Musée de Cluny & Jardins de Luxemburg

As an EU citizen under the age of 25, I usually get cheaper rates for tickets, flights, and admissions. In Paris, however, showing my British passport gets me into most of the museums free of charge. Today, I visited le Musée de Cluny.
I began the day with a short trip to the gym. It's been a long time since I lifted weights at the gym, but it made me feel great the whole day. I'll try to do that more often from now on. I made myself a quick breakfast and then was off to the museum. Le Musée de Cluny is also known as the National Museum of the Middle Ages that holds, among many others, the six La Dame à la Licorne tapestries from the late fifteeth century, often considered one of the greatest works of art of the Middle Ages in Europe. I made sure to bring my passport, and not only was I able to get in for free, I was able to skip the line! I entered the museum, walked into a dark room and the first thing I see is a huge tapestry covering the whole wall with spotlights highlighting the beautiful details and colors. This continued throughout the whole museum - one beautiful piece of art after another.
After the museum, I walked around the 7th and 8th arrondissements and came across Pierre Hermé - considered to be Paris' best patisserie serving up the softest, most delectable macaroons you will ever taste! I ordered the vanilla white truffle and passionfruit. AMAZING! I think I'm all macarooned out now though :) After that, I continued on my walk and stumbled upon les Jardins de Luxembourg. I grabbed a seat on a bench and people watched for awhile. There were a lot of mothers with their kids strolling about, old couples holding hands, and joggers going for their afternoon run.
It was about dinner time so I started to make my way home. I stopped in a boulangerie on Ile Saint Louis to get a baguette and met the cutest man who works there. He started out as a baker in Southern France, and then moved to Paris after his daughter graduated from school to start this bakery together. They've been in business now for almost 20 years. I said goodbye, ripped off a piece of the baguette and marveled at how amazingly delicious it was. It was warm and soft on the inside and crusty on the outside - a perfect baguette! This small joint has now become my new favorite boulangerie!

I just spoke with Mark and he said that he might be pulling an all-nighter tonight. There must be some law against working this much! Or maybe a law against sleeping so little! Oh well - he's a trooper. I'll make soup and watch a movie. I think Ben Affleck is pretty good company for a night :)

Love,
Alexis