First non-jet-lag day

After a good dinner on our first night in Paris, about half the group visited a Monoprix (similar to Wal-Mart) not far from our hotel. They wanted to wander and look at the many pastries on offer.

It must be said that Monoprix isn't the best place to get pastries, but their selection is surprisingly varied. The quality is decent enough. The students know that there are better and more traditional pastry shops and bakeries all over town. All in due time. We're impressed that we have so many adventurous diners. Today someone ordered an escargot appetizer, and several have had classic French dishes like duck breast. The vegetarians are surviving too.

Today started out cold and a little wet, but it cleared up. We saw some sun this afternoon and early evening. Temperatures remained cool but not cold.

This morning everyone paired up for a Metro orientation tour. Each team visited a different landmark such as the Arc de Triomphe or the Place de la Concorde. The goal was to learn how to plan a Metro journey and how to enter the stations and find the correct platforms. Everybody performed the task on time and met us in the heart of the city. Our meeting point was the Île de la Cité, near the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

We walked to the Notre-Dame, but before entering the building we found a pleasant surprise: the Fête du Pain (bread festival). Sponsored by the bakers and pastry makers of Paris and the surrounding region, the festival was fun. Groups of school children did hands-on demonstrations of bread-making. Professional steam ovens produced fresh loaves, filling the main tent with a wonderful smell. Vendors in smaller tents sold samples of their wares. Anyone for nutella on a fresh baguette?

Afterward we did a self-guided visit of the Notre-Dame for about a half-hour, then walked through its gardens. We eventually made a stop at the famous Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, then had a hearty lunch at a traditional restaurant (in business since 1902, housed in a building several centuries older than that).

Speaking of food, our hotel has a superb breakfast buffet featuring pastries, eggs, sausage, pancakes, cereal, juices, etc. We will include a photo or two in a later blog entry.

We had planned to take a river cruise and ascend the Eiffel Tower this afternoon, but we changed plans and had a free afternoon instead. About half the group visited the AndyWarhol show at the Grand Palais (raving afterward about it).

Everyone dispersed with their newfound confidence in the Metro system, and this evening we saw a number of students in the lobby. Everyone had interesting stories to tell. Our hotel is surrounded by little restaurants and shops. Versailles is tomorrow....