Our flight arrived on time and border entry was quick, but figuring out how to navigate the airport; get cash, make a phone call, find the train, get a ticket, turned out to be challenges that took hours. Interestingly, when we emerged from the Metro, an elderly French woman, who knew no English, volunteered us directions to Rue de la Reine Blanche—dispelling the stereotype of indifferent Parisians.

By the time we got to Jose-Maria and Agnes' apartment, it was almost lunch time. After we phoned up, Jose-Louis, their son, let us in. He gave us directions to a pedestrian market street nearby. We ogled the gorgeous fruit, ate at a little sandwich bar, named Sweet Lounge chatting with a cute Western Canadian couple, just wrapping up their trip.

With no time to lose, off we went to visit the Arc d'Triumphe for great views from the top, followed this by a stroll down the Champs d'Elysée to meet Agnes for the evening.

She took us to Le Petit Nicois, in a very exclusive part of town. Cuisine in the U.S. has improved immensely over the last 20 years, but they still have not caught up to the French!