5 Days of Family Fun in France

Bonjour tout le monde, c’est Domo! Domo is back again to tell you about his exciting European adventures in Paris! Domo spent five days in France last week and had a lot of fun!

  

Walking Through a Paris Garden

If you find Domo’s writing boring and long winded, Domo will summarize his key thoughts about Paris and Parisians below:

• The national pastime appears to be smoking
• Parisians eat their body weight in baguettes
• You always sit next to each other on a sidewalk café not across from each other
• People drive like CRAZY in Paris – lanes are ignored and roundabouts are free-for-alls
• Even though they eat and drink a lot, Parisians are rarely obese. Americans can stand to take note.

First Day – Travel, Movies, & Family Dinner  

Domo left on Saturday from Phoenix but with the two flights (14 hours of flight time combined), the layover, and the time change, Domo didn’t arrive in Paris until early Sunday morning. Domo was excited to be on a new Airbus plane that had a personally controlled TV at each seat! Domo could choose from a nice selection of Movies, TV shows, Music, and Games. Domo tried very hard to sleep on his flight to Paris and even took a sleeping but, but unfortunately couldn’t doze off for more than 45 minutes at a time. Domo was able to keep himself busy though during the flight and finished his book “Sense of Urgency” and watched the movies “Date Movie” with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell (so funny!), “Alice in Wonderland” with Johnny Depp (interesting and weird), and also watched episodes of the show “Big Love” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, two of his HBO favorites.  

Domo Travels in "Coach" .. Purse

Upon arriving in Paris on Sunday morning Domo immediately turned on his Blackberry to see if he could get a roaming signal as he did last year on his old phone, and as he did this year on his current phone in Aruba. Domo’s phone did not work! Domo was very sad. Domo might have what you call Crackberry addiction. Without the use of his phone to call his shuttle (Super Shuttle is now international by the way!) Domo had to find a pay phone to make the international call. Domo can’t remember the last time he has even touched a pay phone. Maybe five years?

Domo managed to get to Monika’s mom’s house without a problem and had a nice breakfast with her and George, and then took a nice five hour nap to catch up on his sleep. That night Monika’s mom had planned a welcome party at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant for Domo! Yes! For Domo! Not Monika! ;o)

Family Welcome Dinner

Monika’s cousin Mark from Australia and his wife and baby had just gotten in that morning as well to Paris. They were about to start week one of their FIVE WEEK vacation! Domo was very jealous. Monika’s other cousin Laurent from France also came to the dinner as well, along with a handful of Monika’s mom’s friends from this social site “On Va Sortir” (Let’s go out!)

Second Day – The Pantheon & Family Dinner 

The next day would be Domo’s first day sightseeing in Paris. Domo bought a Paris travel guide at the airport and had gone through the book and marked all of the attractions that seemed interesting. Domo’s first choice was Les Catacombes and his second choice was the chapel of St. Eustache.

The Pantheon

Sadly almost all museums are closed on Monday! Domo arrived at Les Catacombes to find out they were closed. Domo then tried to go visit the chapel but couldn’t find parking there. Luckily Domo had his trusty travel guide and was able to find something that was open – the Pantheon! Domo enjoyed visiting the Pantheon and his favorite part was the huge pendulum in the center of the building.

 Pendulum at the Pantheon

That night Domo was invited over to Monika’s cousin Larent’s house for dinner. Laurent and his wife were cooking dinner for him and he got to meet their baby for the first time.

Gracious Dinner Hosts

Third Day – Swimming, St. Eustache, & Les Catacombes

On his second day in Paris Domo started to feel guilty for not having run for a week. Domo had a half marathon coming up and hadn’t trained for it at all! Domo remembered how much Monika’s mom loves to swim, so Domo asked her if she would take him swimming the following morning. On Tuesday morning Domo got up bright and early and headed over to the local public swimming pool to try to get some laps in. Domo has never liked to swim and couldn’t believe he had asked to go swimming. But what else could Domo do? Domo need to get some type of workout in! Domo tried to think when he had last swam laps and couldn’t even remember. It had probably been 10 to 15 years! Yes, Domo is old.

Domo Enjoying a Chocolate Croissant

Domo’s biggest issue with swimming is the initial plunge into the cold water, and the sensation of being cold all over whenever you stop moving. Luckily for Domo, the water at the pool was so warm! Domo tried out some laps with the breast stroke and freestyle and was amazed by how much his heart was racing after each lap he swam! Domo was being a little bit of a wimp and stopped swimming to take a little break after each lap or so. Domo swam 20 laps in total (1000 meters) in 45 minutes. Domo was pretty proud of that.

Domo Ready to Swim

After swimming Domo headed out to visit Les Catacombes! Domo read on the sign that they’d be walking for about a mile total from entrance to exit. Domo was tempted to log that on his dailymile site, but didn’t. Upon entering Les Catacombes Domo had to climb down a never-ending spiral staircase. It felt like you were climbing down into the center of the earth, and you couldn’t stop since you had a line of people behind you. Once you got down there you walked through a dark, narrow path in the rocks. Domo felt like he walked forever before he finally saw something interesting – stacks of bones! Wow, creepy!

