Ahh Pa-ree!! Loved Paris.
I have finally gotten past the jet lag from landing back in Atlanta this past Friday. Paris is 6 hours ahead of EST and my body was awake and asleep on Paris time from Friday to Sunday morning even though I was back in Atlanta. I was awake when I should be sleeping and sleepy when I should be awake. By Sunday my body got it all back figured out. Did cardio every day I was there except that Thursday and Friday. By Thursday I was exhausted beyond belief and Friday morning I was on a nine hour flight back to Atlanta. Sitting on a plane for nine hours requires a lot of onflight movies to pass the time. Or some sleeping pills.
As far as my trip here are a few thoughts.
Because I knew I would be getting back to the hotel late in the evenings I always did my treadmill 20 minute jog in the morning which developed an unplanned habit of morning cadio. I loved the effect. I was energized, awakened, refreshed and ready for my day after a good 20 minute jog, shower, smoothie of protein powder with orange juice and cereal with soy milk. So I decided when I got back to Atlanta I would keep up the habit. This morning was my first morning trying that out. And my goal is to make this a habit Monday through Friday mornings. So on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays that gets me into two a day workouts.
I walked a LOT during my visit. Paris is very much a walking city. Traffic is crazy from about 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. I have never seen traffic this bad in the states. So walking was the way to go to get from place to place in the city. Plus seeing all the cafes and how Parisians enjoy their afternoon and evenings was fun. I’ve got to find me some cafes in Atlanta to just sit and read a book.
I visited the Louvre museum, Palace of Versailles, Notre Dome, took a dinner cruise on the river that runs through the city, took two bus tours of the city, and visited the Eiffel Tower. Ate at different places and saw many amazing buildings with incredible architecture. The one thing I was not able to get into was the breakfast of bread and jam and juice and that’s it. Seemed everywhere I looked that’s what people were having for breakfast. They eat a LOT of bread and drink a LOT of wine in Paris. Yet they are a very thin people. Must be all the walking and climbing up stairs. Obesity is NOT a problem in Paris.
This is one very old city and it amazes me to see everyday buildings older than my own country. I loved the colorful, exciting, sad, revolutionary, beautiful history of that place. Too much to see in one week but I saw more than I ever thought I would see of Paris. I’m still amazed I was able to go.
Gotta load up some pictures to show you!
Alisa
June 9, 2009 at 12:30 am
Can’t wait to see the pics. Ever since reading the Da Vinci Code and Paris 1919, I’ve been feening to go and see such an historic city. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.
June 9, 2009 at 5:15 am
I will upload pictures later today and post a link.
June 9, 2009 at 6:48 am
Are the people really stinky, hairy, and rude, or is that just a vicious stereotype?
June 9, 2009 at 6:56 am
I bet overall they are a healthier country than over here because of their eating choices and the fact that they do a lot of walking.
June 10, 2009 at 8:39 am
LOL @ Booshnoog! Ahh it’s glad to be back on BB.com
The people there are not hairy, a handful of them needed some deodorant badly (like the lady sitting in front of me on the tour bus) and more than a handful were rude. Well it wasn’t so much they are rude as they are indifferent to you and your concerns. "The menu is in French and you can’t read French and I speak good English and could help your hungry tourist self if I wanted. Whatever. Eat cake."
Wayne they are much thinner over there than America. Obesity is NOT an issue in Paris. I spent a whole week trying to figure out their lack of obesity. Seriously I thought about this throughout my trip. They eat bread like bodybuilders eat chicken. ALL the time. French food is full of cream and cheeses. They love their baked good and gourmet cheeses. But they are not fat at all. I figure it’s the combination of all the walking they do and the constant cigarette smoking. They may be thinner but dang they must have a high rate of lung cancer. They smoke like crazy over there. I was going to buy a teeshirt but gave up since all their shirts were pretty small.