Week one: Paris

I was a bit shattered the first day after arriving, but otherwise recovered very well from the long flights to get here. We have been visiting lots of cafes here in the Marais area, which I like a lot. I lie under the table while Mum and Dad drink margaritas. Yes plural. Too many sometimes I think. But they say they are exceptionally good here. Something about having lots of vitamin C too. But I am not convinced THAT’s the appeal.

My Mum has been taking me on lots of walks, while Dad is attending the annual OECD Forum for 3 days as part of the Sydney University contingent. I love all of the new smells everywhere. But I find that my paws are getting very grey and dusty from walking this city’s streets. So my parents lift me up into the big bath in the apartment to wash them with soap in the warm bath water every second day or so. I feel much better afterwards. But then they get dirty again before I know it…

We finally found a really nice park that allows dogs. It’s called the Nelson Mandela Park near Des Halles. But when Mum let me off the leash to chase the ball, we were approached by a park attendant who told her this wasn’t allowed, and to put me back on the leash. Darn. This means no running 🙁 But at least she didn’t have to pay a big fine like that time in Bundeena. I don’t understand why it is OK for me to go into all manner of shops here; even fancy restaurants and yet not be allowed to walk through most parks in Paris even ON my leash, let alone off it.  We talked to a local guy who was walking his weimaraner who said that dogs could walk along the side part of the Tuilleries even though there was a sign saying we weren’t allowed there. He said to just ignore the sign. And sure enough, there were dogs there everywhere. So the application of rules seems very confusing here in France. They should just enforce that dog companions pick up their chiens’ numero deux – way too many of those on the streets here!

There are quite a few other dogs in Paris, but not many are as big as me. Nor as beautiful my Mum keeps saying. We had a bit of a giggle when we overheard an English tourist pointing out my rather fetching scarf to her friend, saying you could tell by this that I was a French dog. In fact none of the dogs here wear scarves, whereas they are increasingly de rigeur at home. But as you can tell, I am quickly picking up the lingo, and bark French almost fluently already.

Pugs seem very popular here in Paris. It must be their big ears. You see quite a few toy French poodles too. While we have also seen some golden retrievers (I like those of course) we haven’t seen any groodles at all. So I get lots of attention from both tourists and locals. These 2 really nice guys from Boston asked if it was OK to pat me because they missed their golden doodle at home so much. My parents enjoy telling everyone how far I traveled to get here and they seem duly surprised. Most people here can’t imagine how even a human could ever travel that far, let alone un chien!

I have been enjoying the various sights in Paris too, including the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Trocadero, and the George Pompidou Centre. I also liked walking down the Champs Elysee, stopping at some of my favourite boutiques such as Longchamps (although I don’t like its horse motif one bit), and Lacoste (crocodiles are OK). We also stopped at the Roland Garros stand, the French Open Tennis being on at the moment. I like tennis balls. I had Mum take some photos of me in these various locations, which I have posted here.

The George Pompidou Centre

 

And I took this one of my parents who I love for being crazy romantic!

I may look a bit hot in some of these photos, often showing my tongue with its special black mark, which Mum says is a beauty spot! Modelling is tiring work at the best of times, but especially when you walk 14kms on a hot day! I kid you not – Mum worked it out using Google Maps. I had to literally drag Mum and Dad into a café for a rest towards the end.  They ordered margaritas again, with lots of ice. The bar tender gave me a bowl of water which was very thoughtful. My parents actually brought my new pink plastic water container to Europe, but forgot to bring it along on our long long walk on this day. I suppose there’s a lot to think about when you are settling in to a foreign place.

We are picking up the fancy car today – a brand new Peugeot 208 CC that we are leasing for the next 3 months. My parents aren’t very practical; I will only just be able to squeeze into the back seat, and the boot will hardly fit any of their luggage, especially when the roof retracts back into it, just like Dad’s lime green Saab at home. (Yup, mid-life crisis, which is now extending to here!) That automatic roof mechanism thing freaks me out every time. But I do like driving with the wind in my fur. You also get to see more of the scenery,  which will be nice for Normandy where we are now heading for the next 4 weeks.