Today was planning day.  Those who know me well know I don't do well without a plan.  I walked down to Rue Bonne Nouvelle which is where Starbucks is, the stops for the bus tour I'm starting tomorrow and the metro stations to get around town and to the river cruises I'll be doing over the weekend.  The pictures are of unrefrigerated eggs on the shelf (once publich health always public health) although I don't know if they have salmonella here like we do in the States.  The next is from the window of my apartment.  Earlier two men playing trumpets were walking down the street.  With the closeness of the buildings, it sounded like an entire band.  The last is the corner of Rue Bonne Nouvelle and Rue Poissonniere which, as you can, has a McDonalds.  I've also seen a Pizza Hut and Office Depot.

Sorry about the picture being sideways, for some reason having a problem uploading pictures tonight.

I made it to Paris.  The flight was bumpy somewhere over the midwest, I assume the edges of that storm that was beating up on Texas.  I had a pod with a seat that moved up and down to create a bed and it wasn't bad.

They served us dinner on the plane, choice of two appetizers, four entrees and three or four deserts.  The picture is of my starter, poached lobster on a salad of seaweed and edamame with a sweet chile sauce.  Absoluteley delicious and I'm not usually a fan of lobster, but I did want the seaweed salad.  Had seared sea bass with butter broccolini and cous cous.

Made it to Heathrow and terminal 5, the terminal for British Airways, is so nice.  I made my way to the lounge again where they had a self serve bar (I stuck to water and ginge ale since I hadn't slept much) and they had a nice buffet of cold and hot things.  Since I was still adjusting to the time change, just had a bowl of cereal (a favorite of mine) to go with my water and gingerale.

Caught my plan to Orly Airport in France.  Their "European Club" or whatever it is called was just regular seats but they didn't put anyone in the middle seat.  Although they served this nice little chicken and potatoe salad plate with water crest and some rolls which really improved how I felt (travel weary).

I finally connected with my shuttle driver - Super Shuttle is not blue in Paris.  It was funny because I met this nice lady from Australia who couldn't find her ride and realized she printed out the email without a phone number.  Turns out she had booked through the same company that I did and when she climbed into the van and we saw each other we just burst out laughing.  She was a school teacher (math) from Perth, Australia (opposite side of the country from Sydney).

Got to my apartment which is on this long narrow street with other apartments and what looks like a residence hotel.  There is a nice neighborhood grocery store a long city block away so I have food for breakfast and the bonus is they take credit cards.  The apartment looks exactly like the pictures.  I had contracts I was told I had to bring along with my deposit and after I met the representative (not sure if he owns or just manages) and he counted my money said that was all he needed and left.  In the morning I'll take pictures from the french doors that open and serve as the windows of the place.  Nice view and gives you a good view of the surrounding buildings.  Nice bonus - it has a fan.  I sleep with a fan so it was nice to find in the apartment.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have first pictures of the city.  Now I'm trying to figure out how to preview since the entire blog menu bar is in French.

Admirals Club DIA

I'm at DIA.  Fretted all day about forgetting my passport.  The young man who took me to the airport said he had driven a lady who was going to Italy and she said she woke up every night a week before  her trip after dreaming she lost her passport, so I guess I'm in good company.

I'm in the Admirals Club.  For my sister the world travelor this is old hat, but for me it is a new and exciting adventure.  I ordered a drink from the bar (bourbon and coke of course) and when I handed her my boarding pass she said "Oh, BA, I can give you better bourbon than that", threw out my drink and poured me my choice of bourbon with enough bourbon to last me a week.  We also could get a snack, so this is my exciting fruit and cheese platter, but the price was right - free!  I did notice that the bartender dipped her glass into the ice bin rather than using a scoop.

So just hanging out until it's time to take off.  My next entry should be from London.

Millie, my dog, came upstairs while I was packing and has posted herself on the walk ever since to be sure I don't leave her.  Recently she took her toy with her, so now she and her toy are posted on the side walk.

She made the trek to Conifer to stay with my sister, Cindy, her hubby and son and their three very large dogs tonight.  I have stifled myself - I have only called once tonight to check on her.  Jackson, the oldest, is the man of the house and Millie is challenging his status as "alpha" dog.  Cindy's other two dogs, Lola (a Newfoundland) and Shelby (St Bernard) do whatever Millie says.  Last time we had a doggie play date, Millie had everyone stopped on the stairs because the two biggest dogs could not get past Millie who was standing at the top of the stairs and refused to move or let any of the other dogs by. 

So tomorrow I leave.  I won't have wifi on the plan but should have it at my apartment in Paris.  I hope to make my first post from Paris Wednesday night (their time) and hope to tell you about my great trip across the ocean.

I am almost packed.  Typical of me I have a thousand lists.  All my electronics are a small bag unto themselves, but reading and taking/saving pictures and mapping - all of that is now online.  Nice just incase I lose something.

I've been preparing for my arrival in Paris.  I discovered that instead of just a hop-on-hop off tour I got this four segment tour that I can hop on and off of and turns out there is a stop a block from my apartment and it goes just about anywhere I think I'd like to go, including the Latin Home Hotel where I'm meeting friends for dinner.  You know, when Cindy and I did it in New York, we used it that way also and it was great.  There is so much going on in the city including over 53 of the national exhibits hosting Easter events, all of which are free.  Might even go to the Notre Dame for Easter mass, looks like it might be nice including the choir that is supposed to sing.

Silly me one of the things I'm excited for is the flight over.  I'm in business class, have my own pod that makes into a bed.  Knowing me I'll watch a movie or something.  I have 8 movies and 8 books loaded on my tablet.  But for once I won't be in the row of "smooshed" seats and don't have to pay extra for anything they bring us while we're in flight.  Best part - all on points.

My sister has been a great help, encouraging me when I get caught in the "don't want to spend" money mode that is so typical for me.  I keep repeating to myself "It's not the things you do that you regret the most, it is the things you don't do."

That's all for now.  Next week I will try to post everyday so I have a history of my trip.  Might end up being boring, don't know, but friends of mine, Marilyn and Don, do it on their bike trips and I so love reading their daily posts.  Hope I can live up to what they do!

So today I finished almost everything.  Just have a train to book from Montreax to Geneva and metro for Madrid.  So here is what I have so far.

Paris, Apartment Bearegard

For Madrid is apartment Antonio Grillo

London I am staying three days in an apartment at Castletown, them move to the Gosvenor hotel to start my Smithosonian Tour. 

 Castletown

Grosvenor

I'll write more about the places I'm going to be.  It will be interesting to see, once I get there, if they live up to their pictures!

This is my second entry.  I've been trying to get all of my electronics set up ready to go.  I've stripped four movies and loaded them on the external scan disk, tested all the equipment that needs to be connected.  All I have left to do is get my phone Europe ready.

Today I worked on getting Picasa set up for this tablet and I'm including a picture as my test upload.  The picture is of my little dog Millie asleep in bed.  She is a "snuggle bug" and picked out by my nephew who is her second favorite buddy.  Last time he spent the night, Millie snuggled in between us with her head on the pillow.  They are quite the buddies.