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Published: June 13th 2008
We are having a nice time so far. Of course travelling is always tiring, but we are taking things at a nice slow pace. We get up in the morning nice and late and have breakfast with Isabelle. We talk about what we want to do that day, and she tells us how to get there and other nice things to do in the area. Then we pack a lunch and head out by noonish. She is a 5 minute walk to the nearest metro that takes you into Paris, maybe a half an hour of travel time total with riding the metro and changing trains and everything to get to whatever neighborhood we wish to see.
So far we saw the St Germaine Des Pres neighborhood, which is very old paris with picturesque winding streets and little bookshops and cafes. We sw the Louvre which was magnificent and jampacked with tourists of every nationality. People watching was as interesting as the Art, and we got in for reduced price. We went to Montrmartre and went to the top of the Sacre Coeur at the top of Paris at the top of a large hill, (think San Francisco) to see the best view of the whole city at dusk. We missed sunset by half an hour too early (it gets dark very late). It was soooo rediculously touristy though. We spent most of the time picking out all the british and american tourists (the british are worse!), and cringing at how brash they are. I understand why the french hate us. Isabelle keeps saying go to the leetoo stweets, go to the leetoo stweets, so we headed off the main drag and off the main hill that ferries the tourists up to the sacre coeur and vanished into the windey back alleys along the hill. We walked until we heard only French then found a brasserie that loked like it was hopping. We managed a surly waitress who took one look at us and gave us the worst table in the whole restaurante. We ordered all in French and didn't have to ask "Parlez Vous Anglais?" once. It is a major accomplishment to get by understood in French. I ordered a salade nicoise which basically was lettuce with canned tuna fish on top. Ah well; Miranda got a croque monsieur, which i tasted and was actually delicious. You'd be proud of me, I have actually eaten cheese! Its not so bad, the mild stuff on sandwiches, very creamy. Today we did the Champs Elysees and the Arc De Triumph. That was a very posh and stately area, but the best part of the whole neighborhood was La Dureé, the creme de la creme of confectionaires, which makes the most amazing pastries in the world: We got a rose flavored little cake. Rosewater is actually whipped into the cream and the cake batter. Very unique.I felt like Mairie Antoinette, it was pastel pink. We ate a baguette, cheese and salami, and the cakes in the Jardin de Tuilleries. It was very romantic and very French. The most fun I've had is when we relax at a park or cafe and try to live like the French, relaxed with the joyeux de vie. I have noticed that when the french laugh or smile (which does seem rare sometimes) it is genuine with their whole face and mouth and teeth. When you say Bonjour Madame to an old Lady on the street, she will open her whole face up and beam a radient smile to say Bonjour back to you. Nobody smiles fake smiles just to be polite or to pacify.
Anyways Isabelle is very laid back; She lets us do whatever we want, go out to the city and be independent during the day and usually meets us at night with her friends for a dinner or an after dinner drink. Her freinds are very nice. They all speak english pretty well. One is an english teacher, with a cute little baby daughter, Manon that they call "bebe chat," (baby cat) the other is an artist of all trades who reminds me alot of a friend from my hometown. They've all been friends since high school and they do get talking a mile a minute to each other in front of us, but they do periodicaly stop to tell us what they were talking about. We're going out tonight to go Dancing; should be fun. Tomorrow is the Eiffle Tower and anything we haven't seen before we leave for the Palace at Versailles on Sunday. Talk to you all soon. Alliey
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Papa Eddy
non-member comment
Bon Jour
Hey.... It sounds like you are having fun! Post a picture of yourself and Miranda and Isabelle and friends if you can. I love you! I look forward to every post. Dad