Grande Mosquée de Paris

We visited the Grande Mosquée de Paris last Saturday. Except we didn't actually visit the mosque; we instead enjoyed thé à la menthe in one of its peaceful courtyards with Louis' colleague Hannah (visiting her sister this week) and her sister, Becca (studying in Paris for the semester).

If you go to the Grande Mosquée for tea, you will enjoy a sweet, hot beverage that warms you in the winter and refreshes you in the summer. A nice gentleman will pass through the courtyard with a tray-full of glasses like those you see below. Wave the man over (it may take several tries - he may be busy shooing away the pigeons), ask for one glass (or two), and hand over two euros per glass. Pastries must be ordered indoors. 

In poor weather, you might want to head inside to the vrai salon de thé where you can enjoy even more vivid decor and a more bustling scene. 

Panda didn't join us on this expedition but we're always scoping out future dog-friendly outings. From what we can tell, you can bring your dog to the Grand Mosquée as long as you take your tea in the entrance courtyard. But they made it very clear: no Cocker Spaniels or terriers allowed inside. 

Beware of Internet

Saw this posted next to a school next door to the BN's Département de la Musique and could not resist snapping a picture.

High stakes and risks of using the internet

For parents of students in the fifth grade, Poquelin Middle School and its Parents Association propose an information session dedicated to the high stakes and risks of internet usage.

If only our parents had been warned about the dangers of the interwebs when we were in 5th grade . . .

Chrome en français

Chrome is finally here!

Louis and I have been using Google's Chrome Internet browser for a while now, but they've just now started advertising its wonders to the people of Paris. Here's one version of a Chrome ad spotted in the metro:

1 family wishing to eat a tarte tatin
5 family members who don't know anything about baked goods
886,000 results for "tarte tatin recipe"
41 minutes spent comparing recipes
7 emails debating the best way to cook one
16 videos found for "tarte tatin recipe" on YouTube
2 and a half attempts
137,000 images found for "tarte tatin"
0 images that look like ours!
1 video of "burned tarte tatin" posted on YouTube
2 liters of ice cream melting onto the kitchen floor
5 people watching 1 Labrador enjoy it

13 tabs open
0 bugs
1 browser

Only in France would an advertisement for an Internet browser feature a pastry. Love it.

Signage at the Louvre

If you happen to bring Fido to the Louvre, be sure to carry him when you ride the escalator.

But if you bring a small child, don't carry him and make him stand on one leg?

Signage

I've been trying to pay closer attention to signs, lately, especially signs about dogs. (And not just because I'm worried about getting in trouble.) It's interesting to compare how signs convey different messages.

This is supposed to mean that you can't take dogs inside the castles - but we walked Panda right up to Neuschwanstein, and she could go in the castle courtyard without any problems.

Along with soccer balls (or is that a billiards ball?), dogs are simply not allowed on the Stüttgart "Common" - but lounging people with stickers for heads are. Well, we showed them: Panda pooped on that Common.

My favorite: dogs are allowed, without leash, they just can't poop. Hey, unleashed dog over there! Stop that! This sign (seen in Munich) would be appropriate in Paris.