After our glass of wine on the sidewalk under an awning, the rain stops, the sky clears, and we continue walking, passing through the gardens next to Forum des Halles. Forum des Halles, built on the site of the former cental food halls of Paris, is now the most visited shopping center in France, with over 50 million visitors a year. We don't go into the shops, but pass through the gardens admiring the plantings and some of the nearby buildings.
At the edge of the park, the Eglise Saint-Eustache, the second largest church in Paris, shows a mixture of architectural styles: its structure is flamboyant gothic, while the interior is renaissance and classical. Some holiday masses have been relocated here from Notre-Dame de Paris after the fire. Nearby, the Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection holds the art collection of the French businessman Francois Pinault. The Bourse was originally a grain/wheat exchange, then later used to provide services by the Paris Chamber of Commerce. Now a museum.
Leaving the park, we pass E Dehillerin, an incredible store specializing in kitchen equipment since the 1880s. The store's motto is: "Modest assistance in the promotion of French cuisine." The store is a favorite of professionals from all aspects of the food industry (and tourists).
Continuing our walk, we reach the Jardin des Tuileries and wander through, this time walking from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde.
Just another great day in Paris!
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