As we ride home on the train:
I remember Paris as rude and fast paced, they have changed a lot over the last 15 years or so. Everyone was friendly and helpful, they seemed rushed but not overly so; I now have a very different, pleasing view of the city. Our first full day we walked Nate to the UNESCO building and then went on our way. We passed the Amory, where five horses were being exercised, one rider figured out that Tara was waving and he waved each time he passed us again. Tara kept saying Nay-Nay so we sat and watched for about half an hour.
We made our way to the Eiffel tower park and found a wonderful playground, empty when we arrived, it quickly filled up with international nannies and parents. Over the next three mornings we saw any of the same people; the sun even came out a couple of times.
Taras and my adventures included walking around the Eiffel tower, eating in many pattisieres, coming home for nap and then spending our afternoons at the aquarium, at the Siene (watching the boats) and ina laudry mat. I had my first adult conversation there where a person studying to be an interpreter and I talked about politics, the EU in general and books, inclluding one I'd like to read entitled "A year in Merde (shit)" fiction about a year in Paris.
Our hotel "Nouvel Hotel Eiffel" (www.nouvelhotel-paris15.com, for my reference later)was more than we could expect. The rooms are tiny, but the people make up for the difference and more so. They brought upa mattress for Tara and then a step stool for her to use in the bathroom (she only had three accidents all week! two of which could have been avoided, we were just not paying attention). Tara bumped her head pretty hard on a tabe and before I was done kissing it someone had brought a frozen water bottle for her head. The desk attendants meet you once and from then on seemed to know what language to speak to you in. The maids, there were two, seemed to love Tara, and after knocking to clean the room during nap time our first day, changed their schedule so that they would not disturb her. And, they were more than willing to translate for us when we got a nanny who only spoke french.
The food was pretty good, it was hard to figure out where had food and where you should just sit for cafe au lait. D'juneir, I'm spelling it wrong, but lite lunch is served in many cafes. The first few evenings we had to get fast food to take to the hotel so we could put Tara to sleep. The hotel staff brought out plates and silverware for us to use. We ate chinese food, Italian food, oh, but our first meal was at a cafe down the street, called the workers cafe, where we ate delicius pasta with some delicate nutty oil and Nate had a tasty rotissery chicken. We decided to stick with the 'point to something on the menu without knowing what it is' tactic and it worked quite well. No liver for me, although I did end up with a ham and cheese sand. withe and over easy egg on top for one lunch :(
We spent time at the Louvre and the Arc de Triumph (where we ate a meal in a street cafe, with a perfect veiw from about a block away!) and more time in wonderful parks and playgrounds. SOme pictures on our picasa site might enspire some of our friends who might decide to set up a playscape in Lawrence. I'm sure the saftey regs are lacking, but there are some great aspects to them.
I was able to finish another book, 'Prep' which I did not like too well. But at least I'm getting to read! I've read two or three books recently where I did not identify with the main character and simply did not enjoy the book because of that.
Walking around the Latin quarter was remarkable in the way Europe can be; all the small pedestrian streets that curve around and suddenly there is the Eiffel tower, or a castle or a 1000 yr. old something :) Paris is an easy city to explore on your feet, it is large, but all the tourist sites are within a few miles of each other. Our neighbor said that he'd taken the bus around Paris, where we took the Metro. You can see more of the city on a bus since you are not underground most of the time, so I'd try the bus next time.
We are happy to be home, a bit more relaxed, but are really looking forward to our next vacation, this time to Rome. Our time in Germany seems to be going so fast. We've already planned most of our months here and I'm now starting to think about returning home :)
