Paris wanderings

After a nice lunch with Em and Stew, I had made what might well be the suggestion of the trip, "Let's take McFlurry's to the Luxembourg Gardens!"

What a beautiful park, terrific fountains with miniature sail boats for the kids to play with, ample seating areas all full of people smiling, soaking up the sunshine, all green with envy of our McFlurry's.

My 'go to' French line was to be "Je suis désolé, jé ne parle pas français", I had practised it over and over before leaving home. I realised quickly that it was all sorts of wrong to say in perfect French "I am sorry, I do not speak French" - what a fool I would look.

"Un grand Kronenbourg, un vin blanc et une glace à la fraise, s'il vous plais" is getting a much better work out.

The weather stayed pretty cool while we were there which encouraged us to walk almost everywhere (one exception was the 'PediCab' we took, see footnote). It is a phenomenal city to walk around - best in the world I think. Yes, better than Waikiki. Sooo much to see, difficult to get lost, entertaining the whole way.

The River Seine divides the city in two, splitting the sights to either side which helps you plan your approach, and it helps minimise (in theory) the km's you'll walk.

Whether you are shopping or simply drooling over windows there is plenty to be admired.

We can count the 'bad' cheeses or 'bad' wines we have had on this trip on one hand, without needing the thumb.

Just for the record E had the strawberry tart. And he didn't share it with us. Just for the record.

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Footnote: after 1, maybe, 2 or 3 bottles of wine under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower we didn't fancy the 30 minute walk back to the apartment and just as we paused to contemplate our options a young Italian Gladiator* in his chariot^ appeared and offered us a ride home for as little as 20€. We zipped through the traffic, listening to the classic 16th century music of Emilio de Cavalerri" and we were delivered home pronto, within about 6 minutes. 

What our man didn't point out until the end was that the 20€ was actually per person, and that we in fact owed him 60€ for the 6 minute ride. No, no way, not getting scammed, we had just watched all the scams unfolding under the Eiffel Tower, vowing we knew the tricks and this wouldn't happen to us. He said he'd get in trouble from his boss if we didn't pay, and he'd take me to an ATM, I told him I had no more money and that I would happily talk to his boss if he wanted to call me - and then thankfully a car came along and beeped him, most likely aware of the scam unfolding, and his horse bolted. 

*Parisian jerk 

^ PediCab

" Rihanna 

 

Scott