jan 31-fev 1: Paris is cold.

The title says it all. The weather says it's 41 and feels like 32; I believe it. (Or if you're up on your Celsius, it's 5 and feels like 0.) But I've had quite the walk already, from my hotel around a bit towards the river where it was especially windy and frigid. Then up through the 5eme arrondissement where the Sorbonne is, over to the Arènes de Lutèce, a Roman ruin which was much less interesting than it sounds. But it was redeemed by a visit to the Panthéon which is quite awesome, though also freezing.

It's especially exciting to recognize quite a few places, whether walking around or on the bus ride in from the airport this morning. The bus went through parts of Montmarte that Tim and I visited, then dropped off at the Opéra which is reasonably close to the hotel.

I'm off now to track down a bit of lunch before checking in to the hotel and enjoying some rest finally. To Valbonne on Saturday -- hooray toasty Côte d'Azur.