Paris is always a good idea! -Audrey Hepburn

Friday 10/22/21

Finally back in Paris, and it was straight forward to get here. So, I’d like to divide this post in two areas, the practicalities of getting here during Covid and the more qualitative aspects of being here. So, first the factual stuff: Delta reinstated their non-stop from SEA-CDG, and highly recommend any non stop from wherever you are flying I rescheduled the trip because I had to change planes in London. Check in was longer because it couldn’t be done on line and you had to show a VAX card, but other than that everything was pretty smooth. I snagged a row of 4 empty seats for myself and was able to fully lie down for the whole flight. Before you to to France, be sure to apply online for the Pass Sanitaire, you will need it. This is turning your VAX card into a QR code that will be read everywhere you go in Paris. Mine came through in about a week, but others have not been so lucky. Also since I already have a French Orange Holiday SIM, I charged that up before leaving Seattle: 30 days/ 70GB was 32 Euros on special! I also have the Navigo Decouverte pass, and was able to charge this up for the week on the Bonjour RATP app. This means you can grab the RER without waiting in a ticket line. Since the weekly charge is 23e80 and the airport fare is almost 12 euros alone, this is well worth it even if you aren’t here for the whole week. So, that’s the basics. Landed at about 7:45am and was through immigration and on the train pretty quickly. Hotel room not ready, so dropped bags and went for some breakfast and coffee, first at Maison Sauvage and then at Deux Magots. Walked by Cafe Flore and there was Peter Turnley, fellow RC UM graduate and famous photographer. Then after a walk, some lunch crepes at Breizh, followed by meeting the illustrious Oliver Gee of Earful tower fame at Treize Au Jardin. Today was one of those terrific sunny fall days that is very crisp, weather report said 39F on the way in from the airport. After a shower and some clean clothes, I took the bus over to have a look at the exterior of the Fractional apartment that I bought sight unseen. It does look like they have started the remodel. Then off to Rue de Bretagne in the 3rd for stroll the Rue de Montorgueil. Finally a bite of dinner at L’Avant Comptoir du Mer, one of the great tapas seafood places for solo dining. Now sitting at the corner of Rue de Buci and Rue de Mazarine enjoying a Croze Hermitage while a street band play jazz classics. The number of people our is totally nuts!