Bonjour From Paris

View from rooftop of Galeries Lafayette.

My posts are about our Paris trip are going to be quite detailed because I have decided to write everything on here instead of keeping a handwritten journal too. That would just be documentation overload. So, I hope I don't bore you to tears...

We left McGhee-Tyson yesterday sans probleme. (Sorry...I can't help but interject some French phrases. I forgot how much I love this language!) I don't usually have trouble on airplanes but as we neared the end of the flight to Detroit, I about lost my cookies. We were in the last row, the one that does not have reclining seats, the one that is inches away from the lavatory, and the one whose air is sucked up by all the people in the front twelve rows. Somehow, with Andrew's help, I made it out okay.

Travel Lesson #1: Don't skip the seating preference section of the reservations because you are too concerned with dates, times, airlines and price.

Travel Lesson #2: Don't wait to take the Dramamine for the second leg of the flight. Who says you can't take it twice?

Who would have thought the 8 hour flight to Paris would be easier than the 1 1/2 hour flight to Detroit? I guess I should speak for myself though. I slept at least five hours, but Andrew only slept about 1 hour. The food on the flight was decent, but not great. The movie selection made up for the food though. I had to make myself sleep because I really wanted to watch the movies. I did allow myself to watch Under the Same Moon, a beautiful foreign film about a Mexican mother trying to build a better life for her son in America. I definitely had to pretend I wasn't crying at several points in the movie.

Our arrival in Paris went as well as could be expected. We were a
little confused trying to find our shuttle, but we asked someone working at the airport, and he was very helpful. I have found the French to be wonderful as long as you try to speak their language, though I admit that this is only day one. We will see if my story changes over the next several days. Our shuttle bus let us off a couple of blocks too early so we had to tote our luggage over quite a bumpy sidewalk.

One of the most stressful things has been trying to get in and out of Isabelle's rental apartment.

There are special codes to enter, buttons to push to exit, and a pretty complicated old world looking key. The elevator to our 7th floor apartment is maybe four feet by four feet. We had to go one at a time to bring our luggage up. I get really nervous every time we are on it. The view up here is worth it though. As I am typing, I am watching the Bateaux Mouches glide down the Seine River with their sparkling lights. In about an hour, la Tour Eiffel should light up as well. If we lean out the window, just far enough to make me really nervous, we can see that too. We are in the most beautiful building on this street. It has scrolled ironwork on all the windows and the crown molding is fa-hancy. I will have to take a picture of that during the day.

After taking a quick nap, we headed out to the city. We cancelled the Historic Paris Walk for today because it was cold and drizzly, and we would have had to rush. Instead, we went straight to Galeries Lafayette, Paris's best department store. I forgot how overwhelmed I get in stores like that. This building that covers an entire block houses six floors, each full of clothes fit for the most stylish Parisian fashionista. I didn't even know where to begin---so I didn't. I didn't buy a thing. Well, except for this dinner.

Travel Tip #3: Don't try to take in everything. Choose one store, floor, or wing and focus on it.

Dinner at Galeries Lafayette

I wish this picture had turned out better. It just doesn't do the food justice. The colors in the tarte were so vibrant. We split a croque monsieur (a fa-hancy grilled cheese), a piece of camembert cheese, a delectable berry tarte, and a mini bottle of wine. Mmm Mmm. Yummee. As we ate dinner, we had a view of l'Opera, la Tour Eiffel and les Invalides (where Napoleon is buried).

l'Opera...The setting of Phantom of the opera

The center of Galeries Lafayette. Again, the picture doesn't even begin to replicate the colors.

Department store shopping a la Paris. Yes, the is the ceiling of their department store.

Despite my hour or so of culture shock (including knots in my stomach, thoughts of what are we doing here?, etc.), we are having a great time. After I had to slide under one of the turnstiles, I think we have figured out the metro and RER system.

Travel Tip #4: Don't let your metro ticket get bent in your pocket. Sometimes they like to trick you and they make you use it not only to enter the metro, but to exit as well. Seriously, don't their already know I have paid if I got in?

Incidentally, Andrew has discovered what's behind that certain "Je ne sias pas" of French women that has been talked about for decades. He so brilliantly stated that they have a lazy look in their eyes. You know, like, I don't care what I'm wearing, I don't care what you think of me, I don't care if I'm late, I don't care that I am living in the cultural center of the world, and Yes, I just happen to be beautiful too. Leave it to my husband to break through their facade.