Mosquée de Paris

This past Saturday it was sunny for the first time in days!!!  We took full advantage and spent the afternoon at the Mosque.  The Mosque is located in the 5th arrondissement and is one of the largest mosques in France.  It was built in 1922 and inaugurated in 1926 to honor the North African countries that helped France during World War I.  During the Holocaust it also provided a sanctuary and refuge for many Jews.  

It takes up an entire block of the neighborhood, if not two, and is pretty hard to miss.  We had a bit of time to kill before the gardens re-opened for the afternoon, so we went around the corner to the mosque's restaurant café/terrace and took a seat on the blue and white wicker chairs surrounding small tables.  Our waiter came over and assuming we were having tea just held up his fingers indicating, "3?"  We said yes and were soon greeted by three clear glasses of sweet mint tea.  

Laura got up and chose two desserts out of the dessert case, two of many to be had.  She chose a honey/semolina cake and a kataifi, a greek/mediterranean treat made of shredded phyllo dough filled with nuts and honey.  Sort of a different spin on baklava.  

The terrace was sunny and little birds sang away in the trees nearby.  People sipped sweet mint tea and enjoyed the beautiful day in cramped, typically Parisian company.  

We walked back around to the other side of the mosque, to the entrance and paid our admission to the gardens and for an unguided tour.  The garden floor was tiled with bright turquoise tile, and unfortunately the fountains throughout the middle weren't running.  There were palm trees and exotic flowers dotting the gardens, and at one end sat a monument to honor those Muslims who died in the war.  

Beautiful tiled mosaic walls.

The praying room was off limits to visitors, but wasn't much to miss as we saw a peek inside.  The mosque was certainly a different thing to do, and I had been with Ashleigh for mint tea before, but never inside the gardens...and it was a nice treat!  Everyone was so friendly, and we've decided that it could be a potential hang out spot.  Mint tea and a sunny terrace for 2 euros?  Pas mal.  

Spent the majority of Sunday moving from one eating place to another....Starbucks in the morning for our ritual pain au chocolat (from Ladurée this week) and Blue's Bar-B-Q near Bastille for a late afternoon lunch/dinner.  Was due time for some American food in my life.  

Marie-Césare is having a sleepover at Nina's tonight, and Wednesday she will go to her grandparent's house in Viroflay for the weekend.  Chloé is in Shanghai so we all figured it best she spend time with her grandparents before they head down to the south for the summer.  Working tomorrow and will have off the rest of the week.  Laura and I are going to take a day trip to Mont Saint Michel Friday.....and I absolutely can't wait!!!!!