Les Catacombes

Domo was amazed, intrigued, grossed out, and bewildered by the amount of bones he saw stacked along each side of the path. Domo walked further and further and couldn’t believe that the bones were never ending. Towards the end the path was wet and the ceiling was dripping, and Domo was not happy to be walking in his open sandals through the water and started wondering if there was ancient bone residue in the water as well. Domo was grossed out and walked faster towards the exit. Upon climbing up another never ending spiral staircase, Domo was back outside into the light! There were two guards at the exit who asked to look through Domo’s bag. Domo was confused but then asked “Oh! Is this because people try to steal the bones? Gross!” They answered yes, and pointed to a stack behind them. Ewe! There were two skulls and three long bones behind them that people had tried to take. What is wrong with people?

Creepy Bones!

After the bones, Domo headed over to the chapel of St. Eustache. Domo thought that this chapel was very beautiful and enjoyed walking around and looking at the paintings, stained glass scenes, and statues.

 Beautiful Scenes at St-Eustache

Pipe Organ at St-Eustache

Fourth Day – Swimming, Moulin Rouge & Family Dinner 

The next day Domo attempted swimming again, but this time Domo decided that he would only let himself take a break every five laps. This went well and Domo finished another 1000 meter swim in only 33 minutes this time instead of 45! Domo felt good about himself.

After swimming Domo went out to eat at a local Pho restaurant for lunch. This restaurant is known for serving you a plate of beef bones along with your pho. Domo did not find this appetizing, but his company did.

Beef Bones Lunch

After the dinosaur bone dinner, Domo headed over to check ou Moulin Rouge. Domo wanted to see the cabaret show there but passed due to the price of the tickets. They were $120! Domo decided that taking pictures in front of Moulin Rouge would be good enough. Domo was dissppointed to find that Moulin Rouge in real life wasn't half as magical as it was in his favorite movie Moulin Rouge. Sigh. Domo was sad.

Moulin Rouge

Fifth Day – Swimming, Parc Asterix & Family Dinner

Domo’s last full day in Paris was an exciting one, he went to Parc Asterix! Asterix is a French cartoon character and Parc Asterix is his theme park. Domo thinks this might relate to Mickey Mouse and Disneyland?

Domo Treated Like Royalty by Asterix and Friend

Zeus Overseeing the Park 

Zeus Has Flowered Undies!

Domo hadn’t been to a theme park in years and was looking forward to going on some rides! Domo likes roller coasters! Domo rode the roller coaster Goudurix two times in a row and thinks his brain was scrambled a bit. According to Wikipedia the ride Goudurix held the world record for “greatest number of inversions” from 1989 to 1995!

Mark Enjoying a Waffle Ice Cream Sundae

Goudurix Roller Coaster

Domo had fun in the park going on rides, eating park food, and meeting Asterix himself! It was a full day and a nice end to his trip. After the park Domo headed over to Mark & Ann's condo rental for Asian takeout dinner. Yay Asian food! You wouldn't believe this but Domo didn't have a single bite of French food during his whole trip! He had Asian food for just about every meal!

Domo Makes a Wish at the Well

Domo Thinks Monika is Silly

Sixth Day – Travel, Movies & BBQ

On Domo’s last day in Paris he woke up early and got ready to head back to the US. Super Shuttle came at 8am to pick him up, and after bidding farewell to his family he headed off to the Paris airport for an eight hour flight to Philly followed by a 5 hour flight to Phoenix.

Sunset in Phoenix 

Domo was hoping that he could sleep on the flight back and that the trip would whiz by, unfortunately he couldn’t sleep so he read, watched movies, and stared out the window. Domo watched “When in Rome”, “Enchanted”, “Temple Grandin”, and finished reading “Predictably Irrational”. The first two movies were cute and funny, the third was a GREAT movie that Domo highly recommends, and the book was a great read about behavioral economics that you’d enjoy if you’ve also enjoyed reading Freakonomics, or Tipping Point, or Blink.

Domo Reunites with Mika & Kona in Phoenix

Domo Wasn't Treated as Nicely by the Hammond Westies

Domo got into Phoenix around 6pm and was picked up and spoiled with VIP treatment the rest of the night by his dear friends the Hammonds! Domo enjoyed a nice home-cooked BBQ meal but is embarrassed to say that he wasn’t very good company and almost fell asleep at the dinner table. He ended up excusing himself and going to bed at 9:30pm. Technically it was already the next morning on Paris time! Domo needed to get to bed early anyways because the next morning he’d be heading off to San Francisco for the last leg of his string of travel. More details about San Francisco will follow later in the week.

For now, Domo bids you adieu and hopes you enjoyed his pictures!