Memorable Experiences

[Penny]

Putting this under General since no other seemed appropiate.

The busses were much easier (for me) to figure out in Paris than London, so I took a bus to Galleries, caught it on Kleber. The driver was hysterical, the bus does not go directly from Kleber to Hausmann but winds through several streets and then turns so that when it turns onto Hausmann there is a stop right in front of Galleries. Every stop he would turn to me and say "here?", no Galleries Layette Hausmann (and yes I was pronouncing it correctly) I'd reply, when it turned onto Hausmann I got off at second stop (one in front of Galleries was blocked) he turned to me and said Au revoir, madam, with a big grin.

As I was wandering trying to find Musee Monet Marmottan I saw this cat walking down the sidewalk with something in his mouth (mouse), first and only cat I saw in Paris. I stopped and talked to him (yes, I'm cat lover), "oh, what do you have there?'. He stopped, looked up at me with this expression "don't touch my mouse!" and then continued on.

Then once I found the Musee (which is wonderful if you love Impressionists) and was walking back to metro through Jardin du Hanelagh there was 4 children riding donkeys. Didn't have time to pull out my camera before the turned (no I did not want a picture of donkey's @##) but I thought it was a memorable experience.

[holger]

Sounds like a great time. My first trip to Paris in 1957 there were many mega cats all over the streets. I guess there were more mice then and the cats ate very well. In one bistro I sat on a banquette and the house cat lay right behind me watching every mouthful. It looked like the Chesire cat from Alice and honestly smiled. Of course, I fed it!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Penny -- love the story about the cat! The only cat I can recall seeing in Paris was when I had a flat in rue Cler. Across the street, a couple of floors up, there was a bird cage hung outside so the birds could get fresh air (actually, I've seen that several places). And, in the window of the flat above, there was a cat just staring longingly at the birds (which, of course, were perfectly safe even if the cat had jumped). Never forgot it, as it was such a classic.

BTW: I'm also a cat person (Sadie, our Russian Blue, is adored by us and also by our pet sitter, who spoils her rotten and delights in spending hours with her while we are away so she probably doesn't even miss us much).