Pete in Paris

[skyring]

I'm sitting in a tiny Internet cafe on the Boulevard Saint Germain, unshaven, unshowered, listening to BBC Radio Guernsey. Another three hours until the hostel opens and I can get a tub.

Luckily I had one in Hong Kong last night, but I'm still feeling tired and seedy.

Paris is as beautiful as they say. Had a poor introduction as I lugged my baggage through the metro system and up and down bazillions of stairs, but I'm feeling better now. A lovely printemps day, began at just one degree at Charles de Gaulle, but is now t-shirt weather.

Now catching up and preparing to release a book at Shakespeares, just a couple of blocks away.

More later.

Comments

[katcolorado.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Europe. Now you are only a couple of hours away from Switzerland ;-)

[cathepsut.livejournal.com]

Have fun! Paris at this time of the year, how beautiful! Don't forget to visit the Mona Lisa... ;-)

[sainity.livejournal.com]

Where are you staying? Would you recommend it?

[skyring.livejournal.com]

A hostel on the east side of town. They close between 1000 and 1500, so I can't really say much as I haven't dne much more than stow my luggage in the dungeon. SKingList recommends it highly.

[sainity.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

(I'm looking out for places to stay in December. Not sure how I feel about a lock out during the day midwinter, though.)

[skyring.livejournal.com]

This hostel sucks. Or qt leqst my bit of it does. I'm three floors up qnd my luggqge is bloody heqvy; ahqt aith it being mostly books.

Bloody keyboard. The A and Q and W are trading places.

My shared room only hqs one key. We must leqve it at the desk when going out. The ensuite really, really sucks. Unless there's some trick to the shower I haven't worked out yet.

[sainity.livejournal.com]

Yick. I'm taking it off the list of 'places to stay'. Bad shower is a deal breaker.

[teotakuu.livejournal.com]

Make the most of the food and drink in the sun and watch all the Parisiennes parading. I am told that it can be entertaining!

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Tres entertaining! Mais je suis le seulement personne in shorts et t-shirt. Everyone aussi est rugged up tres bien! Printemps, hah!

[teotakuu.livejournal.com]

Vous parlez francais avec un accent aussie!

Sorry about the room

[allysther.livejournal.com]

You are right around the corner! Are you still going to Frankfurt?

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Yes! Next Friday!

Your updates are so much fun to read; it's like being along for the ride!

[gorydetails.livejournal.com]

Do you have much time in Paris? I went there some (er, many) years ago, primarily to visit the major cemeteries; actually got a hotel room overlooking the Montparnasse cemetery and only a Metro stop or two away from the entrance to the catacombs, so I was all set {grin}. [Pere Lachaise is the biggie and well worth visiting, but then there's a lot to see in Paris even without the famous dead people...]

Food's pretty good, too.

Re: Your updates are so much fun to read; it's like being along for the ride!

[skyring.livejournal.com]

Merci beaucoup, Gory!

Je suis doing mon laundry a ce moment - sans washing poudre because le dispenser machine, il ne marchant pas - dans le internet cafe next portre, where le keyboard est tres weird.

Le hostel makes like a vacuum cleaner, but je suis having fun!

Paris est un ville magique!

Will upload photographs comme I get une chance.

Pierre, avec le Froglais keyboard

Pete, you rock!

[reggiesgirl2.livejournal.com]

I am crying with laughter at your wonderful Franglais! I read it to my husband and he made me read it a second time. He says you're very entertaining. :D

I am also enjoying your trip immensely. This may be the only way I get to travel around the world. Thank you so much for taking us with you!

{hugs}

Re: Pete, you rock!

[resqgeek]

That's not Franglais...its FranglOz! But entertaining, nonetheless...

Paris

[woosang.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen it since I was 16. I loved the shops, the wonderful galleries and the people. I was never felt unwelcome in France. Even Have a great stay there.

I wish I had seen this earlier, so I could warn you

[resqgeek]

I'm currently reading a biography of Dr. Seuss, and he apparently took notes during his travels with the idea of writing a Dr. Seuss travel guide. Unfortunately for the world, the book never materialized, but his notes included this observation about tipping in Paris:

It is absolutely forbidden to give gratuities to kings...or to the first five chestnut trees to the left as you start walking up the Champs-Élysées.

All other people, animals, or inanimate objects must be tipped, or else.

Babies born in Paris hospitals must tip their attendant obstetricians...

I hope the lack of this information didn't create any problems for you!