Well...just typical eating today. We were waiting for our host to bring a replacement microwave, so got a late start...and I did not get fresh croissants or baguettes. Since we still had some from Monoprix, I didn't want to waste them...but it will be absolutely necessary to get fresh from the bakery tomorrow. An arduous task, but it must be done (wink, wink!). Lunch was sandwiches served in crusty baguettes so crusty that they were difficult to bite and/or cut; we're getting good at splitting a liter bottle of bubbly water with meals! (We will have to do some sampling of the region's wines, at some point, but we're starting slowly, I guess.) Dinner was non-dinner - I finished my sandwich from lunch, and, since it was already 9 pm - very nice pears and Belvita biscuits that came with Nutella already on top of them, which we had from shopping yesterday. Actually, it was a simply delicious dinner. Yes, yes, 9 pm is typical French dinner time, but we didn't want to venture out in the rain, or make another very late night...so we made do with what we had.
Being so close to the Eiffel Tower, we walked over and looked around for a bit - and took the requisite "selfie" - there are people everywhere trying to sell you "selfie sticks" but we're old-school on that. Since it's not summer, it wasn't "crowded" by normal vacation standards, and only one of four ticket booths were open. It was overcast all day - turned into light rain later - and we have the luxury of being able to go on a better day, so we opted to do a Seine river cruise, which was very nice. The boat wasn't full at all, and we saw many interesting sights. Now what to do? Lunch, of course...then what? We considered Arc de Triomphe, but again, overcast looking like impending rain, so took a taxi to Sacré Cœur - a crazy ride, because it was about 5:15 pm.
For those of you who like motorcycles, this is the place for you! Evidently, it's legal for motorcycles to go between lanes of traffic - buses, cars, other motorcycles, bicycles, pedal carts - all vie for space on the roads, and the motorcycles go at crazy-fast speeds, zipping in and out and around so they can keep moving. I shuddered and was glad we were riding, not driving. It took what seemed to be an unusually long time in that taxi (yep, first-time tourists trapped!) - but - once at the top where the Basilica is, we were glad we RODE up and could walk DOWN.
Ok, nobody's supposed to take photos inside, but everybody does...we did light some candles (Sts. Therese and Joseph, because those are the ones we saw with family names - and it's Joe's birthday today!) and made a donation to help keep this beautiful place open. There are several different levels, and on each level, people were trying to sell almost anything you could thing of, including cold beer in bottles from cartons they were carrying around. Unbelievable - on the landing of the steps of the church! A mass was beginning as we were leaving - it was beautiful to see nuns in traditional habits, although white with black wimples (technical term, there!). They began to sing, and accompanied themselves with a couple of autoharps; we were outside before the mass began, and moved down to the lowest level of the property. What a sight - and it's about 3.5 miles from our apartment, and we can see the Basilica from our window!
Many people gave us the advice to "get lost" - and we did! We decided to try to walk back, and wanted to experience some of Montmartre...we found a sort of median-park between the two sides of the main street. It had a lot of trees, and was a nicer place than the sidewalks next to the various stores. It was beginning to rain lightly, and we continued until we weren't sure we were going in the right direction - and right after we'd strolled through the Pigalle district, passing the Moulin Rouge, among other various adult establishments. Much better that we were removed from both sides of the street establishments, but interesting to see that the area still retains its raunchiness, from as far back as the time of Maurice Revel (his family lived there for a time, and I learned about it in a video I used - but had to edit - for one of my classes the last few years). It was legitimately raining now, so we decided to try a taxi again...we'll be using the other public transportation choices once we learn what we need to know to get around...and it was a much better experience this time. I don't know if it was that the driver seemed to care that it was taking longer than he liked because of the traffic, or he was a better driver, but it was a better ride back. Either way, I told him he was a better chauffeur, and he appreciated that - a true conversation in French. Most of the people with whom I've started with French have tried to switch to English, which is ok, but it was nice to know I was actually able to have a conversation without switching back and forth between both languages.
It's now late again...but...sleep is not the priority. It's exciting being here, and sharing the day and saving these memories in this detail will be great when I try to remember what we did on each wonderful day. Even with rain, it's wonderful. Tomorrow: hoho (hop on/hop off) bus to acclimate ourselves, FaceTime with my last year's French students, and whatever else presents itself - hopefully all good. Au revoir!
Many people gave us the advice to "get lost" - and we did! We decided to try to walk back, and wanted to experience some of Montmartre...we found a sort of median-park between the two sides of the main street. It had a lot of trees, and was a nicer place than the sidewalks next to the various stores. It was beginning to rain lightly, and we continued until we weren't sure we were going in the right direction - and right after we'd strolled through the Pigalle district, passing the Moulin Rouge, among other various adult establishments. Much better that we were removed from both sides of the street establishments, but interesting to see that the area still retains its raunchiness, from as far back as the time of Maurice Revel (his family lived there for a time, and I learned about it in a video I used - but had to edit - for one of my classes the last few years). It was legitimately raining now, so we decided to try a taxi again...we'll be using the other public transportation choices once we learn what we need to know to get around...and it was a much better experience this time. I don't know if it was that the driver seemed to care that it was taking longer than he liked because of the traffic, or he was a better driver, but it was a better ride back. Either way, I told him he was a better chauffeur, and he appreciated that - a true conversation in French. Most of the people with whom I've started with French have tried to switch to English, which is ok, but it was nice to know I was actually able to have a conversation without switching back and forth between both languages.
It's now late again...but...sleep is not the priority. It's exciting being here, and sharing the day and saving these memories in this detail will be great when I try to remember what we did on each wonderful day. Even with rain, it's wonderful. Tomorrow: hoho (hop on/hop off) bus to acclimate ourselves, FaceTime with my last year's French students, and whatever else presents itself - hopefully all good. Au revoir!
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