Sunday

We scurried out at 0815 to get to church. A lovely time for a walk, with the low light on the buildings and river and few people about. Across Ile de la Cité to the left bank to catch the RER two [long] stops to the American Church which has beautiful stained glass windows and large pipe organ.

Afterwards we found a coffee shop – Cafe du Central where the waiter wore shirt, tie and long apron. The barista/barman wore a short white jacket, but the boss just had a t-shirt on! Everything was nicely served. Some customers ordered breakfast [from a short menu] and we saw the waiter carry out an egg in eggcup and the toast soldiers sitting in their own dish all on a tray.

We meandered down the the very large Marché Grenelle, usually held under the viaduc of a railway [being refurbished] – very good in wet weather. The fish markets had sea creatures we didn't know existed, never mind how to cook them, the butchers had rabbits complete with head, apparently traditionally so the buyer knew it was a rabbit!

After a walk along the very thin isle [ 50 metres wide] of Allee des Cygnes with a small version of the Statue of Liberty at one end we caught the RER home again. The RER trains [which go out to the countryside] are huge and often much higher than the city stations, so handles to haul yourself up by are a necessity. Because the RER has many lines at each end like a frayed rope, you have to check the board at the station and so the engines have their name on the front. Today we caught Lara and Dirk.