Paris Answers--Part 3

I know my friend Amie is probably wishing I'd start reporting on normal life again, but there are more questions to answer (there will be a Part 4) and I'm still wishing I was in Paris, so it's fitting that I'm still reporting on my trip. My sister Lori has given me the go-ahead on these updates (and I feared she'd be sick of these), so Amie consider yourself overruled.

Lisa--What was your favorite food?
I enjoyed all the bread I ate, but I especially loved the mashed potatoes that came with my dinner one night. They were super creamy and were served with an herb butter that I adored (Regrettably, I don't have a photo of that dinner).


Favorite Activity?
Having our book club photo shoot in front of the Eiffel Tower (even though we didn't get to go back to the hotel and get pretty for it). This was a literal dream come true (especially for Jenn, she cried) and it was a tremendous feeling to know that we are a solid group of friends and that we actually made this trip happen. Also, it was the first time we saw the entire Eiffel Tower, not just the top of it from a distance.


Surprises?
Seeing all of us in travel-mode was surprising and fun.
Feeling comfortable and safe there even though I had no previous experience at all.
Being overwhelmed with gratitude to Randy for financially making this trip possible and for willingly taking the week off work to take care of the kids (and being the Interim Blogger for me).


Also, returning to the hotel one night completely exhausted and jubilant because I got to see, hear, smell, feel and taste the whole experience.

Tokens you brought home?
These are my very minor purchases, but they delight me nonetheless.


Laurie--I'm curious what you thought of the Louvre?
I knew it was huge, but I still couldn't really process the enormity of it. I was as much in love with the beauty of the building as I was with the little bit of art I got to see inside. I loved that I could to experience it with Michelle (the other girls had gone the day before).


What destination was your favorite?
Giverny! It was such an ordeal to get to it (train, hour line in the sun for the bus, bus ride, 2 hour line in the sun to get in) that I was thrilled that it was definitely worth it. It was stunningly beautiful, peaceful (even with the crowds) and was huge. I wish we could have hung out there in some shady spot to read and write, but that's not really what that place is all about.


What foods you appreciated and which ones you couldn't stand to try?
I appreciated ALL the foods I ate. I was seriously hesitant about the food before going there because I'm a rather picky eater, but I found foods I loved in every cafe we visited. I wasn't keen on trying any egg dishes or escargot, but I'm okay with that.


Is there a part of the experience or culture you wish we had here in the U.S.?
I wish we had outdoor cafes everywhere like they do in Paris. It was amazing to walk down a street and pass cafe after cafe all of them with chairs facing out towards the sidewalk with people leisurely eating (and smoking) with a friend. It doesn't feel like we do anything like that in the U.S., we're all about getting our check, rushing to make our movie or getting home to the babysitter. It's kind of sad.

{photo by Collette}

What made your travel easier than you thought?
My neck pillow was seriously helpful both on the plane and while sleeping during the trip (I use it at home now too). My blister-blocker Band-Aids were super helpful and totally worth the money, so that definitely made my traveling easier. Ambien on the plane ride there successfully knocked me out and made that flight go quickly. Being with friends who all served a different function made things easier: Amy plotted out every route and directions, Jenn and Amy scheduled all our activities, Collette kept us on-time, Michelle spoke the language, hosted us at her apartment, suggested things to do, Jana slept a lot and flirted with French men...so there was no stress involved, we shouldered the load together.


Michelle A.--Did you manage the language well?
I think I did well with the small amount that I know. I could get by and I could understand a decent amount of what I saw (there are signs and advertising all over the metro) and heard.


What did you learn about the French?
Their way of life is very different from ours, the smoke A LOT, they keep late hours, they don't bring kids around the city much and they tolerate Americans fairly well.

Is there something you wish you hadn't seen and something you wish you had seen or had more time for? I didn't enjoy the walk to the Moulin Rouge. I don't know that it was bad enough that I wish I hadn't seen it, but it was really crude (the sex shops we passed) and made me feel sick inside so I definitely could have done without that. I pretty much could have used more time at all the museums and for wandering the city.

{photo by Collette}

Did you have a rude French waiter?
Not really, I was impressed with the thoroughness and good nature of all our waiters. That was a nice treat for us.


What was the moment you said, "Ahh, I'm in Paris!"?
We took a train from the airport to the city so we were underground for much of that journey and didn't get to see anything pretty on the ride. We got out underground in the Metro station and heaved our luggage up the stairs and surfaced in the middle of a bustling street corner complete with a cafe (the one where I ended up ordering the chocolate mousse), tons of people, gorgeous buildings all around, and the noises of the city. It was overwhelming and definitely gave me pause and made me think "Ahh, I'm in Paris!!!!"

**Do you want to go to Paris?
Can you handle Part 4?**