French Fries and French People

After the Cathedral, it was time for lunch. After six weeks of British "cuisine" (can you call it that?) we had forgotten that some cultures can cook. The steak frites and the onion soup were excellent, as of course was the inexpensive French table wine, and it was made all the more enjoyable due to the conviviality of the Brasserie setting. This was also the girls' first chance to experience that oh-so-Continental institution, the pay toilet. Olivia rather found the idea of the having to pay for the loo highly offensive. What was not offensive was the level of attention paid to the girls by proprieters and customers alike. French people, unlike their English counterparts, are extremely friendly. Many people went out of their way to talk to the girls, in French of course, and while they enjoyed the interaction it was unnerving after six weeks of British reserve where no one really speaks to anyone without first having a proper introduction by a third party. Hearing French spoken was perhaps the biggest benefit of this whole trip. Olivia was wildly unimpressed with cathedrals and such but she was wowed by the fact that Dad, Mom and Aunt Linda could all speak to people in French AND THEY UNDERSTOOD! She is now quite committed to the idea that foreign language is an essential skill and tells us she is ready to start learning.