Observations

We noticed several changes on this trip, some of which are worth mentioning.  Most restaurants now have salt and pepper on the table, I think we only ate in a couple that didn't and very few of them are serving baguettes as bread anymore.  Most served some type of brown or whole grain bread instead.  Many are also serving bread in little bread bags on the table instead of baskets.  They are quite cute and we looked for some to buy to bring home but had no luck.  Lots of chefs seem to be using lots of seeds, herbs and spices in unusual ways. The majority of the restaurants are printing their menus in French and English so we don't get to try and decipher and test our French food vocabulary much any more.  Scarves are no longer seen on almost everyone and very few of the younger crowd seem to wear them - older women and men are the most frequent scarf wearers.  Everyone is wearing blue jeans, doesn't matter the age or sex, they are the most frequently seen article of clothing.  Men are wearing suits that are have very tight fitted pants and  very short coats.  I figure I must really look my age as I was almost always offered a seat on the Metro when it was full and the person offering sometimes seemed to be about my age.  Rarely did we run into someone who didn't speak English.

I am always amazed by the number of people (Parisians) who read the Metro signs like they've never been on them before.  They constantly scan the line and stops on board and search and discuss the maps in the stations.  It's such an easy system but they actually make it look like it might be difficult.