Paris - day 1

Upon arriving at the airport, Jer had his first French refresher by explaining to a native French speaker how to use the metro ticket machine. He did wonderfully.

Once we found our way to our hotel (The Hotel Notre Dame on la Rue de Malte), we had our first lunch of moules frites at Leon de Bruxelles. We barely made it through the lunch without falling asleep in our mussels. We then took a much needed nap - even though we were telling each other that we would try to stay awake all day so we can adjust to the time change.

After our nap, we walked to the Bastille and had a late afternoon snack/early dinner at Cafe Francois. We sat facing the Bastille with a carafe of wine and lots of cheese. Great people watching, as I recall.

Afterwards we walked to the Notre Dame - and I got teary eyed once I saw it. I remember being overwhelmed by it's beauty and the whole notion of us finally being in Paris (and me being in Europe for the first time ever).

We then walked to Ile de la Cite and had our first gelato of the trip - I had the nougat noix & figues, while Jer had the caramel sale & framboise. Stopped off for a cappuccino at 'Esmeralda', then walked around in the Marais.

Finished off the evening with some wine at 'Les Enfants de Paris' and just reveling in the beauty of Paris and Parisians.

**back blip**