In my last post, I spoke too soon, now didn’t I ?!

On Sunday, May 29th at 9:00am my folks landed in Paris. I had firmly declared that I would work this week until they arrived in Hamburg on Thursday. But I’m so weak. I totally caved. By 5:45pm Monday we were jetting to Paris to meet them for dinner. At least I read some tax material on the plane; that counts, right?

Our friend and chic-Parisian-resident Dani joined us all for dinner at La Perla - the Mexican restaurant in the Marais where Soenke & I got our “start” (you know the story… supposedly I touched his knee….blah blah blah). Once we were all settled and introduced, I looked at the waitress to order, opened my mouth, and out came German. I closed my mouth and tried to reload the lingual hard drive. Second try: 50% French, 50% German, and a few words of Spanish. She looked at me a bit puzzled; I blinked a few times and shook my head, then Mom finished off my order for me in perfect French. So this is one of the hazards of European living: total lingual confusion.

After three hours of simultaneous chatter, laughter, stories, and marginally-authentic Mexican fare, we jumped into taxis and sped our separate ways: Dani back to her place in the 17th arrondissement, Mom & Dad back to their chic hotel overlooking the Tuileries… Soenke and I to our daring *2-star* digs up by Gare St-Lazare. Yes I know…”2-star!?!” you gasp in horror…how low have I sunk?… but it got rare rave reviews (for cheapo digs) on Tripadvisor and at a paltry 69 euros the price was sooooo right. I was fully vindicated when we got upgraded to a 4-bed room with 2 bathrooms. Paris loves me.

Monday proved to be island day. Mom consulted her trip notes and led the charge over to the Ile de la Cité to try and squeeze something new out of it. A few wish-spins on Paris’ center-point medallion (from where all distances in France are measured), some appreciative glances up at the Notre Dame, a bit of mingling with the hoards of tourists, then off to the quieter Ile St-Louis to the east. En route, we of course paused in my favorite little Parisian park resting quietly behind the Notre Dame… and at this time, edged by rose bushes in full bloom. Mom strode up, climbed right over the small fence, and smelled each rose (later she also plunged boldly across a nearby expanse of grass… right past the “stay off of grass” sign, of course… how silly that the French don’t enjoy their own lawns!) We later slipped down to the amazing War Memorial – often missed by visitors as it is below ground level, down some unassuming stairs on the eastern tip of the island.

Across the bridge to Ile St-Louis; the preferred neighborhood of the rich, famous, and discreet. It’s tranquil, charming…. a little boring. Enough said.

After a typically-Parisian 32-euro breakfast for four consisting only of croissants, coffee, and OJ… then a 21-euro tea break (who knew hot water and herbs could be so pricey?!), we were soon feeling hungry and a bit low on cash. Dad had a hankering for a truly authentic Frenchie lunch at the venerable Le Vieux Bistro (where I dined previously with Paris party people ‘back in the day’)… so we lapped back to the Notre Dame and indulged in a mere 120 euros of culinary BLISS. (uh, thanks Mom & Dad for picking up the tab on that one…) My vegetarian tendencies vaporized as soon as the menus were opened. Sizzling rack of lamb and savory beef bourgignon soon filled our table, along with crusty bread and potato gratin that sent our taste buds into delirium. Soenke’s and my shared crème brulee was no match for Mom & Dad’s fiery tart tartin – the waiter surprised us by setting this unassuming little apple pastry on fire (after apparently having drenched it in liqueur). Delish!

Total food coma ensued, and we trundled off to Monoprix to pick up some soap (don’t ask me why; it’s just tradition). Our sparkly-new Mercedes taxi had a computer screen GPS system that showed us on a city map exactly where we were driving. This is sheer German ingenuity at work, and if I had several thousand euros to spare, I’d have one promptly installed in every car we currently own, might own, will own, and would like to own.

But back to reality… to the Roissy bus…. the airport….Terminal 1… Satellite 6…the plane to Hamburg… and so concluded un beau jour à Paris!

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Doing some serious metro loitering:

The gang at La Perla:

The ever-photogenic Notre Dame:

My favorite roses - lavender - living large behind the Notre Dame:

Happy parkgoers staying off the grass:

Well, not all of us:

The Pont des Tournelles (I think):

Not a bad view of the back of the Hotel de VIlle:

A 1600s doorway and balcony on the Ile St-Louis:

If you look closely, you can see the flames…