Baby,it's cold outside!

Mais oui, nous sommes in Paris! We left Roma at 10 am yesterday morning via a Mercedes with driver, flying out of Fiumicino via Dusseldorf, Germany and onto France. What a difference a day makes! We went from the colorful hub bub that is Italy, through the well regimented and efficient German airport and airline to land in the very civilized city of Paris. Our one adventure while flying was the extreme turbulence we hit as we began to descend towards Charles de Gaul. But it only lasted about 5 minutes and the reason for it was clear as we deplaned onto a windy, rainy, cold tarmac en route to the terminal.

Settled into the hotel suite ( you read that correctly!), Geoff and I left an exhausted Caterina and sallied forth in the pouring rain at 10 pm in search of food. Our hotel is located in a very swanky area of Paris.....two blocks from the Champs Elysses and in the same neighborhood as Dior, Chanel, Jimmy Choo........mais oui! We reached the Champs Elysses and found one hopping spot with all sorts of action and expensive eateries. So..what did we choose? The Cafe di Roma, I kid you not! What did we eat? Pizza! LOL

Today, I woke at 7:30 am and had to double check the clock as it is PITCH DARK then! The sun does not rise until 8:15 am in the City of Lights. It turned out to be a sunny, brisk
day....more brisk than we expected as we found out as we were blown about on our way to the Eiffel Tower. Being brave and crazy, we climbed to the first level of the tower, 328 stairs.
Geoff and Caterina climbed the remaining 300 plus stairs and then to the lift to the tippy
top. I was not sure I wanted to climb that many stairs again, nor did I want to be that high
in the wind! They had a great time and took many pictures. I cruised around the first platform
and looked out over the city in all directions. But, man, was it cold! In the 40's with a 15
knot wind is quite different from the high fifties and warmer sun of Rome.It feels great to be back!
A long walk back through the Trocadero and along the Avenue Kleber to the Arch di Triomphe, then back to the Champs d'Elysses and to the hotel for a late afternoon break made for a great
day. We are breaking out the down jackets, hats and mittens for our foray this evening. Will post later!