Paris

Ah, Paree. What can one say that has not already been said? Arrival was uneventful, and the bus to the hotel was simple to figure out. The hotel itself is great – a new Marriott property that reminds me of a W, although without the pretentious, clubby staff that makes you feel really old if you’re anything north of 21. Saeeda and I have been really fortunate in our travels in finding great new hotels that haven’t quite been discovered yet. For us, this has meant that our hotel points go far, and we stay in places that lack the tourist crowds.

Jet lag wasn’t bad, so we freshened up and headed out, hitting up the Arc de Triomphe, which was a 5 min. walk from our hotel, and then the Champs D’Elysees, where we had some overpriced (though still good) croissants and coffee, before heading into the Metro system. With the evening approaching, we decided to make Notre Dame cathedral our one and only stop for the day.

There is something to be said about structures that man erects to attempt to connect with the God of his religion. There is a sense of proportion, a sense of permanence, and a sense of beauty that all combine to humble the supplicant. And Notre Dame captures this essence with great power, despite being what I would call a moderately sized cathedral, and from what I'm told, nothing close to the magnitude of the Sistine Chapel. The interior was beautiful, and I was lucky enough to catch a mass in progress, which made the experience all the more authentic.

Afterwards, Saeeda and I walked around the Latin Quarter, struggling to control the stroller on cobblestoned streets, but enjoying the window shopping and the great variety of restaurants. We settled on a crepe place (for dinner – why not?), and dug into some delicious fare.

On the way home, we passed the Champs D’Elysees again, and spotted that mecca of luxury goods:

We also came across signs that Paris is full of culture, filled with a desire to learn more about little known parts of the world in order to increase a mutual understanding:

As well as signs that Paris has no taste in music, and insists on throwing lifelines to individuals who should have faded into a hazy memory a long, long time ago:

All in all, a great first day.