The last Thursday

Well Paris is blowing us out of town. There is nasty weather coming at us from the Channel telling us it is time to leave. By a vote of 2 we think the best time to come to Paris would be the middle two weeks of October. The weather only got cold this week and last week was like summer. Today we are finishing off the shopping for kids & grandkids. Our first stop is the Bon Marche built in 1852 it is the oldest department store in Paris. When you enter you have to walk through the purses, hats, scarves & glove department not like home where you run the gauntlet of makeup & perfume. The first hat we noticed at Bon Marche was 240 euros so back to St. Michael full of cheap little tourist shops where we can do our last minute shopping. We wandered the streets and saw the Dior shop, Ralph Lauren etc. Off we go to find an authentic French souvenir made in Turkey. Hope you like my new chapeau .

Things we loved about Paris: when you purchased an item in the bakery it was beautifully wrapped like a present. French women wear lovely perfume. At home everywhere you go there are signs telling us we are not allowed to wear perfume because someone maybe sensitive. Everyone is very polite. young & old. They hold doors for you, they rise from their seats to give to the elderly, the shop keepers greet you with a hello, a thank-you & a goodbye. People dress with care, maybe in an unique style but never in old sweats. Most women's clothes are purchased in small stores or boutiques. They may be expensive but they are a good quality & will last because they are an investment. We love being able to buy fresh everything with no trouble. The French for the most part still make their food from scratch and their are markets all through the city that have fresh products everyday. The waiters are professional and make your dining experience a good one. Buying a decent wine is only about 5 euros and 6 beers can be had for 4.80 Euros. They have a great transportation system that is reliable and there is another train or bus in minutes and maps everywhere for those who don't have a clue. We have found people very friendly and helpful even with our minuscule amount of french.

We are going to post this blog early because we are going for dinner at our little bistro we found the first week. We are finishing the last of our wine & beer. We will leave the little bottle of champagne that was in the fridge when we arrived.

We have organized our shuttle for tomorrow and have packed most of our stuff. Lyn found a book that she didn't want to claim based on volume but had to admit it was hers. Our bags are a bit fuller but Lyn thinks if I sit on the bags we will get them bags closed.