Travelling to Paris

So we opted for the highspeed train through the chunnel (that's 20 minutes at up to 200mph in darkness) rather than the car I was going to rent the day previously. (You'll remeber that I got sandbagged on that whole plan) The train is terrific and at just over 2 hours you're barely into REM state with a full sleep drool and you're in the station.







After untangling the metro we made it to the apartment we have rented. This is someone's home (3 bedrooms) that they have rented to us for a fraction of the hotel cost (Its at least $300 a night for a hotel close to Paris) This is a bit odd - the "flat" is a real experience for us and quite different from even a modest apartment in Canada. I have to have the window open at the desk so I have somewhere to put my elbow while I type. Its not the most luxurious accomodations but we will be spending very little time here anyways.

First order of business - get some wine, cheese, a baguette and dig in. A very good bottle of wine ($4) a big thick wedge of Brie ($4) and a baguette (70cents) and we're done for dinner. We found a park and enjoyed.

We walked around enjoying the sites and sounds around the Seine - a couple shots below

And we visited a military museum where Jake looked closely at the cannons. (That's close enough Jake/ Wille Coyote)

There was a modern dance performance starting but it was a bit of a stretch for us who have become junkies for big chunks of culture...not little slices like a modern dance performance....(plus I just don't get it)

How about this shot of the Eiffel tour down river as it lights up....fantastic

And so we now headed to Party on the Champs Eylesey with the well-healed folks. What a spectacular night. The street was loaded with people talking shopping eating and drinking....all on a perfect warm summer night. The highpoint was finding that even on a street far from Seattle and dedicated to preserving French culture - there is Starbucks. Apperently there is a God.



Brigitte is clearly very happy.....





We ended the night with Starbucks in hand at the Arc de Triumph - tired, happy and enjoying the perfect mixture of today's fresh coffee  and a reminder of yesterday's sacrifices that made it possible for us to enjoy today.