Lunch: Liz: first course pumpkin soup with shrimp
Dick: Salad chinoisse
Second course asian inspired pork
Dick: Thai inspired monkfish



So sunny today. It did not rain until night time. We walked over to the Right Bank, the more busy area tourists are more familiar with. 5 minutes ago, I was one of them, so, I have no illusions of superiority. Its just that when you think of living somewhere, you tend to want to be a little away from the hordes. You know, like not living by the stadium or on State Street proper.


Last night we had crepes for dinner. The owner who is chef, waiter, and dishwasher was from Brittany and his crepes were unbelievably thin. Even filled with ham and cheese and folded into a perfect square, they did not measure 1/4 inch thick.
Dick had a spinach,mushroom,cheese with tiny bits of bacon that was about 1/3 inch at the most. We sat in the window on tiny chairs and watched the misty rain just barely touch the ground. Two young women chattered away, asking the owner what we were having and talking about us, thinking we had no idea. I had half an idea. It wasn’t bad, just chatty.
It is one thing I have noticed about the French, they are nosy. They are very curious about what you are doing, saying, wearing, eating. It is not obtrusive, just humorous at the moment. I imagine, it could be annoying, but at the moment it doesn’t bother me in the least. They do that thing you associate with them, looking down their noses, and eyeing whatever. Its not haughty, more like a child trying to espy the gift you are wrapping or which hand the coin is in. Unlike Italians, they won’t really just start talking to or at you. They wait for an invitation, but even the most wretched french liberally peppered with merci’s and sil vous paits, will get you what you want. A smile works wonders, like anywhere. Even though they won’t necessarily smile back, they will stay engaged.
We are on a major street with a direct route to the hospital and the police, so at nights there can be a lot of sirens.
There was a major fire in an apartment in the 13th, the night before and there must have been 20 sirens at 4:20 a.m..
The Italians are striking the airlines. The Germans and French are protesting nuclear waste disposal. Tomorrow the teachers here are supposed to protest, Dick says,” if the weather is good. Otherwise, they will just have a late lunch. “
C’est la vie.