Friday, September 10, 2010

A lovely Friday in Paris!





Friday, 10 September 2010

Bonjour!

Well, a very full and exciting Friday for us! Up around 7, changed sheets and gathered towels, then down to the Laundromat around the corner to do a load – really didn’t want to leave the towels to dry; rather put them in the dryer. R stayed with the clothes and I went back to the apartment to do some cleaning. Washed dishes, washed kitchen floor, cleaned bathroom, put another load of laundry into the machine here. Then went back to help Robert finish off our load there – which, I might add, took 59 minutes to WASH. Things are VERY clean here!

Back to the apartment with clean and mostly dry items, then started our “outside” errands. First stop was the Metro ticket office across the street. Bought five one-way tickets Paris/CDG airport for tomorrow morning when we go pick up Mom. We were also able to recharge our Navigo cards for next week’s transportation. From there we headed on the 27 bus to Rue Moeffetard for some grocery shopping. As R has decided he really does NOT like little string bags for carrying groceries (neither do I!) we tried yet again to get a shopping bag that works well. Found a nice foldable nylon one, which seems to hold a lot and yet is easy to carry! Will no doubt leave the string bags and take the nylon when we leave!

Hit the Fran Prix grocery store, two of the outdoor vegetable stalls, and a butcher specializing in chicken for everything we need for dinner tomorrow night. Oh! Also had to buy coffee, as Mom is scheduled in tomorrow. Found the place we had used before, right on the street, that roasts their own coffee and grinds their own beans. Additionally, had to buy a small coffee pot as the one in the apartment has a very large crack across the bottom, and R afraid to pour boiling water into it. So – new coffee pot for the apartment! Back to the flat, not forgetting a stop for water (both still and sparkling) at the 8 a 8 (pronounced huit a huit) downstairs.

As we had done so much “work” by this time, we decided it was time to frivol. Headed off on the 85 bus to Montmartre. This time, we went to the end of the Montmartrebus route, and voila! There was the Montmartrebus just waiting for us to board! Had a lovely view of things as we rode up and up towards Sacre Coeur; beautiful view on a beautiful day!! Got off the bus at the Place du Tertre, right next door. Had a good look around the square at all of the work that the artists there were doing. Found the gal who had painted one of our poppy pictures; she does some beautiful things, but I’m afraid that we’re running out of wall space!! Got lunch at Le Deli’s, where we have eaten before; just excellent!

For starters, R had the smallest cheese ravioli we’d ever seen, in a wonderful alfredo sauce. I had a salad with wonderful greens, tomatoes, beets and goat cheese. For mains, we both picked the same thing – Boeuf Bourgignon. The plates were wonderful! Beef, French fries, haricots vertes AND a serving of pureed sweet potatoes – YUM! Add half a bottle of red Bordeaux and some sparkling water, and we were all set!

Wandered back to Sacre Coeur after that for some photos – and to be honest, I think the stairs in front of Sacre Coeur have become the French equivalent of the Spanish Steps in Rome! Various entertainers providing song, dance and even spinning basketballs – just depends on what your particular “thing” is I guess!

Feeling more than a bit sleepy from the wine, we headed back to the flat via the Montmartrebus, an 83 and the good old 27. Stopped at our local wine shop, Caves du Pantheon, to pick up a few bottles – as Mom is arriving, that is ALWAYS a good idea!
Back to the flat about 4, and I logged in to check her flight status of her first flight, from Detroit to Washington DC – and there it was: CANCELLED! Whew!!! R got on the phone with United Airlines, but before he had gotten very far, Mom called!! She has been rebooked via Chicago, and still has her first class seat to CDG! So, if all is well at her end (and she is supposed to call from O’Hare) she’ll be arriving there in about 15 minutes…then she has about 5 hours to while away before her next flight – R just hoping she doesn’t fall asleep…So! Hopefully in my next report, I’ll be talking about the 3 of us!! Keep fingers crossed!!

Lots of love,
m
x

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