I either just booked a hotel room in Paris or negotiated the international transfer of goats. Either way, I think I got a good deal.

In a moment of manic optimism, I eschewed the corporate, English-language, homogenized booking websites in favor of a small, family-run hotel that reserves rooms only direct. Monsieur Zuber’s English is better than my French – thank goodness – but we both sound like we’re putting our sentences through an automated translation system.

When he told me the first night’s stay would be charged as a deposit and then “deduced from my invoice at the end from my stay,” I’m pretty sure I knew what he meant. He was working with me, God bless him, and I appreciate it.

Merci, Monsieur Zuber. J’adore votre chèvre. C’est délicieux.