Random thoughts and adventures with friends

We've been in Paris for nearly two weeks already!  We were so busy having adventures and exploring different sections of Paris with Jenny and Basti, and now our friend Caroline, as well, that it's difficult to find time to write blog entries! This was Jenny and Basti's first trip to Paris, so we have tried to do and see things of most interest to them.  Being young, they don't mind walking A LOT, so we averaged 6-8 miles a day!  Here's Jenny and I playing with the selfie stick (thanks Connie!)

One day we took them to the Eiffel Tour and then wandered back along the streets near the Seine to see the Notre Dame.  This time of year there is always a long line to enter the cathedral, but it moves rather quickly.  We timed our visit perfectly!  About the time we reached the middle of the cathedral, the organ began playing and a priest and nun proceeded to the altar area to celebrate the mass!  Basti loved the smell of the incense, which unfortunately wasn't Janny's favorite experience.  I've never been there to hear the organ, so I loved it all.  For me it was a strong déjà Vu experience remembering the Pilgrim's mass in Santiago at the end of our pilgrimage on the Camino.  Another day we stood in another long line for the best Falafel sandwich in the Marais (according to our guide Martine, see next paragraph).

Bob arranged a walking tour with a Parisian volunteer through a website called Paris Greeters.  We learned many interesting facts about the Luxembourg Gardens and surrounding neighborhood (for more details, see his blog at parisbybob.blogspot.fr)  After a long day of exploring, we all decided to share a meal at Jenny and Basti's apartment. We all contributed what we had and set out a beautiful meal of salad, oven roasted potatoes with onion, carrots and garlic, assorted French cheeses, crostini, assorted breads from Finkelsteins Deli in the Marais (old Jewish district), wine, beer and delicious dark chocolate and Tiramisu (from the grocery store) for dessert!

We've visited lovely parks: Les Batignolles, and Parc Monceau, and the Tuilleries.  

One evening we all decided to go out for Ethiopian food at a restaurant recommended in our apartment notebook.  Bob diligently checked online to be sure it was open, as many businesses close in August.  We walked a few blocks from out apartment to the restaurant, only to find it was closed!  Pas de problem... We headed to the Kashmir restaurant we had noted on our previous day's walk.... Closed as well!  By this time we were all getting a little crabby and hungry, so we headed back toward Jenny & Basti's apartment with the intention of picking up food from a grocery store to prep there. Along the way I noticed an Indian restaurant with take out, so we all ordered a plat du jour with various interesting choices, many of which we weren't sure of.  The owner invited us to sit at a table inside and wait the 25 minutes it would take to prep the food (we all took this as a good sign that it was not just reheated from a can or package).  In the meantime, Bob wen to get wine and beer.  Food in hand, we went around the corner to J&B's apartment and enjoyed our meal!  After the meal J&B taught us Dixit, a game with very unusual picture cards played in a similar manner to Apples to Apples.  A fun last evening before our German friends left us!

We weren't lonely after Jenny & Basti left, because Caroline was still here.  We had a wonderful trip to Reims which Bob captured perfectly in his blog, so I'll let you read his entry at Paris by Bob.

Steps, more steps, and one mis-step!

Wednesday  night Bob and I made a rather late night outing to meet our friends Jenny and Basti who came by train to spend a week with us here in Paris.  Their train from Frankfurt was delayed by two hours meaning they would not arrive at the Gare de l'Est until 10:50 p.m.  We were sure that if we allowed one hour to get to the station, we would have plenty of time... Not!  For some reason, the Metro app on our iPhone told us to take a few different trains to the Gare du Nord, and then walk for 5 minutes to the Gare de L'est.  OK, we like to walk!  However, the neighborhood when we stepped out of the metro station was less than savory!  A nice employee of a nearby Brasserie pointed us in the right direction and we "walked with purpose" through the streets to the train station.  We arrived only minutes before Jenny & Basti's train! Needless to say, we took a taxi back to our apartment!

Believe it or not, we didn't wake up the next morning until 9 a.m.! (in our home sleeping in means 7 a.m. usually!)  We awoke to a steady rain, so we did a quick internet search of what to do in Paris in the rain... Among our choices was to visit the famous Paris Passages: beautiful glasss domed passages between buildings lined with shops, restaurants and art studios.  These most surely were the inspiration for shopping malls, only much more picturesque!  After a late breakfast of coffee, baguettes and chocolate croissants, we headed out.  The Passages are amazing, and we wandered through them, enjoying the sights, sounds and beauty of each one.

