Chapter 86: P-Unit

nerd blog post #91

Yes, that's right, Loanne and RtD are in France. The parental unit arrived safely and they have been wolfing cheese and chugging wine ever since. As much has happened, I will nerd blog about the time spent in Paris first.

Day 1: Checking In and Rts Unite

I picked up the p-unit at the airport. They had had a good flight and all was on time. They were pretty exhausted as we made our way to the hotel but soon caught a second (fifth? sixth?) wind. Checking in, they experienced their first taste of French tardiness. The hotel wouldn't be ready for at least two hours.

We decided to march to the Arc de Triomphe, stopping for bread and cheese for a micmic lunch. Then we walked the Champs Elysees to the Jardin des Tuileries and to the Louvre. It was an epic walk, and by the time we took the metro to the hotel and finally got into our room, it was time for a snooze.

In the evening, RtC met RtD. They had a dance off, a chugging competition and a medieval duel. In the end, Baby Beluga was crowned king for 500 points. Then we went for a pizzer dindins which was delicious. From there, we walked to the Eiffel Tower (as happens on the first night of any visit!) and watched the tower sparkle and dance. It was really nice. The parentals returned home and I hung with Raffi for a bit before meeting Uncle Doug, Aunt Sheila and Cousin Michael (Birmingham Hincks) and returning to the hotel for them to check in.

Bedtime.

Day 2: Fam Jam and Clown Town

We were up bright and early and had breakie at a local joint. We then took the metro to the Notre Dame. We looked at it inside and out. Then we ventured around the Latin Quarter, stopping in at Shakespeare and Co and the Canadian bookstore. Brian met the fam. We walked along the Seine to the Louvre and then split up. My mom and I returned to the hotel to play vicious games of cards and talk about things that moms and daughters talk about, like boys and dishwashers. The others went to the Arc de Triomphe so the B.Hincks could see it.

We met up again, this time at the train station where another relative (a second cousin from Montreal who is working in the North of France) met us. We walked through a sketchy neighbourhood (my fault. I was not a geography major) to Montmartre. There, we saw the Sacre Coeur and the neighbourhood and settled in to a restaurant for dindins.

Cousin Michael and I peaced out before the bill came (priceless, literally) and went to a dancey bar called the Pop In. It was Raffi's bday on Sunday and he was having a party there.There were oodles of clowns there and it was a lot of fun. As Michael is 17 and his parents are avid nerd blog fans, I'll spare the details of his mad dancing skillz and how he impressed the ladies with his studly accent and heroic tales. It was a great night. I was glad to have been able to ring in Raffi's bday and to party with my cousin all at the same time. A highlight fo sho.

Bedtime.

Day 3: I Saw Dead People

We had breakie in the hotel room the next day and then went to the Pere Lachaise cemetery. It was a beautiful day - sunny and warm. Spring has sprung in France. We saw all of the famous graves - Wilde, Piaf, Proust, Morrison, Chopin... Most interesting for me was the section dedicated to WWII. It had some really impressionable sculptures and I hadn't been to that part of the cemetery.

Lunch was served by a rude waiter. It's funny now, but was kind of a downer at the time. He was ridic. Too much to explain in the nerd blog, but avoid the restaurant on the N-E corner of the S-E exit of Pere Lachaise. The guy's a real wiener.

We walked from there to the Marais, the gay and Jewish quarter. We went to the Carnavalet Museum, which gives a history of Paris through paintings, miniature models of the city, and other thangs.

Then to the Eiffel Tower, which was beautiful by day.

Raffi joined us for dindins but I met him before and gave him Scrabble as a presie. We would have played, but I thought it was mean to make him cry on his bday. I challenge any of you to a game. Winner wins a million points.

Bedtime.

Day 4: Lady Marmalade

The Birmingham Hincks returned to Birmingham. Chincks headed to the Louvre. Loanne and I checked in the suitcases to the train station (after much annoyance) and then went for a coffee near clown school. Raffi and Viktor showed us around and Lo was able to witness some top-notch juggling and hand stands.

The Hincks trio reunited and went to see the Moulin Rouge. I had never noticed all of the sex shops. But walking in between my parents, I definitely did. The Moulin Rouge is cooler by night, but was still neat to see.

Then, Paris was over for us and we collected our suitcases, boarded the train, and came to Rennes.

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It was a great few days. Slumber parties with the p-unit are better at 24 than they would have been at 14. We had a great time and it's hard to believe it's already more than half over.....

Hope you're all well! Much love to Canada.

Signing off,
Hincks.