J'ai Attrapé Un Rhum!

 Translation: I caught a cold! Isn't that great? Sounds like I trapped it somehow. So much more empowering than falling victim, as I usually feel. Rather, it's an accomplishment.

It hasn't stopped me entirely, though. More on that below.

First, we've been settling in to Paris and our apartment. We still really like it, but the kitchen really shows its age. The condition of the kitchenware is pretty bad: dull knives; dirty pots and pans (someone didn't clean properly before they left); glassware made for children rather than adults. But we're making do. Given that we're staying for a month, we decided it was worth buying adult glassware. 

We're gradually finding grocery stores where we can find some more familiar items and food is actually reasonably fresh. Our first adventure in food shopping yielded shriveled green beans. I'm still yearning for unsweetened coconut milk. Chris says "lots of luck." But I'm not finished looking.

On Thursday we decided to stay close to home. We're actually very near the Arc de Triomphe, so we went there. It's very big. Larger than the Arc de Triomf we saw in Barcelona. Here's a picture, just in case you've never seen a picture of the Arc de Triomphe before. 😆


The monument stands at one end of the Champs-Elysees in Place Charles de Galle (formerly Place de l'Etoile). Napoleon built it to commemorate his victory at Austerlitz. It honors those who died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, including a Tomb of the Unknown Solider from WWI. Although I've been to Paris twice before this, I never saw the Arc. We didn't fit it in as a family in 2000; and in 1967, I was too busy playing with Foreign Service pals whose father was stationed in Paris to be bothered with sightseeing!

Yesterday I felt the cold coming on but felt well enough to venture out for a bit. We went to the Cité de L'architecture et du Patrimonie museum to see an exhibit on the building and expansion of the Paris Métro (subway system). We also saw an exhibit on the restoration of Notre Dame, as well as the permanent collection.


We could see the Eiffel Tower from one of the 
museum windows.



Chris enjoyed being dwarfed by the massive archways and facades.

On the language front, I'm doing pretty well. At least when I speak to someone in French, they respond back in kind (instead of immediately reverting to English), and I am working hard to understand their response. It's still very early, but I'm heartened by my experience thus far.

Today we're taking it easy, so I can rest and so Chris can get some work done.

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