Arrival in Paris- June 1

 

Day one, arrival, backside of
Marriott Hotel, Paris 

This view is looking out our window down to the Marriott courtyard and the roof of the infamous restaurant.  You can even see the table where we sat for dinner on the second night (more about that later).








Carol in courtyard on arrival



 Carol is a little weary; the company we contracted with to transport us from the airport to the hotel had a toll free number to call when arriving at the airport.  After she figured out how to use the phone, she could get only French speaking operators.  The toll free call:  $44.   When finally getting through, the transporter provided their regrets that they would be unable to pick us up!  Cab fare, airport to hotel,  51.70 Euros ($73.00).  The look on Carol's face, priceless.  (I wouldn't want to work for Expedia.com's customer relations dept. when we get back to the States.)



 

Happy happy Ralph

Ralph is smiling; he is happy (to be alive).  The plane from Prague to Paris was take-off delayed 40 minutes, which of course didn't amuse passengers with connecting flights.  While the take off was "wheels up" fast, the banging noise outside the aircraft on climb-out disconcerting, and the airspeed seemed unusually high for a commercial flight, it was the carrier deck landing that finally cleared up Ralph's constipation. 
Consequently, he thought the smooth, slow taxi ride to the hotel was marvelous at any cost.



France is where you
 come to lose weight

First night's dinner, outdoors on the Victor Hugo Plaza was like a fantasy; we had a foie gras appetizer, a bottle of fine French wine (Ralph thought he had ordered 2-glasses, which accounted for the smile on the waiter's face), unbelievable entrees, and espresso with French pastries for dessert.
We people watched and vehicle watched, what insightful observations.  There are a lot of bicycles, motor scooters, motorcycles, Smart cars, very small coupes and sedans, and a tiny hand full of full sized sedans.  The reason is also priceless:
gas @$8.00/gallon.
It also appears in Europe that you do not need any driver training or a driver's license; the requirements are a Jekyll and Hyde personality (Hyde being a NASCAR driver on steroids), a heavy right foot that moves with lightening speed between the accelerator and the brake, a 'tude with a loud voice and matching vocabulary, and of course a horn -- a really good horn.  Every "trip" even if it is just to the corner grocery must be considered the final points race for this season.  Where is the Highway Patrol or State Troopers you ask?  Apparently, there's one in Germany and one in Spain.  How many do you think you need?






View from restaurant across
 the vehicles only"Plaza", 
French for round-about



Seems to me that the basic difference between the "round-abouts" in Santa Maria and Paris is that Santa Maria's are kind of lavish with the tree, grass, and two lanes.