4/17/02 Wednesday
We've arrived in Paris!! First thing we discovered is that there
is no such thing as a line here. Everyone crowds toward the gate
or counter. The part of the airport we landed at was old, decrepit
and dirty. The only cool part was the clear crisscrossing 
tunnels.
We managed to get from the airport to the hotel after lugging
our bags first on a bus, then onto the Metro
line after getting our pass voucher purchased in the USA exchanged.
At the airport we got ¤150 from an ATM-no problem. We
got lost a few times and had to learn how to transfer from one
Metro line to another. "Correspondence" means 
"go through here"
to get to a crossing Metro line but we finally managed to get
to Familia Hotel.
At 11 rue des Ecoles, we're about a 15 minute walk from Notre
Dame. The room is tiny but a good shower. After unpacking we
took a walk around block. Seeing all the shops and display windows
was a thrill. What a great location. Within 50' we bought postcards.
Then found a post office right across the street. There was a
really cool sandwich shop with pre-made baguettes of interesting
sandwiches on display 
.
All this was right in front of the hotel. Then a walk around
the block brought us back to the Metro stop and across from that
the chocolate shop!! What a find.
We got a brownie and a rhubarb 
treat. They wrapped
it in a little tent 
of paper. We took it back to the room after getting a couple
bottles of water. How sweet it is. After a couple hours sleep
and a shower for me, we headed back to the Metro for a long ride
to the east side of the city to the Porte Maillot stop. Here
we found Le
Relais de Venise. This is a steak and fries place that my
student Teri recommended. We were looking on the map trying figure
out where we were when Elaine looked across the street and there
it was! As Teri had predicted, there was a line but waiting only
10 minutes, we were up a narrow stairs in the non-fumier section
having a bottle of red wine 
and waiting for our beef. All we were asked was "How
do you want it done?" They gave us delicious salads. The
beef was wonderful. The sauce has lots of butter and parsley.
The bottle of wine went-no problem. Next dessert. Ahhh, dessert!
We ordered what the table next to us was having. 'Vacherin' (meringue
with hazelnut ice cream, chocolate sauce, and toasted almonds
on top). Fantastic!
Afterwards we talked to someone waiting @ a bus stop to ask which
way to head on the bus for the Chanp Elysees. She said to walk
as the Arch de Triumph was 10 minutes away. So we strolled along
looking at shops, got to Arch right away and went down the Champ
Elysees. 
We were feeling great. We were going to get a drink at one of
the many sidewalk areas but they had all closed. We couldn't
find a bus stop so we went down to the Metro again and learned
that the last train going anywhere, "Republique" in
this case, was due to arrive. It was 1 am and all trains and
busses were done for the night. At the last stop there were lots
of taxi's and we took one to our hotel for ¤ 10 (meter
read 6.40) I knew how to say our address in French luckily ("onze"-11-
Rue des Ecole) We went straight there. Washed out our socks.
Hit the bed-gently because it is FIRM!
