Madeline: We went to church this morning at St. Severin here in the Latin Quarter, just across the street from our apartment. It's Ash Wednesday, and we got ashes on our foreheads. We walked across the bridge over the Seine River, past Notre Dame, to the Right Bank.
We walked down the river past three pet shops, lots of cafes, and a bunch of garden stores, to the Louvre. We saw lots of statues and paintings, and even the Mona Lisa! We went outside to the Tuileries gardens for lunch.
We got lunch from a cafe out by a big fountain and we had a picnic at the fountain. We ate croque monsieur (hot ham & cheese) sandwiches, and quiche. There were lots of kids at the fountain sailing little sailboats.
We rented one for 2 euros, and the boat man gave us a long stick to push it along the water. Some kids had races with their boats, and others just splashed around in the water with their boats. Charlotte only cared about the stick, she kept stealing it from me and chasing pigeons with it! The boat man saw and brought her a little stick of her own. We had so much fun!
We went back into the Louvre, and saw the famous statue "Venus de Milo", and lots of paintings. We stayed all day!We walked all the way back home. Our feet were killing us so we got straight into bed! Now we are listening to all the people in the streets below our window. Bon nuit (that means goodnight!)
Molly: We had a nice long walk to the Louvre this morning (it wasn't quite as nice walking home tonight when we were all so tired!) The outside of the Louvre is so impressive. I was here once before all on my own, and I can't tell you how much more wonderful it was to be here with family. We had such a nice day. The highlight was our impromptu picnic lunch out at the fountain in the Jardin des Tuileries. Beth and I had such fun watching the girls sail their little sailboat with the other children. Many people stopped to take pictures of the girls. It was really sweet. The Louvre itself was huge and amazing. We all loved the famous masterpieces best.
3 comments:
Hi this is Angelice, I hope you stay away from the pigeons and good luck with Charlotte.
Hi this is JoJo. You KNOW you wish I was there.
His this is Amber. Was the Eye of London scary?
Hi this is Kelcie. Life there looks cool.
Hi this is Analisa. We miss you lots and have lots of fun.
Hi this is Dana. Were those matching outfits that you and Charlotte had on?
Hi this is Summer. How is Paris? Are you having a good time?
The Shores Stars Class
Miss Ellen has your pillow ready to go when you get back.
Dear Suspicious Americans:
After receiving a full briefing from the UK office, our Parisian operatives have been secretly following your every movement. It is now time to reveal ourselves to you!
Ha! You giggle! You don’t believe it . . .
But perhaps you remember me, the Chief Inspector – a.k.a. the “stickman” at the boat pond? Thanks to that cordial exchange with your slobbery baby girl (if in fact she is a baby), we now have a DNA sample which our super-computer is processing at this very moment . . .
Or perhaps you remember my associate – the “cab driver” who gouged you on the drive to your apartment from the Chunnel. You know, an experienced agent might have taken that opportunity to plant a micro-transmitter in your luggage . . . (Go on! Look! You’ll never find it.)
Yes. We are watching. Watching and waiting.
You may think yourselves too good make a slip - - and yes, you are good! So genuine! Such naivety! Your “all too American” gaiety; your flagrant mirth; your blaring enthusiasm for the least bit of cultural novelty . . . brilliant really, like the landmarks of the Illuminati . . . you subvert suspicion even as you draw attention.
But we have seen your kind before . . . and we know it is only a matter of time before you expose your vile intentions. In a way, it saddens me, to understand already that the game is finished and we are only waiting for the inevitable. You see, your inflated American egos will compel you to test us. No you say? And yet, your pulse quickens, and indignity begins to cloud your thoughts - - all because of a little taunting?
Besides, we already know more than you could possibly realize – and it takes only a little imagination to fill in the blanks. Perhaps you’d like a taste?
The young girl using the name “Maddie” – what a miracle of illusion! We have already established that she is the leader of your operation. We have a full dossier describing her history of subversive political activities . . . and we suspect she is a high ranking officer in your counter-culture paramilitary organization, maintaining iron-fisted control over her subordinates through a combination of charisma and fear!
Then there is little one, the “baby” . . .
Do you think us fools?!
Using a process which combines the analysis of human morphologic archetypes and cranial circumference, our scientific investigators have determined that either that little “baby” has ancestry possessing prominent heads(typically passed through the maternal grandfather) – or she is a midget, approximate age 32. Based on the remote (at best) possibility of the former – we now assume the latter. Furthermore, our combat training staff has made a study of her carriage and gait, and have determined, with certainty, that she is your cell’s enforcer.
Oh, but let us not forget the one called “Mommy” or, alternatively, “Molly” (and probably a dozen other aliases). We have our name for her: “The Chameleon”. A language and cultural specialists who navigates the international theatre like a salsa grinder winding across the dance floor on a hot Savanna night. Who are you? A Ukrainian combine driver? A Turkish mercenary? A Japanese Geisha girl? It doesn’t matter . . . “Molly” can relate – fluently.
“Molly,” is there a door that won’t open for you? You may think there isn’t – but we know of at least ONE.
Have we forgotten anyone? Oh my, we have, “Auntie Beth” - or perhaps, more fittingly, “ANTI” Beth – as in “Anti-establishment”, “Anti-authority” or “Anti-state”. Oh yes, dear girl, we have your number. Please, remind us again, about your cover. No need really – we know it well: Older sister to “Molly”, physician on holiday, wide-eyed tourist! Well, they say the best deceits contain a grain of truth. Our observations confirm that you do in fact have medical training, probably completed in the field hospitals of the South American rebels you seem to love so well.
Or perhaps you thought this little detail would escape us?
What else did you learn in the mysterious shade of the jungle canopy? I assure you nothing more than our botanical experts already know about the many deadly things that spring up from the earth. No matter, in the end I think we might find a good use for your talents; you know our detention facilities are always wanting for resident clinical help.
Ah, but I suppose we have given you enough to think about for now. Still, in kindness, I will offer you one merciful assurance: we have a measure of pity, even for the sinister. Because of this, we have set aside four fine linen handkerchiefs – one for each of you to dry your tears at the moment you are apprehended.
Chief Inspector,
Interpol, Paris
hey mads! hope you don't let charlotte fall in the water!
love you lots,
analisa:)
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