Walking around town

If you ever get the chance to come to Paris in the fall, do it!  The weather can sometimes be a little unpredictable, but for the most part it is beautiful.  Crisp, sunny days that can be up into the 70s, with cool nights in the 40s and 50s.  As Lyle says...."the best time of the year!"  And I agree. 

After a dry summer, we have had a few rainy days, which for some reason has brought out....MOSQUITOES!  Yes, we wake up during the night with that wonderful buzzing sound around our heads....and in the morning we are observing a few more bites on our arms! We sleep with windows open in this wonderful weather, but as you may know, the French do not have screens.  Now I am beginning to understand why they have shutters!  We don't, though, so have to put up with a few mosquitoes or shut the window.  It's a toss-up.

We take the opportunity to walk around Paris, either on our own or with the help of a walking tour.  Each time we go out continues to be a feast for the eyes.  There is always so much to look at....familiar sights take on a new view with each season.  Here are a few snapshots of what we have been enjoying lately:

Seeing the old Roman ruins underneath the plaza by Notre Dame...where Paris began

Visiting the Carnavalet Museum to learn about Paris history

Can you believe these are pictures from the courtyard of a hospital?  The "Hotel Dieu" is across from Notre Dame and was the first hospital built in Paris, in the 7th century.  Rebuilt over the centuries, it was begun and still is open to the poor, but also a top center for research and emergency medicine.

There are LOTS of pigeons here and for some reason people think it's fun to let them land and poop on you! 

 Every Sunday hundreds join in rollerblading through the city.....(too bad my rollerblades are back home!)

 

The fall flowers are in bloom all over the city

 Sunsets come earlier now as we have gone off "daylight time" a week earlier than the U.S.  It already is dark now around 6:00.....