Arrived in Paris on Wednesday night. Spent most of yesterday recovering from jetlag and now amongst the living. We love our neighborhood. It is a quartier piéton (pedestrian neighborhood) so most cars and motorcycles are prohibited. There are bread, fruit, meat, and wine shops at the end of the street so it easy to find our daily rations.
Our landlady is wonderful. French belgian, living in Italy the last 30 years with several properties dispersed. Very kind and intent on pleasing us.
Our arrival in Paris was challenging. 5 pieces of luggage including a bike case meant we had to take a tax or shuttle. We couldn't find a shuttle on short notice so we went by taxi. The experience was just too classic french. The driver breaks out into an argument with the taxi starter. Then he spies our 5 pieces and throws up his hands in disbelief. At last he mangles them (and us) into his taxi and we were on our way. By the end of the ride we were best friends and he was giving us a description of each building we pass. Very fun.
Bonne journée!
ReplyDeleteI'm starting at Thomson on Monday, BTW. TTFN!
Welcome to the neighborhood...well sort of. Glad you guys made it.
ReplyDeleteI remember our landing. It was raining. We had 14 pieces of luggage and 2 freaked out cats in their carriers. We took 3 mini vans to our flat only to discover that it wasn't ready. We had to stay in a recently vacated one that was nasty nasty nasty.
Now over 2 years later (and one less cat :-( -- we miss Ted) I'm so glad it all turned out OK. Again I hope we can connect this October if you guys are still in Paris and we can make the trip there. If we come we plan to stay here http://www.hoteltrianonrivegauche.com/index_en.html. I stayed at this hotel when I was in Paris in 2006 and it was just great. Conveniently located near so many sites.
Enjoy your first few weeks! It's going to be a blast!!!
Jim, what is the street that you are on? I remember some streets where they were pretty much blocked off from traffic. We loved going out each morning for croissants, beignets, etc. Check what day the bakery is closed and find an alternative for that day!
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