Daily Breakfast Run

For the last month in Paris I have been going out each morning to get our baguettes, pains au chocolate and croissants for our breakfast.  Within three blocks of our apartment there are at least eight bakeries to choose from!  We have tried them all!  It's been a lot of fun going out on my own every morning with money in my pocket to pick out pastries.

-by Malcolm

Musée Picasso

Another great find in Paris is the Picasso Museum in the Marais district.  Although I do not understand or enjoy most modern art, Picasso stands as an exception to that rule.  The collection of his works at Hotel Salé is fabulous - and I love how these small museums like the Picasso and Rodin throw in a few other masters just for good measure!  Picasso reminds me of two things: that we each have our own unique perspective from which we see the world and not to expect even the most obvious of things (a nose is not always where you'd think it might be!).  Karina - I think you saw more art in five days then in all the rest of your life!

-Gabi

Musée Rodin

Karina and I explored Rodin's gorgeous home and gardens, now a museum dedicated to his artistic genius.  Even in the late winter it's worth a visit (though I prefer the glory of it's gardens in June!).  His sculptures are magnificent and thought provoking, truly awe inspiring.  For me, it's as though Rodin can show us the life or true form of each piece of marble.  Fantastique!

-Gabi

Eiffel Tower Light Show

Each night after dark on the hour the Eiffel Tower lights up with a million white, flashing lights.  It lasts about eight minutes.  It is very cool to see it lighted up!  Even when the light show is over it still has regular lights on it and that's really cool, too.

-By Dinon

PSG Academy

Malcolm and I went to the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) soccer academy last week.  It was the local soccer team's camp for kids.  We went on the metro each day to get there and the camp was all day (9-5).  The most fun things for me were: eating the yummy lunches, watching the soccer movies (after lunch each day, in French) and playing the daily afternoon tournaments.  Most of the kids were French except one older boy from California.  We all tried to communicate but sometimes it was hard.  They gave each of us a cool new uniform including a warm up suit!

For almost the whole week Dinon and I were in different age groups so we tried to speak lots of French.  There were kids who tried to use their school English to speak with us as well.

One of the movies was Shaolin Soccer and it was a Kung Foo/ Soccer combo - it was funny!

Our soccer skills really improved over the week!  

-by Dinon and Malcolm

Visitors

We happily hosted two visitors in Paris over the past few weeks: Terri Getty, my sister and Karina McIntosh, my niece.  Terri joined us in London first for a day and then five days in Paris.  She even brought the boys a little US comfort food - boxes of mac and cheese!  Terri did some exploring on her own but we had fun joining her on some adventures, like lunch at Laduree, visiting Sainte Chapelle and going up the Eiffel Tower.  Karina came for six days during her high school vacation week to practice her French.  The boys really only saw her on Sunday and each night for a couple of hours since they were at their soccer camp each day.  Karina and I, however, covered almost the entire city in 5 days!  Whew!  We were tired each night: art museums, churches, shops, monuments, etc.  She even tried her first escargots and liked them!  It was fun for me to have some GILRS to be with, for a change!

-Gabi

Sainte Chapelle: a jewel in Paris' crown

If you are ever in Paris on a sunny day, you must not miss a visit to Sainte Chapelle.  This tiny 'Holy Chapel' on Ile de la Cite near Notre Dame, displays an amazing set of stained glass windows telling the stories of the Old and New Testaments.  The sunshine is key, giving the glass a heavenly glow.  Built in 1248 by King Louis the IX (Saint Louis) to house the Holy Relics he brought back from his travels, Sainte Chapelle is one of the oldest buildings in Paris today. Malcolm, Dinon and Terri were all impressed!  

-Gabi

internet problems

On Friday February 13th (just coincidence) our internet service at our apartment died. Unfortunately, that meant that our high speed internet, cable TV (with our only English channels) and our landline apartment phone were ALL out of service. This greatly complicated life overseas for us. Skype, email and consistent internet have made our lives easier, happier and in the case of Trevor's work, manageable from Paris. The slow and unreliable service we have found since has meant no blog for a long time!

-Gabi