Parislog 1
Feb. 27 2006


When I landed at Charles De Gaulle it was actually snowing. What a mind blower after leaving Los Angeles and forgetting my winter coat and sweater in the back of G*'s car, thanks to a little mindlessness due to a hang over from a great send-off.

I took a shuttle into my new place. That part went well. It turns out that my roommate is quite nice and willing to put up with trying to understand my broken
French, especially with jetlag. I took one small walk in order to try and stay awake until bedtime and went to an outdoor farmer's market. I walked mindlessly around the stalls shivering like a scared Chihuahua.
There were quite a lot of meat stalls in the market, unlike the American ones. Of course, there were the ubiquitous dogs, alive, too.

F* made a lovely lunch with fresh sardines, tuna, salad, tomatoes, bread, and cheese. Wine too.
The French way really is to have the big meal at lunch and then something lighter at dinner. I don't remember too much of the afternoon as I was pretty out of it.

During the evening I watched French TV and understood more than I expected but less than enough to really get it. While watching TV the lights on the Eiffel Tour came on. I can see the upper portion of it from the living room window. Then starting at 7 the lights twinkle every hour on the hour for 10 minutes. Very pretty. That made it start to feel real.

I struggled through the evening to stay awake, my head bobbing every few minutes and then went to bed around 9 and passed right out.............until 3AM at which time I came to and couldn't go back to sleep until 7.

Today I had the eggs that I bought from the market for breakfast. Super good. They beat the so-called free-range eggs that I always ate in LA. Figure that one out. And they were monstrously huge. I couldn't finish my usual 2.

After breakfast I set up my room, emptying out my bags and then I felt a little more settled in. I did take pictures of where I am staying but that will have to wait until my computer arrives so that I can download the pictures to send. By then I will probably have a ton of Paris too.

After unpacking I went on une petite promenade around some of the neighborhood. It really looks like one thinks it should look. But not too much doggy poop around. It was there though.

On my way back to the apartment, I went to grocery store for a couple of items like water and tuna etc. There were more kinds of yogurt on the shelf then I have ever seen. Double or triple the types and space. I didn't realize that I wasn't going to have my favorite mayonnaise, the mayonnaise that I have used for 40 years. That was another hit of "Toto, we aren't in Kansas any more".

After eating lunch, I asked F* if I could borrow his computer to write everyone and he has graciously shared it with me, but...............the keyboard is half out of place and so my normal speedy typing has come to a screeching halt as I back track and erase mistakes from the letters being in the wrong place or try to figure out how to access the additional symbols. I needed the @ symbol but it is on the 0 key with three other items and it is not one of the two spots that we all know how to use. I will ask François when he returns.