Nous arrivons a Paris

Ahhh Paris! Thank goodness we booked the shuttle bus from the airport - no trains were running from the airport because of the one-day strike in Paris and we would have been counting the euros had we been stuck in a taxi in the traffic crawl into the city. It was a smooth connection with the shuttle bus and we arrived at the apartment to find Gerard (our landlord) seated outside at cafe Les Mousquetaires. Bisous on both cheeks and we joined him for coffee. He was later joining the striking hordes protesting the raising of the retirement age from 60 to 62 - it doesn't affect him because he's already retired but he is marching to support son amis. Andre, the apartment caretaker, passed by and recognised us from last year - grande sourires and bonjours - he remembered us and couldn't believe a year had passed!

Picked up supplies from Monoprix, unpacked, visited le marche Richard Lenoir for Brent's favourite saucisse sandwich and Lebanese pizza, watched part of the "Retraite, c'est 60 ans" march and then not much else but an uninterrupted, much welcome 12 hours sleep.

Today has been overcast and drizzly, perfect for walking but with occasional downpours. Visited Le Preau, our favourite spot for petit dejeuner from last year, and couldn't believe that the women managing the cafe remembered us! It feels like coming home and it's tres, tres special - je suis almost a local! Spent the rest of the day wandering the Bastille area, visiting favourite streets and shops. Bliss.

It's wonderful to arrive and feel so welcome. J'adore Paris. Lots of blog posts yet to come!