Yes, Virginia, You Can Have a Bad Day in Paris
Bonjour,
Even though it’s beautiful Paris, you can have a bad day here and such was our fate yesterday. But before I walk you through the saga, let me say once again how very thoughtful all of your comments are in regard to Bernie’s health. I read and approve every single one so they will post. He’s still struggling, and now I seem to have gotten his cold. It was expected. Last night neither of us slept much at all due to a horrible cough, so I’m into home remedy mode: boiling big pots of water to create steam, lowering the heat, saline solution and eating oranges for Vitamin C, etc. etc. It’s everything your mother taught you! Many have suggested chicken soup but they don’t do that much here. I would have to make my own.
So on to the saga. Bernie had a doctor’s appointment at 9:30 yesterday morning back at the American Hospital which is like driving almost to Athens. I knew immediately that the cabbie was going the wrong direction, but Bernie who is so polite chose to say nothing. 52 euros it cost us on the way over, 28 euros on the way back with a different driver. It’s not so much the money but the fact that when I finally grumbled, he took offense. Oh, how I wish I could speak fluent French!
Somewhere during the process of taking coat, gloves and scarf off and on, I lost the lovely new ring I bought a week ago. I’m pretty sure it’s probably in that cab somewhere which puts a fateful twist on the story. Almost 60 euros down the drain and such a cute, hand-made ring.
Then to end the day on a truly frustrating note, I was buying some blueberry confiture last night at the Monoprix and got in a credit-card-only line by mistake. My heart sank because I couldn’t find my card. I burst into tears to the dismay of the clerk who had no idea of my day thus far. We ransacked the apartment, my coat, my purse, all the receipts which Bernie keeps up with and nothing. The card is gone somewhere I suppose on the streets of Paris. We did go back to the Franprix where I had made my last purchase. They looked and didn’t find it. So at 9:30 last night, I notified Capital One of the missing card. I have so many things tied to it automatically and you know how that goes. So poor, pitiful me!!!!
BUT there is some bright light at the end of this tunnel. For the first time in 20 days, we had full sun all day long! No wet sidewalks, no nasty puddles, no raindrops until later that evening. Bernie felt well enough to walk over to Notre Dame mid-afternoon to see the windows for himself. What was interesting is that the light on the gray day of my photos was better than the bright sun! But anyway, he got to see them and we were inside in under ten minutes! 
We had dinner at our favorite little Thai place and then came home to credit card drama and coughing fits from both of us all night long. Oh-la-la!
So feel free to laugh or cry, whichever seems most appropriate to you!
A bientôt
L & B
December 21, 2024 @ 10:40 am
Oh Linda!
Well I certainly wouldnt laugh at you!
But I had a chuckle in the differences in our mothers.. or at least up bringing. My mother would no sooner create steam in our apartment than,,, I dont knw what! and saline solution? huh? yes drinking orange juice was the norm but we bought in containers, my mom didnt cut it up for me to eat. I drank my vitamin C… in fact I was forced to drink so much that when I went off to College I immediately stopped drinking the stuff.. hate it! ( except at Brunch when when I might deign to have a screwdriver! But I prefer bloody Marys!)
Anyway, As a NYer, daughter of NYers, I was brought up on chicken soup for a cold. Youre telling me that in all of the Marais there is no jewish deli to get the cure-al chicken soup.. studied AND VETTED by Johns Hopkins Med School? What happened to the Israel Deli? Well, Paris has changed since I lived there! Best to you both, rest and lots of fluids to flush then is more key!
Im sorry about your ring. Losing something you love, esp just brought, is sad.
The CC is another kind of sorry however. While easily replaceable, all the auto pays attached are a bummer to have to correct.
But at least you both saw those windows and the “new”ND. That must have brightened your day. The blue of that window is gorgeous.
Now go have a hot chocolate at Angelina next time you are out and about. When my parents would visit I told them the HC was restorative. ( since I couldnt afford it on my own.)
And stay well. yes, Vit C, that we can agree on.!!
Happy hat coat scarf and gloves..
Ellyn
December 21, 2024 @ 11:06 am
I’ll try Israel. But I’ve never seen it in there prepared and ready to go.
December 21, 2024 @ 11:37 am
Whew what a day! Sooooo sorry about the loss of the ring and c card. A final (please God) WHUMP you definitely did not need and most maddening and unfair esp.after the preceding day(s).
And our two Paris EBs still set forth to ND. You guys are truly inspiring.
Sending all positive thoughts to you both 💗💗
December 21, 2024 @ 1:04 pm
I am so sorry to hear about all those mishaps…. And glad you could still enjoy some of that day! It is true that a bad day on vacation seems worse than a bad day at home! But when you become as “native” to Paris as you two are, I guess that will happen!! Stay in and get well!
