North Dakota Vikings Invade Paris

My Dad and his wife, Pam, are visiting us for nearly 2 weeks in Paris. This is the first time for both of them in France, and Pam's first time in Europe, but the culture shock and the jet lag wore off after a day or so, and they are both enjoying their trip. We've been busy going to churches like Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame and Saint Germain des Prés, and walking through Montmartre to the Moulin Rouge. We've toodled through parts of the Marais, walked down the Rue de Rivoli, and strolled along the Seine. They have commented on the beauty of the buildings and the artwork, how friendly Parisians are (yes, they really said that, more than once) and how clean the city is. (Hear that, America? Paris is clean and friendly!!!)

And of course in addition to all the touristy stuff, we've eaten. A lot.

One of the benefits of Pam's terrible allergy to dogs is (at least for us) is that I don't have to cook, and we go out for all of our meals. Dad's treated us to some special experiences, and we've introduced him to some new tastes and styles of cuisine (though his "sensitive stomach" steers him toward the rumsteack et frites most of the time.) Today, while visiting the Musée d'Orsay, we had lunch in the restaurant which remains from the Hotel which was in the building back when it was a train station. The décor dates from the late 1800's, and is full of gilded carvings, crystal chandeliers, 2 story high mirrors and potted palms.

We enjoyed Chinese tonight (Caramel Pork--yummy!), and have discussed possibly eating at the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, and fondue another night. Perhaps we'll even find something new and exciting during our trip to Calais on Friday.

It is fun to see them learning and appreciating new things that they've never seen before, and trying foods they wouldn't often encounter in Bismarck, ND. Dad has been relieved to find steak and fries on most menus (I've tried to broaden his food horizons, but one can only do so much) but he has found a new beer, Carlsburg, that is "as good as Heineken" (for him, this is quite a revolutionary idea.) Pam has found that she really likes Camembert (the really stinky cheese), but she is convinced that if she lived here in France she would get really, really fat.

I think they are really enjoying their trip, and they will have lots of pictures and stories to share when they return to the land of the Norskies. Tomorrow we are expecting rain, so the Musée de Cluny (my favorite, the medieval museum) is on the plan, and perhaps a return trip to the Louvre.

There are no plans for the Pompidou. Dad wouldn't like most of the modern art, and I am still having nightmares about that meat dress. (Ew.)