Week 4

After a beautiful September, fall has arrived in Paris. Winter coats, ski jackets, scarves and gloves have appeared as the French bundle up for 10 to 15 degrees. Yes we are still walking around in our t-shirts and sweaters and we often get asked "are you not cold?" We have now survived our first month in Paris and from my point of view it has been wonderful. I know my girls would say other wise. It is now just us three as grandma has left us for warmer climates for the next six weeks. Now some of our Highlights and Observations from the last week. Yes, we now have Observations as well as Highlights! 


Highlights
- Definitely the highlight of the week would be a concert with Les Violons de France at the Sainte Chapelle. What a location and what a concert. The lead violinist Frederic Moreau silenced the room with passionate solo after solo from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. He literally made the violin sing it was so sweet and dear sending shivers down my spine. Even the girls were mesmerized, watching his frantic fingers move non stop on his violin. We will definitely be attending another one of his concerts. 
- Dinner with a 90 year old family friend who has now known five generations of my mother's family.    What great memories and family stories she had to share with us. 
- Gabrielle's smile as she came out of her first session of her roller blading club/lessons. Tired, sweaty and a happy little girl. 
- Nathalie playing Team Handball (my all time favorite sport) in Phys Ed and loving it. We have even bought a handball to throw around. We will be off to see the local professional team play a match soon. Yes, professional handball! 
- Trying the Velib, the wonderful rent a bike system here. They have automated stands all over Paris where you can pick up a bike, cycle to your destination and then leave it at another stand. And it is popular as I often see men in suits, their briefcase in the front basket, cycling down the street. And of course, women in high heels and skirts, cycling along. We did discover though that Gabrielle is too small to use these bikes. As her feet can reach the peddles but not the ground, we decided to share a bike. After many unsuccessful yet very funny variations such as me riding, Gabrielle in the front basket, Gabrielle on the back wheel rail, and Gabrielle on the frame, we did discover a way to share the bike. I sit on the seat, steer and brake, legs sticking out sideways and Gabrielle peddling and hanging on to the middle of the handle bars. I am happy to report no crashes but we did not get very far. We will try again in the spring once Gabrielle has grown a few more inches. 
- As I found myself in yet another cafe not only was the bathroom clean but they had a special toilet paper dispenser by Distrimix that would spray perfume on the toilet paper before use. What will the French think of next!? Louis XIV would have loved this invention. 


Observations
Now some of my scientific, only true observations! 
I love the French as they have the gaul to do things us polite Canadians do not. In particular this week the gentleman who double parked his car in front of a cafe (yes I was in another cafe) and then went in and enjoyed a coffee and sandwich. On the street cars were lining up and getting stuck behind his double parked vehicle. He did not seem in the least bit concerned. 
Then there was the fellow speaking loudly on his cell phone next to me on a cafe patio. Being a nice Canadian, I gave him a somewhat dirty look hoping he would get the message. Not the French, within seconds two others abruptly told him to be quiet. 
Too many of the beautiful people I mentioned in last week's post, smoke. Too many people here smoke and far too many young people. I am still shocked when I see the number of kids smoking out in front of Nathalie's school. 
There are far too many Starbucks here now! Their cafes are large and beautiful but their coffee, that I had to try, not so good. 
The Apple Stores in Paris are as busy as all the others I have seen. I am happy as my computer problems have now been solved.
And finally, no matter where I go, cooking, laundry and cleaning seem to follow me. What is with that!? I thought I had left this all behind!  


(scroll down to see more pictures - still having formatting issues.)