Joyeaux anniversaire, Papa!

Today is my dad's birthday! I was going to write a post in his honor with a photo tour of everything I ate today, but so far it's been duds. Plus, tonight we are going out to dinner with one of Brian's new coworkers and his wife, and I feel like it would be exceedingly awkward to photograph everything I eat for dinner. So maybe I'll try the culinary photo tour of my day for you another time, Dad. Regardless, I love and miss you like crazy and I hope you're being spoiled on your special day!

We didn't do too much today. We began by grabbing chocolate croissants and a cafe au lait for me. Delicious!

After that, we took a field trip to IKEA to pick up some things we still needed around the apartment, such as clothes hangers, salt and pepper grinders, etc. It was my first time fully taking in the wonder that is IKEA. I am now in love. They have so many cute things! B has realized this may be a mistake.

We took our belongings back to our apartment and grabbed lunch, then we took a nap. The jet lag struggle is real, y'all. Between the jet lag and all the walking, I want a nap every 3-4 hours. I'm hoping that my body will acclimate soon, because it's getting really old.

Another thing my body is having to acclimate to is being outside so much, walking around, and being in the sun. I joke that, "I'm only outdoorsy in that I like getting drunk on patios," but seriously. I'm an indoor girl. When I was working all the time, I didn't have much of a choice. But in just two full days here, I've managed to become sunburnt on my face. Seriously? We are on roughly the same latitude as Maine. How white am I?! I mean, seriously?

So this prompted a trip to Parashop, a store that specializes in skin and hair care and cosmetics (basically, my heaven). After another awkward (on my part), but incredibly polite and helpful exchange with a sales girl, I now have some fun Biotherm anti-aging face cream with SPF 50. If I am going to sit outside at sidewalk cafes and lounge around in the park reading, I'm going to have to do something.

I also picked up some Caudalie Divine Oil for my skin, since that's been another fun discovery: humidity is very low here. I haven't found a hair dryer yet so I've been letting my hair air-dry, and it hasn't been frizzy. This is incredibly exciting. Unfortunately, my skin, especially my hands and feet, feel like sandpaper. Plus, Divine Oil is so much cheaper here that I couldn't resist. All I need to do now is pick up some more L'Occitane hand cream and foot cream, and we'll be in business. The things you learn when you leave the southern U.S. Oh, and Sister, you will LOVE this store - B is going to regret ever letting me go in here!

We rounded out our afternoon with a nice walk around the city, getting the lay of the land. In the process, we made our way to Cathedrale St. Gatien. I didn't have a chance to go in it before because it was under construction/renovation inside, so we took a look around. The stained glass is stunning, but what really blows my mind is the outside - all the stone carving, the huge size of it - and all this become computers and cranes and modern technology. It's amazing the things folks managed to do back in the ages, and this church is a prime example. Pictures below.

Tonight we're going to go to dinner with one of B's coworkers and his wife. I'm not sure exactly where we're going, but he mentioned to B something about a "formule," a kind of pre-fixe menu thing with saucission, fromage, and vin. And he asked B if we liked cheese and wine. Do we like cheese and wine? What kind of question is that? Of course we do! We adore cheese and wine. So I am very excited to hang out with our new French friends and go to a place recommended by the locals. More details on that tomorrow, I'm sure.

xoxo,
E & B

Look at all the detail. It's stunning.

The stained glass at the center of the "cross" of the cathedral - the nave? My architecture knowledge isn't terrific.

I love old churches and cathedrals.