Bonjour!

Unfortunately for all of you, this blog post will have no pictures. Now before you start complaining, just know that I wanted it to have pictures just as bad as you did, but alas, I couldn't figure out the password to my friend's computer. If I could, in fact, have figured out this password, not only would I have access to all of the pictures she has taken (and she is a photographer, so they would've been legit), but I would also be able to plug my SD card into her computer and use the pictures I have taken. But as I said before, this blog post will have no pictures. 

This brings me to the reason I have not been blogging regularly about our adventures in Italy and France and that reason is: I hate typing on a touch screen. You see, we only have an Ipad that is serving as our computer out here, and I hate typing on it. However, since my friend is here visiting, and she brought a real-live laptop with a real-live keyboard, I figured I'd give ya'll an update.

Whew, now that that's all on the table I can get to the good stuff.

We are all settled in our apartment in Paris and Ben is enjoying his classes immensely. We have been exploring this magical city and playing tour guide to my sister and her husband (Bonnie and Bryan), and two of my friends from high school (Brittany and Alicia). We know the metro system like the back of our hand (sorta) and we have the language down pat (at least Ben does). I have in no way stuck to my goal of only eating two pastries a week, but have yet to gain any weight because of all the walking :). 

So far I have been to the Louvre 4 times (we bought year long passes), the Eiffel Tower twice, the Arc de Triomphe three times, the Notre Dame three times, the Rodin museum, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Musee D'Orsay, the Orangerie, the Grand Palais, Parc Monceau, Napolean's Tomb at Invalides, the chocolate museum, Place de la Concorde, the Tuilerie Gardens... you get the idea. We have explored a lot and have fallen in love with the city in the two short weeks we have been here. 

Before we came to Paris we spent two weeks travelling through Italy. We started in Venice and made our way to Bologna, Florence, Positano, Amalfi, and Rome. We saw beautiful landscapes and beautiful art, ate A LOT of carbs, and walked ten miles a day (I swear). Ben got burned to a crisp in Positano and I got car sick from the winding bus trip to get there. We had our first experience staying in hostels and found that we could, in fact, fit everything we need for a two-week trip in a carry-on weighing twenty-two pounds. 

We loved Italy, but are both biased to Paris. I think understanding the language will do that to you. 

Well, it is time for dinner around here, so I think we will go see our friend that we made at the boulangerie and buy a baguette.

Au revoir (for now anyway).