Summer when it sizzles

It's darn hot here. I'm not sure what 36 degrees equals in Farenheit, but it's really hot. We took it easy the first day, and wandered around the neighborhood at bit. We're in the 5th arrondisement, very close to Notre Dame and the river, which is wonderful in the evening. During the day, it's essentially a giant American playground - everywhere you turn is wall to wall tourists, as all the Parisiens have left town for vacation. We spent the afternoon in the Marais, a very cute and chic neighborhood with shops and galleries. It's a huge relief that I don't have to write anything up - no notes, no interviews, I wander around at will without a notebook glued to my hand. I can eat what I want, I can sit on a bench... so this is vacation.

Good croissant in the morning - at Kayser boulangerie. A little flour-y, but we sat down for an espresso at another cafe and the shopkeeper saw we had brought our own croissants. She immediately brought us one of her own for a taste test, and we, of course, told her hers was the best. I think tomorrow we'll do Fauchon, stay tuned...