We are dorks..

In honor of Puzzlehunt 12 being announced J and I wrote this puzzle. It was inspired by our recent trip to the Louvre. We are sad that we won't be in Seattle with our team during the Hunt, but we hope to improve our 4 AM to 8 AM PST statistics from Australia. Enjoy!

Email the answer to jm.rtw.posterous@gmail.com.
 
Written by: J & M
Photography by: M
 
If you'd like a hint, highlight the white text below:
 
Parlez-vous français ?
 

Day 41: Parisan scam artists pick the wrong person....

I have read extensively on scams to look out for during our trip. I guess I should consider myself lucky that up until today it's only been tried on me three times - twice in Barcelona (just 3 walking steps apart) and once in Paris. Today marked the fourth attempt and, boy, did they mess with the wrong person at the wrong time because I was already in a really pissed off mood.

It happened at the bottom steps of the Sacre Coeur. J and I started our ascent to the top of the hill when 2-3 guys with colorful strings in their hands tried to stop us. From the looks of it.. it was the classic "friendship bracelet" scam. I first gave them a polite "No, thank you." But, they were extremely aggressive. I tried to walk past them, but 2 of the guys blocked my path. They basically cornered me because I had the railing to my left, one guy in front, another guy to my right and J behind me. I next said, "No!" a couple of times in a higher volume, but that didn't work, which surprised me. In the meanwhile, J is sticking out his arm trying to fend them off while also firmly saying, "No!"  Finally, I screamed at them, "I AM EXTREMELY UPSET RIGHT NOW SO LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" and pushed my way past them. Honestly, images of me punching them in the face and holding them by their coat lapel and kneeing them in the groin flashed before my eyes, but it was probably a good that I didn't. Despite all the anger I could have unleashed on them, it would be hard to overcome three 6 feet tall well-built men with who knows what kind of weapons in their pockets.

As we left, I heard a lot of "F* you... F* you F*ing you.. F*... F*.." I smiled inside. Me being a 5'4" vulnerable-looking Asian girl, they probably thought I'd be cake...

This costs HOW MUCH?! Tofu in Paris

J and I are huge fans of fresh tofu. Take it out of the container. Rinse it. Cut it up into 1x1 cm columns. Top with some chopped scallions. Drizzle with soy sauce, sesame oil and soy paste (a Taiwanese thing, not miso). We ate it pretty frequently when we were in Seattle, like 2-3X per week. While we were shopping at Monoprix (a supermarket) we were excited to find the EXACT brand of tofu that we eat at home!

Item: 1 block of House silken tofu
Location: Paris, France

Please submit your estimates in USD.

Day 32: A perfect day in Paris

1. The day started with a visit to the famous pedestrian street market of Rue Cler, where a huge vat of tomato soup outside a boulangerie (bakery) inspired my choice for lunch.

2. A baguette from the boulangerie went well with the steaming bowl of tomato soup.

3. Since lunch only cost 2,50 Euros (not even because I only ate half the baguette), I splurged and got a strawberry and raspberry mini-tart for dessert.

4. As you can see, I enjoyed it very much.

5. In comparison, J had a boring (in my opinion, of course) lunch of Parisan pizza.

6. After lunch we decided to take advantage of the good weather and make a spontaneous trip to visit the Thinker at the Rhodin Museum Garden.

7. I was not so interested in the actual museum, so I left J to enjoy the rest of the museum by himself while I made my way to Shakespeare & Co., an English bookstore near the Seine.

8. I left the bookstore empty-handed, but unexpectedly found myself walking past the Pantheon on my way home.

9. Oh, I forgot to mention that we bought some sausages from a chacuterie (meat shop) on Rue Cler, which I made for dinner alongside some onions and peppers on a toasted baguette (left over from lunch).

10. (picture not shown) A game of Big Game Hunters is the perfect ending to a perfect day in Paris.

Current Location: Paris, France

Spenchglish

We've been living in Paris for just over a week now. Yet, we're still struggling with the most basic French phrases, such as "merci" (thank you), "bonjour" (good day), "s'il vou plait" (please) and "oui" (yes). This is not because we can't remember the French phrases, but because we keep tangling the English, Spanish and French languages together.

