Swirling into summer in the city

This is the view from my work station in the Paris apartment this summer.  This is where I will share our adventures with you, and this is where I'll help Tom, my husband, with his latest textbook (The Norton Sampler, 10th edition).

I tell people that we get more work done on the textbooks in Paris than in Sanibel because there are fewer distractions here.  As wrong as that sounds, it is true.  Both places are wonderful places in which to create.  But for us, being in Florida means being involved in many efforts.  Other people take wonderful care of Paris, leaving us time to do what we do at our computers.

We don't work long days.  We get out late every afternoon to walk the city, and then we usually dine out at one of our many favorite restaurants.  I say that's what we do, and yes, that is what we intend to do, but sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate.  For example, this week promises a four-day long heat wave.  On those days, late afternoon is not the time to be out walking.  So this week will be different.

Yesterday's taxi ride from the Charles de Gaulle airport to the apartment was perfect.   Since the Paris taxis have reformed themselves, there is a flat rate -- 55 euros -- for the ride from the airport to central Paris.  That's about right, I'd say, except for those days when traffic jams occur.  And that would be Monday through Friday ten months of the year -- including yesterday.

The taxi driver did everything just right this time.  He took the most direct route, which brought us down through the picturesque 17th and 8th arrondissements on the Right Bank.  In the 8th, we went swirling through the grand roundabout called Etoile, around the Arc de Triomphe.  Riding through Etoile is fun and exciting, but I wouldn't want to be the driver.  This time, I made a quick video of part of that swirl.

After the swirl, we rode down to the Seine on the Avenue de Wagram, which was jammed with cars.  So was the Pont de l'Alma, where we crossed the river in view of the gleaming domes of the relatively new Russian Orthodox church.

The driver skillfully made his way around the Champ de Mars and went right to the Place de la Cambronne, as I had hinted that he should.  Nine times out of ten, drivers approach our apartment's building from the wrong end of the block -- our street is one-way.  But this driver expertly glided down the rue de la Croix Nivert, turning properly onto our street without breaking any rules of the road, while avoiding being hit by a couple crazily careless drivers.  We tipped the driver very well.

We rested, unpacked, and made it to our favorite neighborhood grocery and bakery before they closed, where we used our shopping trolley to stock up on breakfast and lunch foods and beverages, as well as apero dinatoire items for the evening.  More about that later.

For now, just know that we made it.  We're here.  Let the summer begin!