We're here! I asked Jeff to set up a blog so we could post a few comments while on our Baltic cruise.
We left Dallas on Sunday around 1:30pm after a slight delay due to weather. But we were on vacation, so no worries...after a brisk 30 minute walk in Miami from terminal D to A (if you have been to Miami and made the trek you'll appreciate the gravity of that "luck") we were greeted by the gate agent, who said "all groups, boarding all groups" - and he gave us this look, it was soon to be recognized as THE Parisian look. No worries - we're in business class and so we don't have far to walk, I thought. "hmmm...we're sort of worried about our luggage making this connection" - we explained to our Parisian gate agent. "Oohhhh not to worry - not at all, no problem" - Perfect. he knows best, after all this is our first trip to Paris! He checked us in, and quipped, "tada" - how funny, I thought - and on the walk to the plane I laughed out loud and said something to Jeff...who laughed louder and said, "um, he said Auvoir" -= as in "good bye". Well, that makes more sense!
I'll have a mimosa, I told the stewardess, with freshly injected lips (her's not mine) - and Jeff ordered an OJ. She returned and his was leaking, "there's a crack" and she dumped most of mine on the aisle - "good thing these ailses are wide, she said". yes, indeed, I thought. The food was delightful, the service got better and after some wine and ambien we were woken from our slumber...
After watching the last bit of luggage come up the belt - we looked at each other and agreed, the gate agent was full of something! Your luggage will arrive on the next flight. Oh - perfect. Will you deliver it to our hotel so we don't have to trek it on the Metro in the rain? I asked. Of c ourse, the next flight arrives tomorrow and we'd be happy to deliver, she said, with her Parisan look. "EXCUSE_M_WAH?" I said with my newest french accent. She repeated, the next flight was in the am and we'd have our luggage within 6 hours of that.
Wow - this has started out to be a trip of a lifetime. Luckily our friends Keith & Phil were on a different flight and they had deo and shirts that we could wear. Their flight was delayed too, but they arrived just a couple of hours behind schedule. Jeff and I walked around for about 30 minutes trying to find the hotel - which was stuck in between these buildings on a side side street and the mapped was less than perfect.
Side note - I learned a lot from my mom - and one lesson I'll never soon forget, "suffer for fashion" - and after all that walking in a smart new pair of Sketchers, I was taking note. Thanks Mom- I owe you one. I have a blister the size of a 1/2 dollar and the rest of the trip will be memorable :)
Upon arriving at the hotel, Jeff informed the clerk that "this map sucks" - I wonder why they don't like Americans here? She gave him the Parisian look and we checked in to our room. It is quite a lovely boutique hotel. The room is not very big, with teh toilet in it's own special closet (and a lid that has a hole that requires some adjustment) - and a tub that is not as wide as ours at home.
Our hotel is by the Notre Dame Cathedral...how fun is that? We took a nap, adn waited for Keith & Phil to arrive. While the nap was soooooooo wonderful, we finally decided to not sleep the entire trip away and went to grab a bite - 75 Euros for 2 sandwhiches and 4 cafe creams. (1euro=1.35 cents)...YIKES, This place is expensive!
We walked around some, then got on a boat to see the city at night. The Seine is murky but the city by boat was amazing. The Eiffel tower, this big glass building, Arc d' Triumph...it was unreal. This IS AMAZING.
We then went to a local bar where I nearly choked on all teh smoke. 75% of the people here smoke, it seems (ok, seemed like 100% in THAT bar). It rained a bit, but I actually wore a sweater jacket (Thankfully that was the one "lucky" thing for us - I told Jeff to carry his jacket on the plane, even though it was 85 degrees before we left Dallas, "We might need it in Paris" - since we had NO luggage on arrival - it was nice to have a jacket. Also glad I talked him out of wearing shorts on the plane (he wanted to be comfortable, I wanted to be realistic in Paris).
We slept like a rock and today we got a bus pass to tour the city. We decided that Mom & Dad should come here next year as part of their 40th anniversary trip. This is a city that everyone should everyone should experience.
We had agreat day today - saw some amazing sights - we'll post pictures later. We're supposed to go eat dinner (it's 8pm our time) so I need to get off of here and see the city.
