Paris is pretty much the same and changed too

Susie arrived safe and sound in Paris Sunday morning.

She was due to leave Saturday evening about 9.20pm but at about noon, while she was off at Gracie’s tidying up a few last minute details, I received a phone call from British Airways explaining that they had overbooked by 30 people and had to put her on an earlier flight. They would upgrade her of course but that meant a bit more of a scramble.

The only real change in our plan was that we wouldn’t be eating dinner together.

We got to Logan Airport with time to spare. Check-in went smoothly and we hung around at the entrance to security line chatting for a bit. Soon it was time for her to go. She thought it quite exciting to be going of course – for the obvious reasons to be sure but also because for the first time in her life she was traveling overseas alone.

I hung around waiting for her to go through security and then a final wave and she disappeared into the crowd, beyond the maze of x-ray cabinets and conveyor belts.

I headed back to the car and off into Boston and to the Apple Store on Boylston to pick up a new laptop for work. (Susie had taken our old one with her to stay in touch the 21st century way.)

My trip home was uneventful and hers to Paris equally so. Her flight landed on time, she got her bags and called for the shuttle to pick her up. No real hiccups to speak of, just a slight delay in the shuttle pickup due to a (reported) bomb scare in one of the terminals at CDG. But after a short wait the van pulled up, Susie got on board and off they went into the city.

A quick note here: if you're going to be settling in for a few weeks or longer, trust me, skip the train/metro/taxi and take a shuttle. In the past we've used BluVan for shuttle service but the last time it was less than reliable service. This time I arranged for Parisshuttle to pick Susie up (costs are about the same among shuttle companies) and we'll probably use them for the return.

Anyway, she got to the apartment, unpacked, checked out the larder and then struck out for Place Leon Blum to look for a few items for the fridge (and pantry).

As she walked up Rue de la Roquette toward the Place Bastille, the closer she got to the Place the more obvious it became that the city was doing a major repaving/remodeling of the street. Perhaps turning that portion into a pedestrian only area -- which would be nice and of course just recognizing the reality.

Anyway, she's settled in and ready to head off for school Monday morning. Aside from school she really has no plan for afterwards, just strolling through the Jardin du Luxembourg, possibly heading over to Etienne Marcel to pick up a few ingredients at Detou for baking, maybe a pair of work shoes at another favorite shop, and most likely a swing through Mora to see if there's anything in the baking utensil line she might need.

As for me -- well, I've got to start paying quarterly taxes. . .

Stay well, and wish you were there -- I wish I was!

Steve