En Route -- CDG

Let’s face it -- air travel is just plain stressful. Every step of the line involves yet another line. Shoes come off; shoes go on.

But so far the best surprise was the meal on Air France, which was announced with a “postcard” menu: couscous with salmon appetizer, succulent beef tips with vegetables, chocolate pudding, Camembert, and an assortment of alcoholic beverages. I usually stick to seltzer, but in the interest of falling asleep I went with a delicious Viognier and Pear Williams liqueur.

It’s a good thing we slept because we needed all the energy we could muster to stand in yet more lines in Paris en route to Rome: immigration, security, money exchange.

For the weary traveler, there was an island of calm. It was tempting, but we decided to spend our money on a croissant, a cafe au lait, and a Vittel.

The sun is shining in Paris. Could it be that the weather prediction for Rome was wrong? Hope springs eternal!