Dimanche matin (Sunday morning)

Bonjour! Aujourd'hui, I began with hot chocolate made especially for me by our friend Antione at the hotel, cheese, a real croissant with wonderful butter, orange juice, strawberry preserves you put on with a spoon it is so good. The entire bottle of red wine I drank at dinner last night is hardly even noticeable this morning – no morning effects at all! We are having a lazy start on this clear, sunny completely blue sky Paris day. I walked to the Boulevard des Italiens for my baguette and Espresso take-away. Fromage et jambon, of course! I order them just like a native and get such a rush from it! Past the famous Art Nouvea Metro station I finally photographed!! I walk past it so many times, it becomes a part of my life and I forget I won’t see it when I get back home. It was a quiet day on the street with many shops and brasseries closed. Even so, there are always people walking around. Parisians sure do love their city and love to be in it. I hear people on the street, in restaurants, on TV saying “d’accord” so many times (okay or agree)! I understand so much more French than the last trip that is makes it even nicer. It is difficult to drag thing up out of my brain, tho. I could not remember the word for “rent” when Ric wanted to rent a track bike as they would not hear of us riding our road bikes on the track. The guy at the track was saying “buy” which I caught, so I came up with “one day, not buy”. That got it across but the answer was negative. I must come across OK as when the second part of our interaction started, the guy we first talked to said, in French, "He speaks French!" all excited and pointed to me, smiling warmly. "A little", I responded in French. Everyone really tries hard to bridge the barrier every where we go. So gratious of them! Anyway, it was a lovely walk this morning and smashing my baguette flat in Parisian style, eating it while I walked, sipping on my espresso, back to the hotel was just wonderful.