Hard to believe but it is 17 years since we bought this pad in Paris thinking if we used it for 5 years it would be worth it. Here we are 17 years later. I’ve been writing about our trips for most of these years and last night I started going through some of my past entries and am amazed at how much we’ve done and the wonderful experiences we’ve had.

Now, our time here has changed as we aren’t as mobile and lack the energy of those years past. Nonetheless, we continue to enjoy experiencing another culture despite the language barrier. Although I can’t sort out a problem with the electric company over the phone, I can usually get by at the market. But today something funny happened.

At the market

I saw some terrific looking fennel (fenouil) I picked up a rather large bulb and asked the vendeur how much it cost. Ça coüt combien? He gave me the price which I thought was quite expensive but I wanted the fennel and so handed him 15 euros expecting change. He looked at me as though I was crazy. Madam- he started speaking rapidly at which point I realized he had said 2.50 and I had misunderstood 12.50. (Deux vs douze). The difference in sound is not subtle to a native speaker but to me…..I had a good laugh and moved in. My giant fenouil is below.

The second funny thing that happened today needs some background. George usually cleans up after meals and always opens the kitchen window just a bit. Despite my many requests that he not open the kitchen window since it could be tempting to a thief (a Spider-Man type) if we left the apartment and forgot to lock it, he forgets and opens it. Today, before going to the market I asked him,”What can I do to help you remember not to open the window?” With that I left.

An hour later when I got back home I found the following posted on the kitchen window and we both haven’t stopped laughing since. I think he found the solution.

Sunday— we went to the Picasso museum. I’ll cover it in the next blog as it is a rather long one.

But before I go off – we stopped for a very early dinner while in the Marais- where the Picasso museum is. The restaurant’s name is Robert and Louise – you can google it for more photos and details. It has an open fire grill and specializes in beef, lamb, and the like. No fish on the menu. We didn’t know anything about it and walked in. Without a reservation, I think we got the last table – at 4:00 pm which is very unusual. We asked the waiter what the best item on the menu was. The photo of what we got is below. Every now and then these two vegetarians indulge. My phone’s battery was down so I could take only one photo.

Many restaurants are closed on the weekends. If they are open, service usually does not start until 6 pm at the earliest. Thus, it was luck that we happened to walk by and find Robert and Louise open not far from the Picasso museum. Another bit of luck- as we exited a taxi was letting someone else out and we got right in headed for home.

After getting home I went for a walk around the block and came across this etched into the side of a building. I’d passed by many times but never noticed this.