Monday morning - the morning of my 4th day, and the first day that was all about doing whatever I wanted - I woke up, got ready and began my day with my usual breakfast across the street. This day would be the day that I spent the whole day walking Paris. Sightseeing, shopping, sitting on a park bench. Whatever I wanted.

This was the first day that was all about doing whatever I wanted in almost 4 years. I was going to grab it by the horns.

My original plan was to spend that morning at the Louvre, but last minute lunch plans with Anna rearranged my day. Instead of the Louvre I would walk. Just walk. As far as I could.

I started at my hotel, just northwest of la République, and just went. There is a shopping area around my hotel, so I strolled it, just window shopping as nothing was open yet. I headed to la République, and went past it, walking through La Bastille and on to Isle St. Louis. I picked up some adorable French books for Lily, some postcards, and then found the shopping region of Isle St. Louis that almost did me in. I stumbled across Diwali, an Indian accessory shop with Bollywood-inspired jewelrly and magnificent silk scarves. It's my new favorite obsession. I stopped in Cacao et Chocolat for edible souvenirs. I strolled and looked.

While walking down the tree-lined streets surrounding Isle St. Louis a thought struck me: this had been one of the best mornings of my life.

I strolled back up to La Bastille to meet Anna and we headed towards La Marais for our lunch and shopping date. We stopped at a crêperie for lunch in the sun. We spent the next 2 hours or so heading toward the Pompidou, shopping (we even went to Mariage Frères - a tea house founded in 1854 - the green tea with almond and rose petals that I got from there is exquisite), stopping for the best lemon sorbet of my life, and finishing with a glass of wine and beer. Around 4 we split ways, and I continued walking.

I walked southwest to the Rue de Rivoli and walked/shopped all the way down. I stopped for a breather in front of the Louvre, walked around the Tuileries and stopped for a while at the Place de la Concorde. I continued east all the way up the Champs Élysee. Here I stopped at Kusmi for a hideous amount of tea shopping. Then I strolled on up to the Arc de Triomphe for a photo op.

I headed back down the Champs Élysee and stopped for a much-earned drink. I sat down outside, had an immature giggle at the bar's name - Unisex, and ordered the most expensive drink of my life: a cucumber gin collins, which easily lived up to it's price tag. I'm sure that the fact that I'd been walking all day with more than my fair share of shopping bags may have contributed.

I walked back east to Place de la Concorde where I finally gave in and hopped on a metro. It was getting dark and the bags were really getting to me. I had almost literally shopped 'til I dropped.

When I got back to my hotel I decided to do an easy dinner, not having the energy to stroll around searching for a chic restaurant. I headed to my usual café where Ari took care of me, making me my favorite French sandwich: a croque monsieur. We sat and chatted for a very long while, with a couple of glasses of wine helping my sore arms and feet.

How in the world was I supposed to leave Paris after a day like that?