I Love Paris in the Springtime!
 

Can't stay away from the cheezy title. That's what it is and, after one day that's how I feel!
The sun is shining (which makes everyone happy). Tne apartment we rented really does exist, the codes worked, it's quiet here and the bed is comfortable!
 
The trip over was uneventful. Tough to sleep but the movies were good. Our plane was delayed in Calgary which meant a jog worthy of the Amazing Race in Frankfurt. We were the last ones to arrive and no seats were available. Turns out 6 people had wrong seats.... good way to meet the locals!! The sleeping business man in my seat reluctantly gave up his (now warm) place for me and we were off!
 
Paris! Always on our 'list' and now a reality.
The train, though run down and covered in angry graffitti, was surprisingly efficient. When we popped up from underground we were in the Place de la Republique. The old buildings in this area are what I imagined. Walking down the Rue Du Faubourg Du Temple we found the old wooden door that, when a code was entered, actually opened to yet another door (with et another code) awind narrrow staircase ande our door (with et another code). Inside that door is a safe (yep... another code) and in the safe is a key to our room that actually works! Yeah! The good news is that we could get in early and have a rest!
 
Not a great view but quiet. We slept 3 hours before goingout to explore. My broken french and apologetic smile helped us as we negotiated for food. Not sure what kind of blood sausage i bought but it ws spic and good. You can't beat a good home cooked meal and a descent bottle of red wine to top off a successful arrival in Paris!
 
Exhauisted we fell asleep by 9, not rising until after 9 the next day. The beauty of having a kitchen is that you can make cofffee how you like it, laze away at breakfast and read up as you plan for the day.
 
Day 2 ( Happy 16th birthday Carissa.... I'm going shopping in Paris for you!!)
 
The second day in Paris and we're off to do a walk about.
 
By 10:30 we were on the road and walking towards the Eiffel Tower. Sunny, warm, wonderful weather. I felt like a little kid! Street after street made my head turn. Architecture, people, chaos & calm. There is a fythym to this town that lifts you up and carrys you along making you thirsty to know more. I think to be young in Paris really would be wonderful! There is an energy in young Parisians that is infectious.
 
Today we explored the old city and made our way to the top of the tower! Taking advantage of the weather, we strolled along the Seine River soaking it all in. Twice we were approached by the 'pony gold ring' scam. BNoth times we just broke out laughing which quite alarmed the crooks (scam is to pretend to find a gold ring... show ou the 'stamp' of authenticity and offer to sell it to you for a fraction (#%**&!?) of it's price... because they need the pney and they like you... you've probably guessed it's not gold). The scam must work because they're still at it.
 
Such a day... walking past thae Louvre seeing so many buildings we have only read about... seeing pieces of the old cit wall then ending up at the most famous of Paris' landmarks... the Eiffel Tower. It is just like they say it is. I can only imagine what people thought of it at the World's Fair in 1889. It must have taken courage to go to the top trusting in that skinny metal structure to support you. Today I humbly admit that my throat was in my mouth as we ascended to the top. I was OK once we arrived but the view outside the elevator showed little more than metal bits and air!! But what a view!n nFrom the top you can see the layo9ut of the cit clearly. |what a great wa to start our day. Sure there were the illegal hawkers and a pickpocket vigelence clearl posted. Sure the army and their machine guns sobered the crowdes and the lineups didn't help feed the joy.... but still... what a place!!
 
Staggering home with sore feet and an acute hunger I still managed to stop and gaze in awe at the crchitecture, the people and the menus. Hungry and exhausted we sit now planning tomorrow. That's whenhe 4 day museum pass gets activated. Better soak my feet, sip a wine and plan for a good sleep. Tomorrow we're off and running!
 
Day 3
 
OK so the plan to sleep well didn't nappen. Wide awake at 01:30 until about 4AM makes it tough to get motivated and out by 9. Bleary eyed and eager the two of us hauled our sorr butts out on the street heading for the Louvre. The clouds made us glad we did the Eiffel Tower yesterday! The Louvre today... perfect. No rain so we decided to walk again. It's just so hard to go unjderground when there is so much to see!
With our 4 da pass in hand wwe dove right in with the mobs of tourists. So man school groups here and many from North America. Like the fellow fro Ontario said yesterday " The only school trip I ever went on was to a plowin' competition". My how things have changed.
 
Anyway, back to the Museum. What a place. Fromerly a Palace and now an amazing building caring for the largest collection of artifacts in the world. I was prepared to be a snob and turn my nose at the stolen artifacts from Egypt.... that is until I saw them so lovingly cared for. They are displayed with the utmost respect. Still I was upset at the rows of mymmy cases there. Once you've seen Egpt and what was liberated in the name of science (or Aunt Wilma or whatever) it's hard to accept the plunder.
But... I myst say again...what a place. The famous Mona |Lisa is tiny, hidden behind glass and adored by the masses. I wasn't too sure which was more important.... a picture of Mona or one of the massive crowd pushing to get a glimpse.
 
The Venus de Milo wasn't much better (though she was much bigger). Once you get past the tour groups you seem to find a rythym. I think one of the most fascinating places for both of us was the Mesopotamian artifacts. Their culture was advanced far beyond m imaginings. Colourful glazed pottery wll 'mosaics' and huge carved columns with animals more than three times their actual size. The finished columns must have stood over 50 feet tall.
 
The good thing about museums, unlike the Eiffel Tower, is the abundance of places to sit. You start off gazing at an amazing work of art and end up sipping water and massaging your feet. The other amazing thing in Most French museums is that you are allowed to take pictures (all be it without flash). Kind of nice to snuggle up to Whistler's Mother for a photo op.
 
After we frinished the Louvre (we may go back in June) we decided to9 tackle the Musee d'Orsa. Now here even I was lost for words. Filled with impressionist paintings we were thrust in to the world of Van Gough, Toulouse Lautrec, Monet, Cezanne, Sisley, Renoir and on and on. The Louvre had theclassic artists and ancient historh, the d'Orsey had life!!! n Both are good but I have to admit I got high on life!bbYou could feel the struggles, sense the difrference and revel in the uniqueness of each artistic composer.
Whew... I could say more but you'd wonder about me for sure. This is not the place to 'wax poetic'.
 
So back to realith and the lack of getting wired!!
 
This is day 3 and we can't find an internet hot spot in our supposedl 'wired' apartment. To top that off our phone card that is actually a phone piece of paper) doesn't seem to work. Frustrated and not wanting to put a damper on the day, I asked for help at the d'Orsay information desk (remember I told you that the only Tourist Information desk in downtown Paris was closed for two days?!). Anhway, a very nice lady phoned the offi8ce for me. One of the employees gave us a 15 didgit access code to get on line. When we got home the signal strength wouldn't allow us on anyway... with or without the code. Tomorrow we're having coffee at Starbucks. "What" hou say... well at least we know they're wired!!
Now, back at our apartment after finishi8ng a good meal we are rssting our tired feet and planning tomorrow. After Starbucks we may go.... well..... who knows. There is a Sewer Tour that looks interesting.
Ahhhh ... as they say..... when in Paris