As many of you know, Paris has been a dream of mine for many years. So the opportunity became available for me to take the trip. I bought my ticket, reserved my hotel and purchased tickets to be used while I was over there. I left Dallas, TX on May 18th and switched planes in Chicago. Or rather I visited the Chicago Ohare Airport for 5 hours while they fixed a de-icing machine on the plane and finally arrived in Paris around noon on May 19th. I should have been tired, but I was so excited that I felt I could go forever. Paris Shuttle picked me up and delivered to my "home" for the next seven days, Campanile XV, on Rue Saint Charles. Having read up on my French Manners, I walked into the hotel and said, "Bonjour, Monsier". OF course he responded with Bonjour, and I asked "Parlez Vous Anglais?" and he said, sure, of course with a good old American accent. Lucky for me he was from Ohio and I could converse with him without the language struggle.
My room was 310 and for those of you not familiar with the European way, this would be an American 4th floor. My room was very small with large casement windows that looked out upon a school play ground and a small corner cement park with benches, trees and pigeons. I unpacked, 
grabbed my bag and camera and started walking toward the main reason I came to Paris........the Effiel Tower. And just as I always imagined, it was beautiful. Now some might say this is just an ugly tower, but if you look very closely, it is a piece of art, just like most of the buildings and architecture in Paris. I walked along the park and then decide
d to check out some more of the neighborhood. It was then that I pulled out my map and decided to head to Rue Cler. The buildings in Paris are all works of art. Each window, doorway and roof has such detail and intricate sculptures. This was one of the things I learned about myself. I enjoyed looking at the buildings almost as much as I enjoyed the people and the sights.
grabbed my bag and camera and started walking toward the main reason I came to Paris........the Effiel Tower. And just as I always imagined, it was beautiful. Now some might say this is just an ugly tower, but if you look very closely, it is a piece of art, just like most of the buildings and architecture in Paris. I walked along the park and then decide
d to check out some more of the neighborhood. It was then that I pulled out my map and decided to head to Rue Cler. The buildings in Paris are all works of art. Each window, doorway and roof has such detail and intricate sculptures. This was one of the things I learned about myself. I enjoyed looking at the buildings almost as much as I enjoyed the people and the sights. I walked down Rue Cler and at that point I knew that next time I come back, I will have to get an apartment so that I can shop the sidewalk markets and wine shops. I headed back towards my hotel, I was starting to feel my energy draining, but I was hungry so I stopped at a little brasserie and had a great quiche, salad and wine. It was great just to sit there and watch the people. My waiter spoke great English and recommended the daily special in order to save money. HINT: Each restaurant has a menu of the day, some have two. For example, menu #1 will be for 10 euros and you get a salad, main plate and dessert. And then there will be a menu #2 for 25 euros, same deal, you get salad, main plate and dessert but the fare is a little bit fancier, for lack of a better word. But in my opinion, I honestly don't think you can get bad food in Paris.
