Unlike yesterday, Day 4 began with a beautiful, sunny Parisian morning. It was the perfect backdrop for our guided tour of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Standing there and learning the history of the cathedral and the city was so enlightening. I took a World History class in college and did very well, mostly because my high school French teacher was so passionate about teaching us the history of France. I have to admit, I’d forgotten quite a few facts over the years, but I was amazed at how much I actually remembered!

It’s truly incredible to see Notre Dame again. It’s hard to believe the church was once almost destroyed, only to be saved by Victor Hugo and his Hunchback of Notre Dame. Seeing it now, after the fire, it feels like it’s rising from the ashes once again. I even learned the history of the rooster that sits on the spire—the original was found in the rubble, and the new one perfectly represents that spirit of rebirth.

From the Pantheon to Sweet Treats

From there, we made our way up to the Pantheon, yet another stunning monument to rebirth. Originally built as a church, it’s now a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Victor Hugo himself. The architecture is just massive and awe-inspiring.

After all that history, I couldn’t let the day end without a treat! I finally got a crêpe from Crème de la Crêpe, while Roy opted for a blueberry muffin. The coffee was absolutely tremendous—exactly what we needed to keep us going.

Sun, Shopping, and the “Winter Sales”

After heading back toward our home base, we decided to soak up more of the sunshine with some shopping along the Champs-Élysées.

A huge thank you to Jo-Ann, who sent me a list of things to do in Paris! Thanks to her, I learned that today is the day before the last day of the Winter Sales (les soldes d’hiver). These sales are government-regulated and only happen twice a year, so the deals are incredible. I managed to pick up a beautiful scarf for John.

We also ducked into a French pharmacy, which was like a massive marketplace of health and beauty—nothing like any pharmacy we have in the United States! It was so impressive that it even included a Ladurée counter; of course, we couldn’t resist buying a few macarons right then and there. We hit Sephora too, where I grabbed a few products made in England and France.

We ended our day at Le Corner for dinner. It’s a chic, modern spot with a great terrace vibe that captures the elegant, authentic ambiance of the 16th arrondissement perfectly. It was the perfect way to wrap up such a busy, sun-filled day, enjoying a meal together as we waited for the evening to wind down.

Tomorrow we have a few more surprises in store. Stay tuned!