems to have its own script.
We, however, had an appointment with the Seine, on a bateau‑mouche, and we weren’t about to be intimidated by a few dramatic gusts.

And with that, we wrapped up our first week in Paris. Next level unlocked: La Vallée de la Loire.