First day in our new home

I (Daryl) had forgotten how tiring a 16-hour flight could be.  We left ABQ at 1:00 Sunday afternoon and arrived CDG at 1:00 Monday afternoon.  My original idea of using the remaining daylight (we finished with the apartment briefing about 4:30, and sunset is around 9:50) to walk up to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (La Basilique de Sacré Couer) was trumped by the profound need for some sleep.  So we saved for another night the romantic dinner at our next-door-neighbor Le Cepage Montmartrois and bought some groceries from the grocer across the street and quiches from the baker one door down.

The apartment itself is a delight.  Living room, queen-sized bedroom, kitchen, 2-part bath (the shower/sink is in a different room from the WC; what could be more civilized?), and a nice walk-in closet.  Ground-floor entrance from the heart of a thriving neighborhood, a bus stop within about 20 yards from our door that takes us non-stop to the Eiffel Tower and beyond, and a 15-minute walk to the top of the tallest hill in Paris (la butte Montmartre), where we expect to have a great view of all the Bastille Day fireworks.  I've included a snapshot of the living room, where I'm typing this and watching coverage of the 100th running of the Tour de France (why didn't I start French lessons ten years ago?).

Tomorrow we take the 80 bus from our front door to the Seine and get a view of the heart of Paris from the river.  You can expect some photos tomorrow.  Check back.