Birthday in Paris

It rained. It poured. It had been raining already long enough for deep puddles and troughs to form on sidewalks and at curbs. The graveled spaces ran with slick clay mud. The cobbles reflected the city of lights's lights, blinding with their mirrored amperage. The grass was a sponge. The only audible sounds at times were the rhythmic squishings of shoes. My birthday in Paris.

Could be worse . . .

So we did a "Kodak Moment" tour of Paris, which began at 4 o'clock when the airport shuttle bus dropped us off at the Opera house.

We walked down swanky Rue de l'Opera to the Louvre and stood in the rain to gather in the enormity of that hallowed space, where, even on a wet Sunday afternoon, a long line of multi-hued umbrellas queued up for a peek at the Mona Lisa. We didn't have time.

We crossed the Seine and headed toward Notre Dame cathedral, where we joined the crowds and stopped in for a quick look. Big. No hunchback.

We spotted the Pont des Arts where crazy lovers hang padlocks to solidify their feelings for each other. Beh! I think the only ones making out in this nonsense are the lock companies.

A long walk to go. Getting darker, wetter and gloomier, we had a long sprint to get in the other direction and find the Eiffel Tower in time for our dinner reservation at 6:30. I won't gloss over this--it was a miserable walk and damn if we could find a taxi stand or figure out what one had to do to hail one.

Finally made it to the tower at 6:20 and had to queue up to get our tickets for the elevator, then cross under the tower to stand in the elevator line. Finally, at 6:35 we were in our seats with a glass of champagne. 

The menu was lovely. Food was presented beautifully. Service was pleasant and attentive. 

When we left the tower the rain had stopped and we finally got a chance to marvel at the shining spectacle that is the Eiffel Tower. Wow! Just wow!

Next stop Jamestown.