We'll post more as we get time -
"tada"
michael & (Jeff)
We left Dallas on Sunday around 1:30pm after a slight delay due to weather. But we were on vacation, so no worries...after a brisk 30 minute walk in Miami from terminal D to A (if you have been to Miami and made the trek you'll appreciate the gravity of that "luck") we were greeted by the gate agent, who said "all groups, boarding all groups" - and he gave us this look, it was soon to be recognized as THE Parisian look. No worries - we're in business class and so we don't have far to walk, I thought. "hmmm...we're sort of worried about our luggage making this connection" - we explained to our Parisian gate agent. "Oohhhh not to worry - not at all, no problem" - Perfect. he knows best, after all this is our first trip to Paris! He checked us in, and quipped, "tada" - how funny, I thought - and on the walk to the plane I laughed out loud and said something to Jeff...who laughed louder and said, "um, he said Auvoir" -= as in "good bye". Well, that makes more sense!
I'll have a mimosa, I told the stewardess, with freshly injected lips (her's not mine) - and Jeff ordered an OJ. She returned and his was leaking, "there's a crack" and she dumped most of mine on the aisle - "good thing these ailses are wide, she said". yes, indeed, I thought. The food was delightful, the service got better and after some wine and ambien we were woken from our slumber...
After watching the last bit of luggage come up the belt - we looked at each other and agreed, the gate agent was full of something! Your luggage will arrive on the next flight. Oh - perfect. Will you deliver it to our hotel so we don't have to trek it on the Metro in the rain? I asked. Of c ourse, the next flight arrives tomorrow and we'd be happy to deliver, she said, with her Parisan look. "EXCUSE_M_WAH?" I said with my newest french accent. She repeated, the next flight was in the am and we'd have our luggage within 6 hours of that.
Wow - this has started out to be a trip of a lifetime. Luckily our friends Keith & Phil were on a different flight and they had deo and shirts that we could wear. Their flight was delayed too, but they arrived just a couple of hours behind schedule. Jeff and I walked around for about 30 minutes trying to find the hotel - which was stuck in between these buildings on a side side street and the mapped was less than perfect.
Side note - I learned a lot from my mom - and one lesson I'll never soon forget, "suffer for fashion" - and after all that walking in a smart new pair of Sketchers, I was taking note. Thanks Mom- I owe you one. I have a blister the size of a 1/2 dollar and the rest of the trip will be memorable :)
Upon arriving at the hotel, Jeff informed the clerk that "this map sucks" - I wonder why they don't like Americans here? She gave him the Parisian look and we checked in to our room. It is quite a lovely boutique hotel. The room is not very big, with teh toilet in it's own special closet (and a lid that has a hole that requires some adjustment) - and a tub that is not as wide as ours at home.
Our hotel is by the Notre Dame Cathedral...how fun is that? We took a nap, adn waited for Keith & Phil to arrive. While the nap was soooooooo wonderful, we finally decided to not sleep the entire trip away and went to grab a bite - 75 Euros for 2 sandwhiches and 4 cafe creams. (1euro=1.35 cents)...YIKES, This place is expensive!
We walked around some, then got on a boat to see the city at night. The Seine is murky but the city by boat was amazing. The Eiffel tower, this big glass building, Arc d' Triumph...it was unreal. This IS AMAZING.
We then went to a local bar where I nearly choked on all teh smoke. 75% of the people here smoke, it seems (ok, seemed like 100% in THAT bar). It rained a bit, but I actually wore a sweater jacket (Thankfully that was the one "lucky" thing for us - I told Jeff to carry his jacket on the plane, even though it was 85 degrees before we left Dallas, "We might need it in Paris" - since we had NO luggage on arrival - it was nice to have a jacket. Also glad I talked him out of wearing shorts on the plane (he wanted to be comfortable, I wanted to be realistic in Paris).
We slept like a rock and today we got a bus pass to tour the city. We decided that Mom & Dad should come here next year as part of their 40th anniversary trip. This is a city that everyone should everyone should experience.
We had agreat day today - saw some amazing sights - we'll post pictures later. We're supposed to go eat dinner (it's 8pm our time) so I need to get off of here and see the city.
We'll post more as we get time -
"tada"
michael & (Jeff)
3 comments:
Michael and Jeff, what a brilliant idea. I loved every word of it...right down to the "suffer for fashion". Thank you so much. Have a blast and may the luggage arrive safely. I'm liking the idea for the 40th but do the "children" put on the party? TaDa Love, Mom
Oh, I should have warned you on the Parisenne/VAT included attitude. Glad you have someone with you who knows the score! Love the blogging!! Glad you're having fun and not too much sweat :) Love, Kristi PS - when you were in Montmarte, did you see the Moulin Rouge?!
os course it was brilliant...it was YOUR idea mom! We'll have to negotiate your 40th...if business is doing poorly we may have to send you to Paris Texas instead. :)
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