Our three darling children are enjoying the company of paternal grandparents, so just us! Andreas will be working for about three days, but we are here for a week, so that's fine!
We started off today by having breakfast at a local Bolangerie, Bakery that is. I had Pain au Chocolat with a Grand Cafe. Funny how the size of coffe various over the cultures and countries. What I had this morning was a large coffee, and probably the size of a quarter of a Starbucks Tall one (small coffee at American coffee shop). We have actually seen Starbucks here too! And Gap. Got the kids T-shirts that said Gap, Paris on them, for the same price as they sell the souvenir T-shirts at crap quality by the Eiffel tower.
As we were headed towards l'Arc the Triomph at the end of the famous bolevard Champs Elyssee today, we were along La Seine and by the Louvre and we paused for moment to watch to guys climb the roof to fix something. I saw a rope dangling and said to Andreas Thank goodness they have security ropes in case they'd fall! Well, at the other end of that rope was a bucket dangling with tools to fix whatever it was he was fixing. This was on the 4th floor. I had to leave, I couldn't risk witnessing another person die. We turned to continue towards l'Arc the Triomph, and a woman comes up to us and bends over to pick up a gold ring, almost like a wedding band but wider. She turns to Andreas and says "Oh My God!"
I had noticed that there was no ring on the ground 2 seconds earlier and told Andreas in Swedish that she did in fact not find it, but had it already. He got a bit confused and just told her it wasn't his, and she lost interest and continued on her walk. We then paused again, to see her do it again to two or three other couples. It is clear to me that her intention was to fool us, and them, but we still can't figure out what she wanted? How was she supposed to fool us? I dont't get it! But if you do, please leave a comment and explain this weird thing to us!
We walked at least 15 km today, in scorching heat, so now we are enjoying the AC for a bit before heading out for dinner!
The Ring Scam -- she drops the ring, picks it up with a lot of fuss in front of you so you notice, then makes a point of showing you that it is stamped with a gold mark, 14kt or whatever. Then she tries it on, it doesn't fit, so she says, oh well -- you take it. You say, Huh? and she says, Oh, no, it's a gift, you should take it, it will fit you.... and could you give me a little money for food?
SvaraRadera