PARIS: Olé,Olé - Feeling hot, hot, HOT!

Okay, I know that Olé is not a French word. Oui, I do. But I am trying to convey a feeling here! We went to Paris as part of our class (not complaining, mind you). However, temperatures reached over 36 degrees Celsius while we were there. Yes, get your Celsius to Farenheit converters out. Let me help you - that's over 97 degrees Farenheit! Ay, caramba!

Me and that big Eiffel Tower thing

Ah but it's Paris. To quote Cole Porter:
I love Paris in the spring time
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles

Notre Dame Cathedral -
nope, not a hunchback in sight

 
Well, maybe not quite as much in the summer, but it is an absolutely gorgeous city. It is the most beautiful city I have ever visited, anyway. And I would like to point something out - every time I have come to France (granted, it has only been three times), the people have been absolutely wonderful. Very charming, gracious, and kind to a poor, lost, non-French speaking hick like me. So there's my two cents on that. But onto the blog.

Yep, another shot of ME! In front of the Louvre Museum

There is a book entitled French Women Don't Get Fat. It talks about how to eat with balance, control, and pleasure. That might be true. But let me show you the BIG reason French women don't get fat. STAIRS. 

STEPS

I have a wonderful classmate who has a fitbit activity tracker that she wore everywhere we went and it would record the number of steps we walked. We averaged about six miles per day (good on us!) The first day in Paris, we went 10 1/2 miles. Up stairs. Both ways. Paris' subway - The Metro - stairs. The Eiffel Tower (gorgeous!) - lots of stairs. The historic and breathtaking Montmartre section of the city - STAIRS EVERYWHERE!

MORE STEPS

AND SHOOT ME NOW, EVEN MORE STEPS!

Okay, enough of the whining. Although I just about passed out from the combination of exercise and heat, I was quite proud of myself and persevered on with my friends. We visited gorgeous museums (honestly, you can sling a pickle in any direction and come up with a picturesque outdoor cafe, amazing architecture, or a world-famous museum. 
 

I love the Metro - great subway system

Even after all the whining about the heat and the stairs, was I happy to be in Paris for a "working" school weekend? You bet. I would go again at any time. So, if you want a pretty good (but tired) guide and you're willing to pay my way to Paris ... just give me a shout!

The Arc d'Triomphe (Arch of Triumph)

And click here to take a look at my photos from Paris (yes, the only number larger than the amount of steps there is the quantity of pictures I took). Au revoir, Paris - till we meet again.

(Look, Leener - not a single curse word in this blog! I should get a prize or something!)