December 21, 2024 @ 1:47 pm
So sorry for your travail. The pictures are still great!
Hope your maladies are gone soon!❤️
December 21, 2024 @ 1:49 pm
So very sorry you’re both sick! Take good care, and I hope you’re better soon. Love!
December 21, 2024 @ 1:50 pm
Well, this trip has certainly been a challenge and then some! I can only offer two sort of practical suggestions.
Picard might have frozen chicken soup and there is a store not far from you at 2 Blvd Saint Germaine. We have had several “meals” from them and they have been consistently good. Not always to our taste, but good.
Long ago I had pneumonia for several weeks that no antibiotic known to man helped. The coughing was horrible and exhausting. To enable me to sleep at night, someone suggested I have a shot of a liqueur right before bed. Something that was heavier than whiskey that would coat the throat. I chose kahlua and it helped. (After 10 weeks of pneumonia and a multitude of tests, I had surgery to remove a sequestered lung and I made a full recovery.)
As to your lost ring, it is a very sad loss for you, but perhaps whoever finds your ring, will enjoy it as much as you did! You could write a short story about the ring being found by someone deserving of some brightness in their life.
The credit card loss and all the ensuing administrative work that entails is a huge pain to deal with when you are at home. I imagine it is a much, much bigger pain to deal with when you are traveling overseas! My card was compromised a few months ago and I know. I am happy, though, that the systems in place with Capital One knew instantly that the purchase was not “normal” for me and texted me.
I hope that both you and Bernie recuperate from your colds quickly and that you are out and about again soon enjoying the magic of Paris at Christmas!
December 21, 2024 @ 2:15 pm
I love the idea of writing a story about the lost ring. I haven’t written a new book in quite a while so I may take up your suggestion. It was slightly too big and would have been fine except for the removal of gloves and coats all the time. I shall return to the shop where I bought it and see if they have anything similar on rue de Turenne.
December 21, 2024 @ 2:03 pm
So sorry about your “really bad day.” I guess, “when if rains it pours,” fits here, but Paris is certainly not “more beautiful in the rain,” when it is that kind of rain. Love you both.
December 21, 2024 @ 2:16 pm
Thank you for continuing the blog amidst the mishaps of the day! Hopefully y’all will rest a bit and recover quickly from your colds. Good to know Bernie felt well enough to see the windows during the daylight. They are magnificent.
December 21, 2024 @ 3:06 pm
I was worried when you didn’t write yesterday, that something serious had happened ( to Bernie). These problems are mostly fixable. That’s the attitude I take when faced with similar issues as you. Just so long as they are fixable, I can cope. Hoping you don’t get as ill as Bernie. But you wear a hat so that will save you -:) and demonstrate to Bernie the magic of hat wearing.,
Hoping all goes well from now on
December 21, 2024 @ 3:19 pm
I’m so sorry you lost your ring and your credit card. We’ve had to deal with that several times and it is a real trial to unhook and rebook all the things attached to it. Your photos are cheery even though your day wasn’t. So glad Bernie got to see Notre Dame! I hope you are both on the mend soon. Sending virtual hugs to you both.
December 21, 2024 @ 4:38 pm
You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
December 21, 2024 @ 4:50 pm
Alexander’s Horrible Terrible Very Bad No Good Day! Or something like that for the title. I am so sorry. We all have those but they are especially awful when you are traveling and don’t feel good. Hoping all smooths out quickly. The pictures are lovely. Thank you!
Nancy
December 21, 2024 @ 6:04 pm
I would have most certainly cried too…one more thing and losing a cc of all things is SUCH a panic and pain!! Yay for sun!! Boo for lost ring and shady cab driver. I’m like you…what’s the big deal about speaking up…why do we have to be viewed as rude for doing it?? I always feel like the “B” for questioning; shouldn’t be that way. SMH Please take care of yourself…prob need to move around some so the congestion doesn’t build up but also lots of hydration and rest 🙂
December 21, 2024 @ 11:04 pm
There will be days like this—as the old song goes. So long as you and Bernie fully recover, the rest can be handled. Just writing about it turns it into a tale from your travels, “remember when…” moments for the future. I wish you a minimum of problems in replacing your credit card and updating auto payments.
So glad you have been able to get into Notre Dame. Thank you for sharing it with us through your photos.
December 22, 2024 @ 7:40 pm
Oh Linda. I am SO sorry you had such troubles. My goodness. Send you and Bernie healing thoughts and prayers. Perhaps the ring and the card will turn up. Your photos are beautiful. I’ve never had real roasted chestnuts! Did you try them? xo
December 23, 2024 @ 5:41 am
The chestnuts are delicious but always too hot to peel and eat for a few minutes. Their cooking is one of the Christmas smells of Paris. So sad to read about the passing of your mother-in-law. She was always one of my favorite people.