Extraordinary culinary experience

Since a week I've been eating delicious french food. Almost every day is something new. I remember the first day with my french host, when I saw big plate full of green salad (only salad) I thought, omg, I will starve to death :(  ha ha! nothing even close to that, and quite opposite! Yes, almost every day we eat loads of green salad, but apart from that there are other things. I think I got used to polish or english way of eating, where there are various things on one plate served to each person. Here, we eat starter first like fruit, then all kind of salad and then board of cheese with bread, plus water and wine. Quite often I try new veggies I never had a chance to eat before. So its culinary experience too! Tonight on my plate landed  an artichoke. I was terrified. I remembered eating it from an oily jar, and that it tested insipid. Bleah .. But I thought that I will try, because 1st. I am a guest, and I shouldn't whimper, and 2nd - maybe if it's fresh, it will be edible. And guess what - it was very interesting! It was steamed and quite nice with a sauce of vinegar and olive oil, and something else..  I was surprised that you eat only the base of each petal, dipped in sauce, and the base, without the flower. Okay - maybe lots of people know this already - but for me - it was extraordinary :)

Picture is borrowed from google images

Last minute in Paris

So, we check out of our room in the hotel and are almost ready to head south the France. It's been raining this morning and air is heavy with low pressure. I think I need coffee or something else to keep me going. Missouri feels sleepy too, or maybe she is still tired after yesterday's marathon around tourist attractions.
Hotel Le Canal we stayed in was quite nice, obviously dog friendly and situated near Basin de la Vilette, part of a canal. There was plenty of space (as for Paris) to walk a dog, nice promenade along the canal and moored boats. It's like kind of french little venice. The hotel has been refurbished recently and made in movies theme, nice french atmosphere.

Rotonde de la Vilette

Nearby Casino (french supermarket) supplied me with french baguettes and cheese every morning for budget breakfast. Also, there is not far to go for a metro, the nearest is Riquet, just round the corner.