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Published: September 5th 2007
Patisserie
Always a good pass time...drooling. Paris this time round was wonderful. For the first time we all enjoyed the city as we could relax and had our own space...basically we could just be the tourists we really are.
So beautiful,this city. We are staying in Alex and Edwidge's charming apartment in the 16th arrondissement of Paris (within short walking distance to Arche de Triomphe, Champs Elysees and even the Tour Eiffel.)
My favourite thing to do is sit and have a coffee at the local cafe and just watch everything and everyone but we have also been doing a little sightseeing this time. It has been wonderful to have our own personal guide and so getting around and buying things has been easy. I have also spoken some French. My level of French depends very much who I am talking to as with people who have experience with foreigners it is easy to just talk and make mistakes but not so with others. Anyway, we noticed a change as the young people are all learning English and there is less of that arrogance about the French language that the French were famous for in years past. People are more patient with bad French
Christine and Maxence
Helping Maxence get up the climbing pyramid attempts now.
Paris is very quiet at this time as the Parisians have mostly gone on holiday. the place is relaxed and peaceful.
We visited Hervé's parents and had wild boar (sanglier) with a confiture (wild cranberry) then René took us for a walk and rock climb in the foret. After Ile de Ré we visited again and we met up with Alex and family for a big family lunch followed by a visit to Parc Floral which had fantastic playgrounds and amusements for children. All the family went as well as Vanessa. The girls and Maude got along beautifully, this is in fact getting better each time we meet up as each side is learning more of each other's language. Maxence is a wild and adorable child who brings laughter and delight wherever he goes.He is three now and just about to start at the school Maude attends.
What's new in the city: There are Very interesting Velib (a word play on velo, which means bike and liberty, ie freedom) bikes which are absolutely everywhere and being used a lot by the locals, mostly the young. (apparently it is pretty good for flirting )
You register online and then turn up to one of the many Velib stations all over Paris with your number or card and swipe, choose a bike number which is then released from its bay and off you go. You can drop it off at any velib station. They are good, sturdy bikes. You pay by the half hour, less for shorter distances (to encourage more bikes availability) You can find a similar system in London but it is not as commonly used where it seems to be strategically placed along leisure paths rather than as a legitimate mode of transport. We should have this in Sydney. Do we??
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mum
non-member comment
The photos did not appear for me-unlucky
I.m disappointed because I couldn't access the many (I'm sure wonderful) photos. Love to all Mum