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.