Leaving Day

Monday was our final day.  I had been in Europe since June 27 and Reginald since May 24.  Now it was time to return to Paris for one night and then back to Memphis.  Gabi drove us to Prague airport for our flight and went on to see our old Memphis Czech friends, Vytek and Paulina.  She was planning to spend the day with them.

Once we got to CDG, we took the bus to our hotel nearby.  We rested and made plans for our last evening.  We wanted to spend it with Josephine in Paris and eat at Chez Andre.  After several attempts, we were finally able to get Josephine on the phone and made plans.

It was cheaper to take the RER to Paris, so we left around 5.  Still that took an hour since we had to take the bus to the station before catching the train.  Once there, we descended at Chatelet, probably the busiest metro and RER stop in the whole city.  We just ascended at the closest exit and found "Les Halles."  What we did not know was that there is a big restoration of Les Halles going on now.  We made our way to the Louvre and took the metro to Franklin Roosevelt station to walk the rest of the way.  Just as we neared Josephine's place, we had a downpour and ducked into the Plaza Athenee Hotel.  I must say that I was not impressed at all.  The Peabody lobby has much more to offer!

Eventually, we made it to Josephine's, had a drink, and then left for the restaurant.  We sat in a lovely corner of the restaurant and had a very typical French meal.  I had endives with roquefort followed by poulet frites.  Reginald had the endives also with a steak tartar.  Josphine is not eating much but took the shrimp entree.  Afterward, we walked her home.  Of course, the main topic for the evening was Bruno, whom we all miss.

We took a taxi back to the hotel since it was late and we could not face the RER again!  Now it was time to pack up and leave France.  We don't know when we will return, but we know that this summer was a special one. 

A very warm Sunday

Sunday, July 28, was predicted to be very hot, and it was!  We are used to such weather in the southern US, but not in the Czech Republic.  However, we were prepared.

We started our day by going to the local air-conditioned mall.  This is an ultra-modern facility with lots of shops and even a grocery store.  I admit that I am not used to stores being opened so early on Sunday, but they are here.  We did some looking around and then went to the grocery store for provisions.

We decided that we would buy some open-faced sandwiches for lunch, so later on we walked from Gabi's apartment to the local bakery.  I love the idea of nicely designed and delicious open-faced sandwiches!  We chose the ones we wanted and headed home.  Again, we decided to eat outside. 

As the afternoon began heating up, four of us--Gabi, Vera, Reginald, and I--headed to Gabi's aunt's house in the countryside, about six miles from Pilsen.  There we sat in the shade, enjoyed a fruit salad (and later coffee and walnut cake), and just talked.  There was an above-ground pool, so we cooled off in that.  All in all, a lovely evening.

We returned home to prepare for our last evening in Pilsen.  It will be sad to say good-bye, but we see Gabi again in two months.