Adventure Part 2...Paris

On Wednesday we didn’t have to get on the train until 12:35, so we took our time getting ready, eating our yogurt, croissant and cheese that we got the night before at the market. Then went over to MacDonalds for a cup of coffee, back to the hotel for our luggage and then to the station to choose a sandwich to eat on the train.

The train was different than the others I had taken, this was a double decker and our seats were on the top level. Soon after we got going they came around with a dinner that was included in our fair….so much for the sandwich…Smoked salmon with a mini crepe, sausage with potato salad and some veggies, coldslaw and mini brownie and a coconut macaroon! Very good.

This train hit 320 km per hour.

We got into La Gare de Lyon at 3:40.…Paul was already waiting in front of the appointed place Le Train Bleu, and Philippe met us soon after to take us to his home, the next home exchange.

The Reisers have kindly found other accommodation for two nights before they head to Vancouver to stay in my home until July 31. The family is Clarisse, the mom (a Kindergarten teacher), Philippe the dad, Chloe 21, Juliette 18 and Martin 11. They have been super kind and helpful to us. Clarisse had made us the most delicious quiche to have for dinner and the fridge was stocked with food to start us off.

Chloe, Juliette, Martin, Clarisse & Philippe
on holiday in Spain at Christmas

The house is a cute two story house with a nice back yard. They are very artistic and everywhere you look there is something that catches your attention ….pictures on the walls, sculptures, interesting collections. (like Lynn's)

Today, Thursday, we took a walk and explored the neighbourhood and picked up a few things from the market. By the way, there is a French macaroon factory that is half a block down the street, only open on Saturday mornings. The French macaroon is like 2 chocolate brownies with chocolate truffles in the middle….I know it comes in other flavours but that is what we have tasted. We will have to investigate that. Curt's chocolate shop in Melbourne sells them too...many flavours.

Yummy

We got back to the house in time for Phillipe, Clarisse and Martin to come over to take us for a little tour of Yerres and to find a geocache. Ever since we first started to communicate last fall and I explained my addiction of geocaching, Martin has been patiently waiting for me to come so we could find a ‘treasure’ Well in fact we found one and then Martin made the 2^nd find all by himself! Then we strolled the streets up to their beautiful new library and the on to the city centre where we tried unsuccessfully to find another cache.

Yerres

They showed us where the train station is and another grocery store. All the while showing Paul the ins and outs of their car….another standard that I can’t drive.

We said goodbye and bon sojourn and they went off to a friends where they were staying tonight…tomorrow they fly to Vancouver.

Sheryl made a great dinner and we talked about where we would go tomorrow….all the while hoping the rain and wind, that started a couple of hours ago will stop so we can stay dry while we explore Paris.