Day Three: Recap

So we got the ability to use google and google maps while out wandering today. Totally changes how you wander when you can just ask "where is the closest wine?" whenever you need to sit down and rest. Oh, and pictures can be immediately uploaded, for those whining about the delayed picture stream. You know who you are! It just requires remembering the cable and calling Orange each morning.

We had a lovely cafe creme and croissant and orange juice breakfast at Cafe Danton. I was starving, so I even ate the bread that came with the croissant (yes, you get bread with everything, even mmm bread!).



We learned about how service works in shops after trying to skip the queue and being ignored. Orange then happily sold us a daily no contract data plan for the iPad. We wandered around Saint Germain, looking at the abbey, drinking more coffee, getting sucked into the myriad of side streets and side side streets and alleys and things smaller than alleys, that abound here.

Finally we made a plan to wander further afield and go see the Musee Orangerie and wander around the Jardin de Tuileries and Place de la Concorde and at least wave at the Louvre. So off we went awalking... Halfway there we needed sustenance and ended up at La Palette, a nice little bistro on the Rue de Seine that has only a small problem with gypsies stealing money off the table and an even smaller bathroom. Seriously, a bathroom like you find on a plane. The food and wine were good though and we got to sit under cover for the only shower so far of the trip. Cheese plate, meat plate (yes yes there were sexier French names for these on the menu that I couldn't reproduce even under torture).





Then it was off to finish the trek to the Louvre and Orangerie.











The Louvre is a big damn place, must wait until the sleep schedule is properly aligned to attack the inside. So we started down the Jardin de Tuileries to the Musee Orangerie at the other end (feeling kind of Impressionist today, after all).



Who knew that military men were into Carrousels? We walked through the Carrousel area and arch, down the length of the garden and FINALLY got to the museum. Cezanne, Renoir, Modigliani, all those guys... And Monet too, of course. Massive water lily murals in the upper galleries, very interesting.



Jet lag was pretty serious at this point and we had problems even staying upright.



Luckily there are many trees in the garden.





We made it back to the hotel without any more coffee OR wine and promptly napped for a bit before dinner. Two or three hours of a bit, very much needed nap!

We decided to set off in a different direction for dinner (see previous post). Our path took us by the Odeon Theatre d'Europe, very impressively lit at night as well as one of the many bike for rent stands all over this area. Not feeling ready to bike around yet though!





Tomorrow, a different adventure... Metro to Montparnasse and then off to Chartres to see the cathedral.

Day Three: Dinner

Nine o'clock... Time for dinner in Paris. Tonight we try a fresh food bistro and market (after a nice late afternoon nap). Great pumpkin soup...



... With a bit of olive oil and ummm green stuff. A good recovery after almost not getting to eat here. The word of the day is "poussez" (push!), critical if you want to enter the restaurant and not think it is closed at 8:30pm (!). Eating at Cafe Tournon, very French people and us.



Recap of the day yet to come...

Day Three: Lunch

Broke down today and paid Orange 8€ for a SIM for the iPad. Now the guide apps and the map are actually useful. The more interesting thing will be seeing if we can recharge the SIM tomorrow. Supposedly the Orange people on the 800 number only speak French. But it's only 6€ a day from here on out...

Forgot the camera connector, no pictures until later. We spent the morning wandering Saint Germain and drinking coffee and drinking coffee and drinking coffee. It sprinkled a bit at lunch but we were in a cafe eating meat and cheese and drinking good French wine. A little rain while under cover with drinks never hurt anyone.

Off to see Monet....

Day Two: Recap

So a lot has happened since we last spoke, ummm, wrote. We found an airplane, took off, excitedly found there was wifi onboard, were disappointed to find it only worked while we were over land (transatlantic flight... What use is Internet that only works at the beginning of the flight???), found that a few more inches of legroom really DOES make a difference, landed in Paris, went through customs and got our baggage in a manner of MINUTES, got a tour of the city on the way from the airport to our hotel, discovered locks in Europe are almost the same as in the US but not quite, found an awesome little coffee place...





... Then a little wandering around Jardin de Luxembourg...



As in around the Fountain de Medicis and small children pretending there was real water nearby...



There was a bit of jet lag-induced napping and then it was time to wander in search of bistros and beer (okay, wine and food and song and espresso, but you get the idea).









Post-bistro, we ate at Chez Julien, chatted with a very nice Irish couple who politely made fun of Jack Daniels (and apologized for having to do so, but it just isn't whisky as far as Irishmen are concerned).



Creme brûlée and chocolate mousse for dessert, then it was time for a little coffee before calling it a day...





There ends our first (jet lagged) day in Paris. Yawn. Night night...

Day One: Ze plane!

Have plane, might travel... Soon.

Day One: Waiting

Okay, we've made the long journey to Pittsburgh, eaten questionable Irish / Polish / Pittsburgh food and had weak coffee. Still six hours before they let us on a plane... What to do? The suggestion was... SHOP. Ugh.

Day One: Meditating

Having successfully been transported to the airport, gotten our boarding passes, had our passports scrutinized two or three times and undressed for security, we are in the terminal. I thought it might be good to lower someone's stress level, so Bloody Marys it was! Good choice on getting a short membership at the Sky Club, who made the drinks and breakfast possible!

Day One: And we're off!

6:15am board airport van, set off across the darkened streets for our first stop, Romulus.

Day Zero

Twas the night before Paris... Or at least the flight to Paris. Nine hours until we depart for the airport, there has been tremendous progress the last hour. I am packed, this blog is at least marginally set up and we are finishing off the open bottle of wine prior to departure. Just some putzing around with cameras and batteries and I think we are ready to go.