Paris Stopover, March

We are finally taking a trip we have dreamed about for years, an African safari. The flight from the US to Johannesburg is over 23 hours, so we decided to make it easier by stopping in Paris for a few days on each end. That way we adjust to the time change gradually, and it gives us a chance to explore one of Kelley's favorite cities. Ronnie has never been to Paris, or even Europe, and has always wanted to go, so it feels like the perfect addition to this adventure.

We started our journey by driving from Pacific Grove to SFO Airport around noon. Our flight to Paris left close to 7 PM on Air France in basic economy, which meant just the essentials. Overnight on the plane, neither of us managed much sleep, so we landed in Paris a little groggy but excited for the adventure ahead.

We landed in Paris around 11 AM and made our way from CDG airport using the RER train, then hopped on the Metro before walking to our Airbnb in the Marais. After settling in, we grabbed lunch along a busy street: salmon with toast, croquettes, and a Mai Tai. Jet lag hit hard, so we ended up crashing by 5 PM. The mattress at our place was extremely firm and not very comfortable, so we both woke up around 3 AM. A dose of melatonin helped, and we managed to sleep until about 9 AM.

Friday was our first full day in Paris, and we made the most of it. We strolled along the Seine and spent time at the Musée d’Orsay, which was absolutely impressive. Street artists dotted the walk. We kept walking until we reached the Eiffel Tower and found a busy street-side boulangerie to grab a bite. Later, we rented bikes to head back to our apartment in the Marais. By the end of the day, we had logged about 15,000 steps, enjoyed great weather, and felt lucky to spend such a wonderful day exploring Paris.

Friday night we managed a bit more sleep, thanks to half a melatonin. The next morning, we walked to a spot nearby for an “American breakfast” before heading out to see Notre Dame Cathedral, where we read about the ongoing restoration. We enjoyed a cappuccino at a street corner café in the Left Bank with the city waking up around us. After that, we picked up our bags from a storage locker and caught the RER train back to CDG airport for our flight to Johannesburg.

Our next leg was with Kenya Airlines to Nairobi on an overnight flight, but once again, real sleep escaped us. The plane was generic and the crew were contractors, but surprisingly, both the service and the food were solid, chicken dinner and an unconventional breakfast were served. During our layover at Nairobi airport, we relaxed in reclining chairs for a few hours until our final 5 AM flight departed for Johannesburg.

South Africa Safari

Saturday, March 23rd: We slept a little better after taking half a melatonin. We walked to a café for an American breakfast, then made our way to Notre Dame Cathedral where we read about the restoration project. We stopped for cappuccinos on a street corner in the Left Bank. Later,

Ronnie & KelleyRonnie