Paris!!

Hard to believe we are really here, until we realise no one is speaking anything we understand.

Interesting trip on the Eurostar. 18 carriages and all of them full. Not much leg room (bit like a plane) so we played footsie all the way with the people sitting opposite us. We were facing forward and they were facing backwards so all our feet were in the same place. You don't really realise how fast you are going until you pass something going the other way. Then there is a bang as the slip stream hits    and the train rocks then they are gone.

The people sitting opposite us came from Ashburton. Small world. Trip usually only takes 2 hours but we were an hour late getting in due to some electrical problem on the line. Then the queue for a taxi had at least 300 ( I kid you not) people in front of us. I think our train being late held up others behind us and we all arrived at once. it was well handled though and most people waited patiently.We were through in about an hour.

Had dinner out tonight. I went with the waitress recommendation (salad)  as the menu made no sense to me. The menu had lots of burgers and bagels, some thai and Indian and lots of salad. It was very nice, yummy cheese and all the usual things we would have in a salad. Kevin had the steak :) and thought it was very good. He approved of the French beer (better than the English) and I had a chardonnay which was the only wine I recognised on the list.

Hotel is quiet and has a lift thankfully as we have carried our suitcases up and down many steps today. Not all of the stations have lifts. Room is small and no tea making which we will miss.

Off to the Louvre tomorrow I think.

Kev.
I enjoyed honking over the ground at around 160/180ks again bringing back memories of those speeds at work. It was great to talk to some kiwis again on the train.As it is the anniversary of 9/11 2night we are watching amatuer filming of it on a froggey tv channel seeing pictures we haven't seen b4.Im loving the time over here and got around to stroking the first cat on arriving at the hotel on arrival.I      haven't seen a dobbie or border collie yet.There must be some around these parts.I've been growled at three times to date by army/secruity people so far for being in the wrong place.At least Mollie and me didnt get busted for pashing up in public in Dubai. It was too bloody hot for that carry on any how.