chess nuts boasting in an open foyer

We had planned to do something different for our Christmas holidays. We had planned to go to Tofo, Mozambique for two weeks of surfing and diving. But we couldn't make it work for logistical reasons. By the time it became obvious to us that we couldn't do it, it was getting a little late in the season. We contacted our friends in Paris about joining them in Paris and on their ski week outside Zurich. By the time we got to that getting to Zurich was going to cost us an extra 2k (I think). Therefore, we ended up staying in Paris for two weeks, most of the time staying at our friend's apartment. There are far worse places to spend two weeks.

Here are my highlights:

• snow on Christmas Eve (and day).
• good bottles of wine, gigantic blocks of cheese, tapenades, and olives at the gas station across the street (gas station is really B's name for this kind of clausterphobic mini grocery store).
• in one day, walking way farther than we intended along the canals, in the Jewish Quarter, in the kind of awful touristy shop area, then the Ile de whatever has Notre Dame on it, and on down the Sienne to the Musee D'Orsay.
• paying 30 Euros *each* for drinks at Hemmingway's in the Ritz. One round. Came with a glass of water (with cucombre), and three dishes of snackies - chips, olives, and nuts. The rich *are* different.
• buying wearing my jaunty cap.
• having bandwidth so we could skype our families. 
• mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and the Tour Eiffel.
• having a room-mate for a few days who got storm-stayed. She had been in Paris tracking down gypsy mentors for the accordian (it seemed like a normal thing when we were there). She played us Christmas carols.
• finding moleskin for my blisters. 
• playing pool in a beautiful pool hall.
• sidewalks.