Paris - November 6-12, 2007

Paris: It feels just like we’ve never left Paris. Our hotel is situated on Boulevard Saint Jacques near the Sorbonne on the left bank. From the 17th floor, the view of the autumn sky above overcast with silver-grey, white clouds blends into the architectural landscape of European stone-white buildings. It has not changed in five days which is typical for November here. Most of our time has been spent re-visiting, eating and shopping in our old haunts.

We took one of Allan’s marathon walks from our hotel in the 13th Arrondisement to Place des Voges in the 4th Arrondisement. Tourist mulled around the statue of Louis the 13th while families watched their children in the playground. On the way to the Marais, we ordered Salade Nichoise and Croque Monsieur in a café located in a courtyard behind the Sorbonne. A female student, long brown hair pulled back in a bun, read her essay in French while translating it into English to her friend. After our entrée, Allan ordered, “Espresso and Decaf.” I could feel my heart beating as we approached Satellite, a unique jewelry shop, on Rue de Turenne. The bell in the shop tinkled as we walked in. “I remember you,” the saleslady exclaimed in English. “How long has it been?” she asked, “one, two or three years?” I wanted a pair of auburn earrings which were not in stock. I’ll pick them up on Saturday.

We also traveled on the metro to the Arc de Triomphe. Allan arranged a 12:30 lunch date with Gregory Benoit, a former co-worker at Western Union. We ordered our favorite Chinese dish, Canard, a roasted succulent duck, Cantonese Rice, Nems and Mystere, vanilla ice-cream covered with hazelnuts and a sweet ‘surprise’ in the center. From Rue Cappuccinos, we walked to the Museum Louvres where we visited the Richelieu galleries and saw the Napoleon III Apartments and Reubens’ paintings.
We spent a day out of Paris by driving to Verdun and touring the World War I Monuments.

Paris Armistice Day Parade - President Nicolas Sarkozy waving to Allan and Lynne

We got a little wet one day walking around