Isn't he a cutie pie?  The parisians love their dogs (they just don't want them in their rentals).  Ha.  We had lunch yesterday and "Claude" strolled in and sat next to our table.  He was 15 years old and turned his nose up to the bread we offered him.

I must tell you that we are finding the french to be nothing but kind, helpful, and friendly.  Not in the Texas "bear hug"  kind of a way but helpful in their own right. 

Prior to this trip, I had my nose buried in a myriad of books explaining the  french culture.  I ended up with a knot in my stomach because everthing I read was so negative......and I believed it.  I have an absolutely different view and I truly feel that people are people no matter where they are in this great big world of ours.  We all want to connect with one another and we are all flawed. 

The french children I read about "who sit at restaurant tables for hours on end not saying a word" is rubbish.  I have seen so many crying, screaming, biting (yes, I saw a child bite her mothers hand today) children on every corner.  Children are children wherever you go.  There are obedient children and then you have those children with that glimmer in their eye ready to test you at every turn. 

I hope to share "my french experience" with you.  Yes, I am a half glass full kind of a gal but I know there will be days when I will want to scream and pull my hair out because of this culture shock and you will bare witness to those outbursts.  All in all, I am pleasantly surprised at the reserved warmth the french are showing us.