Yesterday was a great day in Paris. Although a bit overcast, the weather was cool and not humid - gorgeous for walking around.

One of the things I enjoy in Paris is shopping. Quelle surprise, eh? Actually, I really enjoy shopping for food here - and I HATE it at home. I avoid doing it for weeks until there is literally nothing in the fridge except for shriveled up mushrooms and spoiled milk. Anyway, you get the picture. In Paris, I find shopping to be so fun - there are different shops for bread, cheese, meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and there are also small supermarkets for other sundry needs. It makes me feel like I've stepped back in time a little as I walk down cobblestone streets and go into the fromagerie (cheese shop) and ask for some brie. The fromager asks if I want soft medium or hard - when do you get to shop like that in Baltimore? I get to ask for a taste and have him cut me off a triangle, wrap it in wax paper and hand it back to me. Such service. I don't know really how all these shops survive - at least one bakery on each street and some streets with a few wine shops, cheese shops etc. but it seems to work. These shops have been there for decades.

After a little outing to the market, Jai and I walked to the Latin Quarter and to the Luxembourg Gardens - so beautiful. Jai is only allowed in certain sections though. Its an interesting thing - there are so many parks in Paris - well maintained and certainly well used, but most of them don't permit dogs. For a city that is otherwise so accommodating of animals, parks are one area that they aren't really welcome. It may have something to do with the fact that most Parisians still don't seem to pick up after their dogs, but Jai is used to a little grass under his feet.

Back to the Gardens - even on a Tuesday afternoon, the Gardens had a lot of people hanging out - mostly students I guess, and tourists - but here we all were hanging out in the gardens of what used to be a palace. The walk was long, but the streets of Paris are so interesting to me. All lined with shops and cafes. My guess is that New York is somewhat like this but I have never lived in a city that feels like this. It is as though the French have found a way to be in this century but retain the feel of the last. By the time we got home, I thought Jai was going to make me carry him upstairs. Seriously. As we entered the entry hall of the apartment building he looked at me as if to say - "you have got to be crazy if you think I'm climbing those stairs." I had to cajole him at every landing promising him treats. I don't think I've seen him that exhausted in a long time. He's been sleeping most of the day today to make up for it.

I, however, am a glutton for punishment so I went for a nice run from my apartment around the Tuilieries - running in front of the Louvre. I truly cannot believe this is my life. I am grateful everyday that I have the opportunity to take the time for this trip. I never forget how blessed I am to have been given this chance.

By then it was time for dinner - I went to a Brasserie around the corner. I am always a little surprised by how friendly people are. yes, its true, I find the people in Paris to be very friendly. I spend most of my days not talking to a lot of people and at dinner, I find that strangers always start up conversations, sometimes tourists, sometimes locals. It is such a nice way to spend an evening getting to know someone completely new and yesterday was no exception. And with my check, came another phone number from a waiter. I think there is either an extreme shortage of women in Paris or there is something funny in the water I cannot explain this. Really.

After dinner, I stopped for a drink at the bar across the street from my apartment. It is a cute little cafe like place with seats outside and one of the few places I've seen that has seats at the bar. I saddled up and started sipping on my glass of wine and writing my journal when I noticed that the guy seated next to me was looking at what I was writing - he asked if I was writing a poem! Anyway we started talking and I got to practice my french for a while, and got another number. I don't think this has ever ever happened to me before, but I'm going with it. He left after a while and I started talking to this really cute couple. They just met 5 days ago and she was leaving the next day for Venice but they still insisted on talking to me rather than just focusing on each other. It was really sweet and more practice for me!! Virginia, the young lady, works at Centre Pompidou but invited me to come visit her in Venice. This just does not happen in Baltimore. It was truly a great day.