Bienvenue à Paris for Linda and Bernie and all of you!!
Bonjour mes amis!
We have made safe arrival in Paris as of yesterday morning after a VERY long travel day. We were so blessed to have no drama whatsoever, given that our travel times were tight. We flew out of Newark, NJ on La Compagne, a French boutique airline on a brand new plane which looked like something out of Tomorrow Land. It was an A321 Neo equipped with room for only 76 people or all business class. The safety presentation was done in the context of a Yoga class…calm and relaxing. Such a hoot as only the French can do! The seats lay all the way down…better for short folks than tall men, I must admit, but oh, so much more comfortable than a regular coach seat.
We are back in our usual apartment in the heart of Paris on rue St. Paul. Here are some pictures in case you don’t remember. 
Our first quick challenge was to race around to ATM’s to get the cash needed to settle our rent with our landlady which we did with no problems. Then we were off to the grocery stores before they closed at noon. It was a frantic morning but we made it! The afternoon was spent trying to unpack everything and get settled in. The benefit to returning to the same spot year after year is that we have a place for everything and everything in its place, as the old saying goes. It’s definitely not fancy but it does feel like home for us.
At 5pm, we met some friends from Huntsville, Carmelita and Rick, who had been in Paris for a few days. We greeted them for a quick tour of the apartment along with a glass of wine and then took them to Ils St. Louis for a tour of the island and an early bite of dinner. By this time, I was bleary-eyed and not great company, I’m afraid. 
They have been enjoying touring around the city with our friend Ann Jeanne. Tomorrow is Montmartre for them and we know they will love it!
I slept for 11 hours last night and Bernie for 9 so we are good to go today and ready to be enmeshed in the city we love.
Our theme this year is “Light” since we’re in the City of Light. Don’t know quite how we’ll make that work in our photos so come along with us and let’s discover!
So glad you’ll be joining us for our next three months. For sure the Christmas lights will be new for all of us! Of course, we’ll be celebrating Bernie’s 80th birthday in mid-November. And entertaining more company than we’ve ever had before!!
À bientôt
L & B
September 16, 2019 @ 9:33 am
So glad you’re settled in! Can’t wait to see Bernie’s photos of lights.
September 16, 2019 @ 9:58 am
Hi Linda and Bernie,
Pleased to hear that you have arrived safely and have seamlessly picked up from where you left off.
We are very much looking forward to coming over from London to see you in Paris October and of course again in November.
Love to you both,
Malcolm and Antonia X
September 16, 2019 @ 11:42 am
Merci! See you in October!
September 16, 2019 @ 3:36 pm
Yes see you then
September 16, 2019 @ 10:49 am
Happy to hear all went well in your travels and arrival. Looking forward to your blog and your photos.
September 16, 2019 @ 11:40 am
Can’t wait to welcome you guys to Paris!
September 16, 2019 @ 10:54 am
Glad you made it with no travel complications! We will arrive in the evening of a week from today. Looking forward to it and will be interesting to see how our one week apartment works out. Relax and enjoy your Paris life!
September 16, 2019 @ 11:41 am
We want to hear all your impressions about your stay in Italy. Tell me where your apartment is again in Paris. Beaubourg area?
September 16, 2019 @ 11:36 am
So glad you made it there without incident! We were thinking of you as you traveled. Let the party begin!
September 16, 2019 @ 11:42 am
Merci!
September 16, 2019 @ 11:54 am
Linda, it is so like you to give a tour while you are still jet-lagged! I know you are so happy to be there — I’m happy knowing you ARE there! Love to you both.
September 16, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
Thanks, Jeanie. Many memories. The Red Wheelbarrow has reopened right next to Le Jardin du Luxembourg. We’ll be checking it out and looking for your book!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:56 pm
Linda, I need to get the latest book to Red Wheelbarrow — a reason for a trip! 🙂 A bientot.
September 16, 2019 @ 12:10 pm
So nice to see the apartment again; such fond memories there for us. Everything looks so neat and clean. Be seeing you soon.
September 16, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
Have a great time on your cruise and we’ll see you last of October!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:16 pm
Linda so happy you and Bernie arrived and got things squared away in such short time! I was tired just reading about all you had to do by noon! I can’t wait to read about your theme “lights” and also excited about my friends the Steigerwalds are coming over! Have a wonderful time with friends and enjoy!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:42 pm
Merci!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:18 pm
So happy you made it without any torturous adventures. Off to a fine start and as Marlyn & Monica said, “let the party begin”.
Wee shall toot our party horns come mid-November.
September 16, 2019 @ 12:41 pm
Merci!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:47 pm
So good to get news of your outstanding travel day and safe arrival. Looking forward to multiple vicarious thrills.
Anne
September 16, 2019 @ 1:30 pm
Merci!
September 16, 2019 @ 12:59 pm
I’m glad you made it there safely! I can’t wait to see and hear about your trip!
September 16, 2019 @ 1:30 pm
Merci!
September 16, 2019 @ 2:15 pm
Let’s see if I can respond in order:
– any pictures of this plane from tomorrow land?!
– love the food spread on the coffee table…just my style!
– glad no issues with the crazy ATM debacle
– you slept ELEVEN HOURS?! Can you recall the last time YOU slept more than 7-8??
– “Lights” sounds like a wonderful and magical idea!! Be sure your iPhone/camera lens is wiped clear so the photos don’t streak. On the iPhone, you can move your angle and it will auto adjust or click different places on the screen to see how the lighting changes. Suggest starting with allowing the phone to auto correct itself as tapping will be drastic changes to back ground and auto tends to best balance. This will be a good but challenging technical learning experience for you!!
September 16, 2019 @ 7:41 pm
Oh my, not sure I’m as good with my phone as you are in taking pics. We’ll have to see how it goes. Bernie is using his camera. I took one picture of the plane, our pillow that said in French, Counting sheep…which I thought was cute.
September 16, 2019 @ 2:31 pm
We hope this is your most enjoyable trip. Have fun.
September 16, 2019 @ 4:45 pm
Happy that your travel connections were perfect. A fine omen for months of the same!
September 16, 2019 @ 7:39 pm
I thought you had found a new place to stay this year. One with air conditioning? I hear you are due for a heat wave!
September 16, 2019 @ 7:45 pm
We tried to find one we could afford for 3 months but had no luck. It’s all good and we feel like we’re at home.
September 16, 2019 @ 9:09 pm
Glad to know you arrived safely! I’m looking forward to living vicariously through your blog, photos and Ernie’s photographic talent with “Lights!” A great theme—indeed the City of Lights!
September 17, 2019 @ 2:55 am
Glad you are along with us!
September 16, 2019 @ 10:02 pm
Bonjour Linda and Bernie ! Welcome to Paris !
September 17, 2019 @ 2:55 am
Bonjour Ann! How was Montmartre yesterday with Carmelita and Rick? They have loved your tours. We’ll hopefully see you in October!
September 16, 2019 @ 11:24 pm
We can visualize all this so much better now! How are the temps?
September 17, 2019 @ 2:54 am
The temps are quite nice…mid 70’s during the day. We are in our happy place. Dinner last night with our neighbor.