Les Vacances: Day 4 and 5 miles of walking

Slept in until 8 this morning after both of us lay awake from about 2-4 a.m. Getting over jet lag sooner than expected. After a leisurely breakfast, we headed over to the Marais by bus and Metro. I love the bus--it's much better for sightseeing. Just as Kat and I did 5 yrs ago, we walked circles all around the Centre Pompidou without finding it, OR the Stravinsky fountain we were looking for. John even stopped in a police station to inquire as to the whereabouts of said fountain, but they said they had never heard of it! We had a map and followed signs to Centre Pompidou to no avail. I swear someone keeps changing those signs. (Kat, stop laughing!) Finally, we stumbled upon the fountain after typing "big lips fountain Paris" in Google maps. Voila`! We had lunch at Dame Tartine at

the edge of the fountain where Kat and I ate years ago. Quite entertaining. Then I tried to find the apartment Kat and I stayed in, but couldn't. Things seem to have changed a lot in the Marais in 5 yrs.

We walked along a bridge over the Seine, watching sunbathers enjoy the Paris Plage (sand and palm trees and beach umbrellas are installed along the edge of the river). We peeked at the outside of Notre Dame (been there, done that before), where Flat Stanley posed for a picture. Qui est-ce que cette Flat Stanley, you ask? Google it! Next we hopped the RER to Les Jardins du Luxumbourg for a quick walk-through, thoroughly enjoying the sights. We'll go back there for sure. Then it was back to the apartment for dinner of still-warm baguette and pasta and parmesan as an appetizer and chocolate éclairs for the main dish.

There sure are a lot of people who speak French here! And very few (so far) who speak English, but we're muddling through with our very poor French and a lot of pointing. :)

Lovely weather today--mid-70s.

Cat sightings today: 1 Trip total: 4

-Gail