Hi - we spent the weekend wandering around the left bank. We explored the haunts of famous writers - Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Orwell, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, James Joyce. Explored is a bit strong - mostly we walked around, read our guidebook and snapped pictures of non-descript buildings. We did see some interesting places, but they were mostly not on the tour! Visited a couple of churches - St Germain and St Sulpice (of de Vinci Code fame), and a fancy craft fair in front of St Sulpice. We also saw Pablo Picasso's residence (of some 19 years), and the location where England acknowledged America's Independence (Hotel d'York), witnessed by Ben Franklin and John Adams (seen on the 4th of July no less). What is shown in the guidebook as a 7km, 3 hour walking tour - we did about half in around 5 hours. I guess we aren't too efficient. While in the area, we made the trip to the Luxembourg Gardens - quite beautiful. The Palace is now the home of the French Senate. The gardens were busy with people either out int the sun, or hiding in the shade (that would be me). There's a big pond that you can rent toy sailboats and send them out - who knows where it will come to port. We sat for a while before returning home. It was another hot day and we were worn out by evening. We met Jay at an Italian restaurant for dinner.
On Sunday, we had a lazy morning just hanging out and looking at the AZ Daily Star on line. We then met Debbie's cousin Eliza, her husband Nathan, and his mom for lunch. Eliza and Nathan live in England at Oxford where she has been in school. Nathan works with a company that consults to shipping operations. They are here for a few days to show Susan (his Mom) and her friend (also Susan) around Paris. We met for lunch on the left bank at Bar du Marche and wandered back to the Lourve and Tuileries Gardens. I was able to demonstrate my new-found knowledge about where Oscar Wilde was born & died (one of our stops on the previous day). Another warm day. The plan is to meet again for dinner tomorrow night. Debbie might also hang with them the next couple days as they leave on Wednesday. Quite interesting that we have been here 2 weeks and have already had 2 sets of visitors! And, although it has been only 2 weeks, it seems much longer!
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