*This now seems hopelessly out of date, but that's what happens when one has only
brief connections with the internet in the space of 2 weeks.

Fab and Slab


Yesterday afternoon we arrived at our apartment in Paris, and it is even more FAB than I remembered. The journey was long, starting with a 3+ hour delay leaving SFO. We arrived in Francfort just in time to scramble the mile and a half (not really an exaggeration, I don’t think) with our ridiculously heavy carry-ons plus Twig to the gate where our connecting flight to Paris had just left. Tired, frustrated, out of breath and sweating profusely we glowered our way back toward where we started in order to re-book a flight to Paris. Passing the Luftansa biz class lounge Craig thought perhaps someone there would be able to help us, and while he asked I entered the lounge and nabbed us a liter bottle of water. The receptionist click-click-clicked on her computer and said “There’s a flight leaving in 20 minutes from A 10. I’ll call ahead.” Off we ran back the way we’d come, and Yes! they had space for us.

Unfortunately our bags did not make that last leg of the journey. We were told they would be delivered to us last night, but “non.” Just now got a call they will be delivered late this afternoon! Thankfully the furniture rental package included a washer and dryer, so we ran our sweaty things from yesterday through a wash and dry, and had clean clothes to put on this morning. I used a large kitchen fork (yes, really) to comb my hair after my shower, but at least I have clean panties to wear!

Adjusting to urban life will be just that, an adjustment, but all three of us are giving it a go. Last night around 10:30 Twig needed to go outside, having not done so since leaving home in Oakland. On went the shoes, socks, jacket, and down to the street we went. Like a trooper he peed in the small square of dirt around a tree right on the busy street. We proceeded on our way and moments later I glanced back and he was pooing directly in front of a restaurant door with one of the workers standing in the open doorway! Thankfully the worker was pleasant (or perhaps he was cursing us while smiling & laughing??) and I immediately scooped up the droppings in a plastic bag and felt as proud of Twig as I would a 2 year old going on the toilet for the first time.

One of the other things we will be adjusting to is the amount of street noise. It is not terribly intrusive if all the windows are closed but yesterday was warm and keeping them closed made it much too hot to sleep. We are sure to find some balance but for now we hear every car, bus, horn, scooter, motorcycle, siren and drunken person calling to their friends. For those of you who may visit one day, be warned and bring ear plugs. Also, pack a toothbrush in your carry on so as not to have to share with your travel partner should your luggage have the same fate as ours!

I have just reached that time of the day when my body says “Why are we awake?—it is 3:30 in the morning where we come from!” Being this tired may even make lying down on that slab the rental furniture company calls a mattress seem appealing. Just a wee little rest, we think………bon nuit!