Luna de Miel, Day Nine

After two visits and many unsatisfying breakfasts in Paris, an American couple finally makes it to B.I.A., aka Breakfast in America, an American Diner in Paris. It's a restaurant that is owned by an American film industry ex-pat who, while filming a tv show in Paris found the one thing he really missed was a good 'ole American breakfast. American coffees, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, toast.... you name it. Husband grins from ear to ear during the entire meal.

After breakfast, we accomplish another first... the Louvre. Don't even attempt automated ticket machines and instead opt to wait in physical line. Make a bee line for the Mona Lisa like most every other visitor to the museum. Wife is still unsure she actually saw the Mona Lisa, but she does know she saw a crowd of at least 6000 people flashing their cameras at what she believes was the Mona Lisa. Mona's behind bulletproof, fireproof, and God knows what else proof glass and is surrounded by a railing which means at best you can get within like 3 yards of her.

Both husband and wife are more impressed by the physical Louvre (former palace) itself than by the artwork. The detail on the walls and ceiling are just amazing and the place is just massive. We see the Coronation of Empress Josephine, which is much larger than wife expected. We see Louis the some number's coronation crown, which is less impressive than husband expected. We stumble upon the Venus de Milo as we are exiting the museum. The picture is telling of our experience generally at the museum.

We had back to the left bank for lunch - a crappy croque monsieur for wife (mozz cheese and wonder bread) and an "okay" hamburger for husband. We cross Pont Alexander III to the Boulevard Churchill and husband asks wife to take first picture in nine days - one of Winston Churchill. This is hardly shocking.

We've now seen several postal carriers and have determined that the concierge didn't mean the postal workers were on strike. Perhaps just Francois, the individual at the hotel responsible for mail, is on strike. The concierge did mention that this happens often, and it would just take a couple of days..... Glad we got that settled.

We view the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, which guidebook amusingly points out, is only "Petit" when viewed against it's across the street neighbor. Onto the Champs Elysees. We visit Laudree for macaroons and coffee. Dark chocolate and caramel macaroons are real stand-outs. We see a very funny poster for The Hangover. We've seen French titles of films be very different than the American ones, but this one stood out, mostly because it's in English and still not the same name... I guess there is not French word for "hangover."

We reach the Arc du Triomphe and wonder for some minutes how you access it. There is no conceivable break in traffic around it, but we see people over there, and we know some of those people can't run fast. Husband discovers underground passageway. Walk back to hotel via the Pont d'Alma.. the would be "proposal" bridge (ruined by rain - it's a theme in our relationship).

Take cab to dinner. Cab driver reminds us that Americans are not welcome in Paris (thanks, pal). Dinner with John and Delphine (husband's cousin and his wife) at [], a family style restaurant with no menu. You sit down and the appetizers are all on the table to be shared family style. Main courses are literally in pots on the stove and you help yourself. Dessert bar same way. Food is great. Wife eats what she assumes to be blood sausage pate (her suspicions are confirmed the next day in an email - husband specifically requests to not be copied on that email, he likes the dark). Other standouts are a pork rouillete, duck, ratatouille with sundried tomatoes, soup de poisson, chocolate mousse and meringue. Our table includes another American ex-pat (husband's cousin is also an ex-pat) and her friend, who are traveling to New York in October. Husband decides they must be girlfriends as clearly same-sex people can't eat together in public and not be dating. John and Delphine explain that their son is convinced he's to be the next Ronaldo, and believes it with such conviction (his contract is in the mail), that he's simply stopped doing schoolwork. John has resorted to asking son's soccer coach to explain to him that he's not all that great and will likely not sign a 630 million euro contract in his lifetime.

John and Delphine recommend that we eat at this little place in St. Germain.... Chez Fernand. You've got to be kidding us! We went their two nights ago. They appropriately react with disbelief, but digital photo taken by wife confirms that we did in fact eat at a restaurant they randomly suggested.

New Schulten family treated to dinner by established Schulten family. We say our goodbyes and we hope to see them again soon!