It rained pretty steadily today. So, we stayed in and tried to have fun with Malcolm in the apartment. During a marathon session of playing with blocks, I was able to re-enact my successful pass through the roundabout around the Arc de Triumph. 
Pretty good eh? Malkie eventually got tired of life in the apartment and the few toys we have with us, wanting instead to head out and see the world.
A Trip to the Museum
So I took him out into the rain and set coordinates for the Museum of Natural History, which houses a large collection of real dead animals. The top to the stroller is mostly good, covering 80% of his body but Malcolm got pretty wet from the knees down in the steady downpour. We finally made it to the museum and dried off while looking at the animals.
The animals are quite good, although they are a bit eerie since they are dead and stuffed. These are not, however, stuffed like cute Muppets or teddy bears. This is more like a zoo for taxidermists. There were giraffes, elephants, bears and pretty much every other animal under the sun (there was even a huge room full of nocturnal animals as well). Malcolm really enjoyed cruising around seeing the various animals until he got spooked when we were “attacked” by this lion.
Then it was “hold me daddy and take me around in your arms.” We did this for a while, until nap time and we headed home. Luckily by this time the weather had broken and the sun came out. Guess whose feet got to dry out?
Who Takes Their Kid to a Train Station?
After his nap, I decided that the train station might be a good idea, so we headed for the Gare de Lyon. On the way, we stopped by the Bastille and I was greatly unimpressed that it was not some grand building. It is only a monument. 
What a bummer!
Without a guide, I was left to surmise what this was a monument to. The fleet afoot golden runner at the top of the monument demonstrated that this was a testament to the last time the Olympics were held in Paris. When was this, you ask? Well, it was right there on the monument. 
At 3 days instead of 3 weeks, it was a lot quicker back then, since Bob Costas and Dick Enberg were not involved. Also, the 4 chickens near the top of the monument celebrate the Cock Tossing event, which was held before the discus was invented. Since it was in Paris, they threw baguettes instead of javelins, and the 100 meter dash was actually a lazy 100 meter stroll. The winner had the time of a brisk 15 minutes, stopping only for wine and crepes (and a quick cigarette). This is heralded ground for the Parisians, as the kids in the skate park across the street from the Bastille were not allowed to spit on the ground more than 5 times, and the man who was drunk and throwing his beer bottle around was quickly escorted away (by his mom).
We finally made it to the train station, but it was not as I had hoped, for no trains came or went during the time Malcolm allowed me to keep him there. It was rather like going to a hospital (not to visit anyone you know) to just walk around the halls. It was kinda fun though to see people running at breakneck speeds through the station to see that they had missed their train though. This proved that we are not the only travel impaired people here! Malcolm was unimpressed with the huge throng of people there, choosing to eat his shoe rather than soak up the scene.
I gave up on the idea, hit up a park, and then proceeded back to the store to get some supplies for dinner. This trip was much easier and people did not stare awkwardly at my pile of groceries, since I only needed a few things.
Food & Wine
I made chicken and mushrooms to go alongside some rice with asparagus and it turned out quite tasty. The rice was a lot like fried rice without the soy sauce. I think I may make my “French Fried Rice” when I get home!
So far we have had one disappointing Bourdeaux, one OK Pinot Noir, and one pretty good Medoc. Anyone with actual wine knowledge flinched while reading that last sentence, as described 2 wine regions and one type of grape, rather like saying I had a Pilsner, a Budweiser and a German beer. I had hoped that great $5 wine would be everywhere, but I guess we will have to be a little more selective.
We drank wine and ate Belgian chocolates we were supposed to bring home as gifts after dinner and enjoyed just sitting and talking, while taking in a view of the rascal across the street and his blonde. We even sat down to watch a movie and lo and behold, they shot scenes from the Bourne Identity right across the river from us. Screw Hemingway and Stein, Matt Damon shot a movie really close to us! By the way, the Bourne Identity is a great action movie. Anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, go buy it now and watch it. twice. It’s hard to watch that movie though and not be able to take the car out for a mad chase scene around the cobblestone streets of Paris. Maybe we can do that if we pick someone up at the airport.
A word on the commenting about this Blog. I have notice that people are not chirping as much as they ought to. I command that everyone starting making comments in the comments section here, as I feel that this is too one sided. Think I use too many pictures? Comment. Don’t like me eating Jesus chicken? Comment. Let me know you are out there people, I get kinda lonely sometimes. I will begin to award the comment of the day to whoever has the best comment each day. You will receive a shout out in the blog and truly exceptional comments will be rewarded with souvenirs. However, if your comment is that the Blog is too long or anything that suggests that I am wasting my time, I will respond with diatribes against that person and telling embarrassing stories. For instance, Jon Murray, the first comment on the first day saying this was too long and asking for cliff’s notes, once wore Amy’s swimsuit. He looked good in it too.
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I am reading your Day 18 (Friday the 21st?) blog on Sunday the 24th. I wore the same shirt. You didn't say whether you had an umbrella with you, but maybe the shirt breathed and dried OK. Glad you got inside a couple places at least!
I haven't commented much because it keeps telling me my password is wrong.
Grampa Scott
Was that a threat to drive us from the airport on a madcap journey through the streets? Maybe we'll be safer on the RER? GS
I think the number and quality of the pictures is perfect. I have shared your blog address with many of my friends. I always attach a disclaimer, however: "I can't believe that my daughter married this guy!!"
I once had the best Italian food of my life in Paris…ironic eh? Anyway, go have fun reenacting the DaVinci code at the Louvre!
wait…… Jon wore Amy's swimsuit once??!!! that must've been a sight…