Reims with a friend on Saturday

Saturday afternoon, I got a roommate! "C" came on a whim to France from Los Angeles, to travel around on her vacation - without speaking French! So we two American girls became fast friends. It was wonderful to have someone with whom I had real conversations, something more than asking "Do you have here the thing to dry hair?" or "How does one go to ___?"; someone to go out to eat with, rather than picking up a salad at the grocery store; and someone to walk around the city with, so that when we get lost it feels more like adventure and less like trauma.

We went to the Musée de Beaux Arts of Reims to see a famous French Revolution period painting, David's Death of Marat. The museum of Reims, small and not at all ostentatious, isn't the place I would expect to find this painting that I studied in both high school and college. But there it is!

See how I wore tennis shoes - typical American tourist - because my feet had blisters from running through the Philadelphia airport in my boots. We then walked toward the Place d'Erlon, where you'll see a fountain, statue, and many open-air cafes. 

By the way, my shopping bag has a hair-dryer in it! It makes me feel slightly more settled...now if I only had a real residence and a phone! And Mitch, my family, my friends. But, one mustn't be too needy! Anyway it was so great to enjoy my dinner out Saturday night, and not worry about walking back before dark. Here I am with a Kir Royale, and then C and me with our meals.