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France, Italy and Switzerland, August 2002

Day 15

Friday found us back in Paris and doing laundry.  When we left it was unbearably warm and now, just over one week later some cafes had outdoor heaters in force.  Your mother and I decided that we really don't like Parisian weather.  While waiting for the laundry I got a cappuccino that led to our only argument of the trip.  We both agreed that it wasn't good but while I wanted to not pay your mother preferred to show her displeasure by not coming back.  Of course I don't speak French and ended up putting your mother in a bad spot, asking her to complain for me, which made her feel uncomfortable.  Next time I want to complain, I will do it myself!  As of this writing I am still not sure what the correct action to take is.  I know in the states we would have been given another at no charge. 

After laundry we ate lunch at Ming Chau and then went to the esplanade at the Grand Arch de la Defense.  On a previous trip we had gone up the arch but I wanted to go this time simply to walk up and down the esplanade.  On this day, Nike had set up basketball courts and was promoting the French born and raised point guard of the San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker.  On the way home we stopped at an internet café and checked car rental rates and exchanged a few instant messages with my partner in crime at work, Lydia.  Then we went to the video store and rented The Fellowship of the Rings through a totally automated process!  Yeah, that kiosk totally rocked!  After this trip, during my stage, once on my day off I actually rented 6 movies in one day.