And God said let there be ‘City of Light’…

You know on the Internet how everybody says everything is so freaking easy, just go here or do this… well that sure as heck doesn’t apply to us. Yes,after you’ve done something it all makes sense but factor in major jet lag and a language that you haven’t studied since grade 8 and there were a few tense moments.

Anyways the train station was close to the airport (CDG airport is a half hour out of Paris) and we made it to the right stop closest to our first Airbnb. We had no phone to contact the owner who lives nearby but people were quick to offer their phone, we made contact with Pascale and she took us up to our place. The location is great in the Opera-Montmartre arr. ,but the place is microscopic (150 Sq. ft ) so it didn’t take long to give us the tour. In a city this expensive it’s a great value though. We have several bakeries, coffee shops, bars (brasseries), tons of restaurants, a market all very close. The bed/couch is comfortable but the shower was built for a bird so when you turn around you knock the shampoo off the tap, scald your back on the hot water pipe sticking out of the wall and the plastic shower curtain sticks to your front… and it makes the floor wet, otherwise it’s a gem.
Everyone says to combat jet lag you adapt to the local time right away despite sleeping only 7 hours in the previous 2 days. So we walked uphill to Sacre Coure, climbed the 100 odd stairs, took a peak inside the church, admired the awesome view, dodged the Asian tour groups. Then we hit a patio, ate a little, (Carol and I marvelled at the infant-sized wine glasses that are the norm here, unlike the fishbowls on a stick that we are used to at home) and then we walked around to check out ‘the Hood’. Fabulous architecture, rich culture, glamorous women and men (some not even gay) all speaking like Jean Chretien (if his face was straight), okay, like Justin Trudeau. I chatted somebody up here who knew more about him than I do. They just had their elections here on May 7 and the winner is only 39!
There are armed police and military at all the important locations. To lighten the mood I decided to grab a pistol out of one of their holsters and fired off a few rounds into the air shouting “Praise Trump” but nobody thought it was funny! Seriously though, they are very professional here, unlike in Mexico where they are lucky to have the right ammo in their bandoliers to match their weapons because of all the corruption (definitely tough amigos though).
Anyways, I’m off on a tangent and the short version is we stayed upright until almost midnight.
The next day we woke refreshed at the crack of 1:30!! That’s in the afternoon. Yes, jet lag is real and bit us hard in the butt. Paris on foot is a nightmare without a smartphone (I decided not to unlock mine for $50 before we left because I read (on the Internet) that the sim card probably wouldn’t work, utter bullshit and if I ever run into the moron that sold me on that I’ll crush his nerd glasses and give him a wet winky. A working smartphone is as important here as clean underwear and breath mints.
We have seen all of the ‘must-see’ sights, got lost countless times (there is no street grid here) and walking around without a GPS is like balancing fine crystal on a broomstick with a dog humping your leg; it just can’t be done.
So now it’s Friday and we’ve mastered the Metro which is fantastic and we won’t be wasting any shoe leather anytime soon. It’s 9 o’clock and we’re heading out for dinner, so it’s adieu for now, back soon.