ZADAR PART I

Tuesday, at 11:15 p.m. and after braving the two hour flying infomercial that is Ryan Air, Roman and I made it to Zadar, Croatia.  Thanks to the nice Croatian girl in line behind me at customs, we were able to contact our host's mother (apparently, in an uncharacteristic spurt of efficiency, the french bureaucratic machine shut down my phone only two days after my hand-written letter left Rue Laplace), and were taken to our apartment.  We spent our first day exploring the Old Town.

The Venetians were here

"Where the pros learn the game" according to Roman.  (this was his favorite thing we saw that day..)

Wimpo Roman and his wimpy croatian beer

Today, we took a boat tour of the Kornati Islands.  It got off to a touch of a rocky start as we either forgot, or never received in the first place depending on whom you ask, our tickets.  It was also pouring rain.  However, after a few hours shivering, trying to keep dry, and drinking coffee that tasted like watered down dirt, the sun came out.  And it was beautiful.   

Pouring rain, but at least he got two sandwiches (the perks of having a gluten-intolerant sister)

But then the rain went away, and this happened.  

In the Mediterranean!  (I only went in knee-deep, Roman went all the way)

Remnants of a former pirate castle

Cat island!  We had a lunch of grilled, freshly caught, fish at an outdoor restaurant (I'm pretty sure it was just a lady's house).  While we ate, about fifteen cats lurked, waiting for bones and heads.

My view on the way back: camped out in the bow under my fleece-lined blanket with an over-excited little french girl, loving all the waves.

Sunset in Zadar

ROMAN IN PARIS

Bright and early Saturday morning, Roman arrived in Paris.  After a power nap and some lunch, we trekked up to Montmartre to do a bit of wandering and visit the Sacre Coeur.  

After two weeks of rain, Parisians and tourists alike were staking out spots on the lawn.

Lucky for Roman, this guy was out again, and this time his routine was synched to music!

Adoring fan

Stopped in Kooka Burra, just up the road from my old apartment, on our way back.  My favorite cafe in Paris.

Roman's first baguette (it was just about gone by the time we got home).

Sunset in the Tuileries

A big bunch of ranunculus from the market, that we picked up on our way to a wonderful lunch at Joyce's.

Les Invalides, the military museum, which houses Napoleon's tomb.

Joseph Napoleon's tomb in one of the rooms around the edge of Napoleon Bonaparte's.

Here it is!  Under the big dome, about a story tall, and surrounded by lists chronicling his achievements, lies a short little man who got a lot done.

While I had my last tutoring session, Roman climbed to the tip-top of the Eiffel tower!

Ended the night at Verjus bar à vins, one of my favorites, with Tab and Emily.