Arrival To-Dos and To-Drops! - Thursday, 19 September

So, Thursday. In case you didn’t know it, old folks have a bit of difficulty adjusting to international travel. Their bodies don’t bounce back quite like they did when they were young (or at least to their recollection, which is a bit hazy). But they adapt!

Today's reality:

1. Figure out how the equipment In the apartment works, including an air-conditioner-on-wheels (quite unusual, and something which I’m not really going to use, but…). I also have a substantial washer-dryer - often apartments here have a washer and drying racks, but rarely a washer/dryer combo !

2. Go horizontal for a while to get the leg swelling under control and take a short nap.

3. Take a couple more IBP to handle a short tour of the immediate area.

4. Find the closest café or bar that serves Leffe on tap. Bingo. Just around the corner!

5. Buy a few groceries and other necessities, always keeping an eye out for “only in France” items. Like sweet/salty puffy crispy all-natural-ingredient crackers in the shape of a Tom Thumb donut with some hazelnuts thrown in for good measure…I just had to try them! A bit odd, but these could be habit forming.

Oh, and a nice rosé by the Rothschilds for the fridge for just 9 euros.

6. Note places to return tomorrow, like Bellota-Bellota, THE place to go to pick up some Jamon Iberico de Bellota, the Spanish aged “ham” (although that word doesn’t come close to conveying the spectacular nature of this stuff), made from acorn-fed, free-ranged black Iberico pigs. Sweet, complex, nutty, intense. I need some in my fridge to snack on. Hmmm…wonder if they have it packaged for getting through U.S. Customs. Or maybe I should have it shipped to me!  https://www.bellota-bellota.com/en/content/19-bellota-bellota-marais?fbclid=IwAR1Abmb0XV4EtaFZIZ52UQVRfk_B_hbXPvvnjiW7_tw8qaXEVPcBfVAAsRM

7. Blow off plans for a concert. Evgeny Kissen is in town performing the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 with l’Orchestre de Paris. Also on the program, Schumann Genoveva Overture and Shostakovich Symphony No. 11. I knew it was going to be a challenge to haul myself all the way out to the Philharmonie de Paris in the 19th arrondissement the night I arrived, but I really wanted to hear this concert. Unfortunately, I was just too exhausted and achy to even contemplate not getting back “home” until midnight. So I went to their website to investigate turn-back options. They have a ticket exchange feature which allows you to offer your ticket up for sale at anywhere from 50% to 100% of the price you paid. Then others can search the exchange for a “deal” – if someone buys your ticket their purchase is credited to your account/card. So I tried it. Unfortunately, nobody picked up my offer, but then I just posted it an hour before the concert started. Love the concept, though, and at least I learned something today!   https://bourseauxbillets.philharmoniedeparis.fr/list/resaleProducts/?dateFrom=20.09.2019&dateTo=26.09.2019&fbclid=IwAR2rscfWRUAd4ESyCFcfxrJkT6Mk6fo3TCOkakIe8VBEQKY0FRAQnczAtgo

8. Try to go to bed early, but…….