For example:

In Paris, after I ask for an item while shopping, the salesperson usually repeats what I say back to me for confirmation. In that instance my head knows to say "oui", but my mouth instinctively tries to say "si" (Spanish for "yes"). Luckily, I'd stop myself just in time and jump at the next instinct to say "yes" in plain English. Again, I'd stop myself just before the word comes out. I'd then pause with a very constipated look on my face as my mind races to recall the French equivalent. In the meanwhile the person I'm speaking to is staring at me with a quizzical look. By the time I'm able to mumble out a "oui" the appropriate moment has long passed and the Frenchman thinks I'm a dumb-ass, or, more specifically, a dumb-ass American.

*sigh*

C'est la vie.

Day 27: Thanksgiving in Paris

Thanksgiving 2008 was the second consecutive Thanksgiving that J and I have spent abroad. Last year, we were in Costa Rica. I aways feel a little blue being away from friends and family during the holiday season. Being spat on on Thanksgiving Day didn't make make me feel any better. Can someone please tell me why you would circulate coins that are considered "rude" to use? If you don't want it, then I don't want it either! Those 0,01, 0,02, 0,05 Euro coins are either taking up valuable counterspace or weighing down my pants. But, whatever. I'll just laugh it off as a learning and cultural experience.

Thanksgiving afternoon was spent along the Champs-Elysees. We started at Place Charles de Gaulle with a trip up the Arc de Triomphe and ended at the Place de la Concorde in front of the Roue de Paris (a large ferris wheel). In between J and I enjoyed a lunch at McDonalds (my world tour of the Big Mac continues), the Louis Vuitton flagship store and the Champ-Elysees Christmas Market, which is apparently making its debut this holiday season. Thanksgiving dinner consisted of chicken noodle soup because chicken was the closest thing I could get to a turkey at the local supermarket.

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. If you had bet me a year ago that I'd be done w/ graduate school and living in Paris as part of an 8-month world-wide tour I would have laughed hysterically and given you 100-1 odds. You'd be a rich (wo)man.

1. Champ-Elysees as seen from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
2. The Eiffle Tower as seen from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
3. The spiral staircase of the Arc de Triomphe.
4. Big Mac Paris
5. Le M Paris (otherwise known as "el Mac" in Barcelona)
6. Louis Vuitton flagship store
7. Christmas Market shops along the Champ-Elysees
8. Christmas lights along the Champ-Elysees ending at the Arc de Triomphe

Current Location: Paris, France

Strategic Eating in Paris

Paris is going to hurt. We've been in town less than 48 hours, have eaten 3.5 meals and we're already wondering how we'll be able to survive this city on a budget while still being able to sample the amazing food we know this city has to offer. After some discussion, J and I decided that we'll go out for dinner 1-2 meals per week while alternating lunch between cheap meals (< 10 Euros total; sandwiches, crepes to-go, fast food or eating in) and pricier meals at brasseries, bistros and cafes. Since we'll be here a whole month I think this plan will still give us plenty of opportunities to sample the local cuisine.

What I should have known, but only recently realized, is that Paris is very much like NYC in that it's a melting pot of people all over the world. Good food doesn't just mean French food. I've already heard that Vietnamese and Mediterranean food is really good here. However, I still must wonder if I should spend my precious meals on eating non-French foods. Can't I get good Vietnamese at Pho Pasteur when I visit Boston for Christmas? Shouldn't I eat Argentinean food when I'm in Buenos Aires or Italian food when I'm in Rome? I am soooo lucky that this is the biggest dilemma in my life right now.... =)

Seeking recommendations for Paris

J and I are headed to Paris, France on Sunday after 3 amazing weeks in Barcelona.  We are currently seeking any tips, advice or recommendations from our readers for our Parisan stay. Here are some topics I can think of, but don't feel limited to these subjects.

1. Oh, if you're in Paris you MUST go to _____________________ (dining establishment) to have breakfast/lunch/dinner
2. Oh, if you're in Paris you MUST visit _____________________ (attraction)
3. Oh, if you're in Paris you MUST _____________________ (activity)
4. If you go to Paris avoid ________________ (activity)
5. ______________ (location) would make a great day/weekend-trip
6. Try ___________________ (website or travel agency) for good deals on weekend trips.
7. Here's a tip: ____________________ (something useful all locals know, but a tourist would not know)
8. It was one of those "get lost roaming the streets of Paris" days........ (the rest of your experience)

Thanks everyone!!!