Bienvenue à Paris!

After hugging little Olive goodbye at the boarding kennel, our journey began on a Chicago bus (how very classy).  Two flights, three trains and some hoofing it later we arrive! We flew from O'Hare to Logan to Charles DeGaulle without issue.

Customs at Paris were nonexistent, a new experience for us as usually we encounter an inquisition of obnoxious questions and paperwork.  We met up with our host at his very chic apartment in Republique square near the canal St. Martin. He graciously gave us a tour of the area, and recommended all of his favorite haunts.  Our room is small but has everything we need and in a very safe area.  Although we were jetlagged out of our minds, we are in Paris!!! We stop for our first experience at a Parisian cafe with outdoor seating facing the canal and all of the passers by.  Panic ensues when we are greeted as Parisians and forced to respond with "Je ne sais pas" or just shrug and smile. Our embarrassed smiles disarmed our very polite waitress, and we proceeded to order in broken English. 

We set out to tour le Musee des Arts Metiers, a showcase of beautiful inventions and works by Foucalt, da Vinci, and others. We then wandered to Centre de Pompidou with the museum of modern art, on to Notre Dame, St Chapelle, the Capital Building, and then had an early (for Parisians) dinner at 7:30 of escargot and terrine.  Then, barely able to walk another step, we crash at 9pm to reload for another day.  Due to battery limitations of Bettie's laptop, more pictures and posts to come in the future!