Next we headed to Sacre Couer, and the Montmartre area.  There is nothing I enjoy more than walking through different parts of Paris and watching the neighborhoods change from one to another, the buildings and businesses reflecting the character of those who inhabit the area.  Sacre Couer is at the top of a large hill with a commanding view of Paris.  What I forgot about this area is the insane number of tourists who are always there!  I also forgot that although you get an amazing view of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is not visible from there!  Nonetheless, it was an interesting walk, and we did manage to put in 5.46 miles, 12,600 steps, and 22 floors according to the health app on our iPhone!

Fortunately, it was all "downhill" from Montmartre to our apartment, and perhaps a 20-30 minute walk.  When we were within blocks of out apartment, both Bob and I took our "mis-step"... In a moment of inattention we stepped into a monstrous pile of dog poo!   One must always be vigilant, because when you let down your guard, sh** happens!

By the time we arrived home, it was time to think about eating.  Jenny and Basti very sweetly offered to cook us dinner in their Air BnB flat which is two doors down from ours!  It was a delicious meal of  potatoes, vegetables sauteed and laced with feta cheese, and homemade Tzatziki sauce!  Perfect!

We are here!

It's a long trip from Sequim to Paris and when I first arrive I wonder "Who's idea was this anyway?"  My brian is fuzzy, my eyes can hardly focus, and I just want to go to sleep!  This trip was more pleasant than usual since we splurged and flew Business Class.

We arrived at Seatac Monday at 11:30 and picked up our friends Kimball and Marilyn at the Airport Hilton where they stayed after a flight from their home in Waikiki.  We had a leisurely lunch with them, and then they drove us to the airport where we checked in and headed straight to the Icelandic Air Lounge to await our flight, and they headed to Sequim to live in our house for the newest 3 months.  In the lounge we enjoyed a couple of cocktails and some champagne and then boarded our flight to Reykjavik, and on to Paris.  We pretty much ate and drank our way to Paris!

Upon arrival we took a taxi into the city to our apartment...  Who knew that taking a taxi from the airport to our apartment was the most economical way to go?  Waiting for us inside our apartment was a delightful young woman named Meagan who's a student and volunteered to orient us to our apartment as a favor to her friend who was on summer holiday. (This was arranged by our friend Marilee who is renting us the apartment).

Our next order of business was to pick up a few groceries, and of course some wine and cheese.  We also went to the nearby metro station to purchase a "Navigo Pass".  What a wonderful experience that was!  We were assisted by a very friendly metro worker who was still smiling and friendly after 28 years as an employee.  She explained the process, affixed our photos to the card and showed us how to charge the card.  I was very pleased that most of the communication we had was in French and I understood her and most importantly, she understood me! She even agreed to have her photo taken with me:

Leaving soon!

Oh la la! In less than 48 hours Bob and I will be headed to Paris and hope to live like Parisians for 3 months!  I've tried my best over the past few months to improve my "kindergarten" French.  I even found a young Parisian woman who moved to Sequim last fall from Paris to marry a young man who grew up here!  She and I have been meeting twice a week at her home, which just happens to be I'm my neighborhood. I love it when the stars align and things seem "meant to be"!  She has been kind enough to offer to Skype with me a few weeks after arriving in France to answer questions and help with language issues... I'm hoping once I'm there I will gain more confidence and being immersed in the language, it will all start to click.  I'll keep you posted.

Our bags are packed, and tomorrow we clean the house for our good friends Kimbal and Marilyn, who will take care of our house while we are away.  It's so nice to know it will be in trustworthy hands while we are gone!

We have lots of plans, and several visitors coming to see us while we are there: Germans, a Kiwi, two Canadians, and even some Americans we met while walking the Camino de Santiago two years ago.  It's what I enjoy most about travel.. The connections you make and the friendships that develop.  On previous trips I've always brought a sketchbook but never made it a priority to fill it with images. This time I hope will be different.  I want to keep this blog, and also a sketchbook diary of our time in Paris.  After all, Paris is the City of light and home of many artists past a and present, as well as home to my favorite of all museums: The Musée d'Orsay.