PARIS:

Well I must say that booking the hotel was a good move. It's all paid for over the net at everything's fine.

The first thing that came to mind when confronted with the metro train diagram was “what a nightmare”. But in fact it was two stops from the main station and a bit of walking. Once I had my directions – the compass! - everything made sense. I did get on the wrong direction first train but you do that sort of thing sometimes – at least it was the right line.

Lets rewind a bit to last night. I went and bought this mornings ticket to Milan from Santa Margherita Ligure on the IC rail. The train left at 6.10am – I didn't want to miss the train. But I needn't have worried as Italy has it together with trains and everything was on time. 6.10am meant a 5.30 start, so it was pitch black outside. Overcast, I couldn't see the stars or the moon, and it didn't start to lighten up until around 7.30am. The light only served to hilight the smog that shrouds Milan for an hour or so of travel outside the city. The smoke is thick, blue, and smells of burning car tyres.

Didn't see much of Milan – just the mammoth stazione.

The train to Paris was long – 7 hours. The price of a 2nd and 1st class ticket was exactly the same so I got a seat in 1st class of course – basically a bit more leg room and a seat that leans more. The rail journey started slow – the usual pace of good old TreinItalia. Up in the mountains the season – autumn – was much evident, and there was traces of snow on the high peaks. Very picturesque of course, but by the clothes people were wearing, very chilly too.

In France (didn't see it coming, must have been within a tunnel), the pace slowly picked up. I have heard the Intercountry trains go at 200-300kph, and by the rate that we passed cars on the freeway I'd guess around 250kph. I've been in a car doing 190 and how how things wizz by – the the train the trees and posts beside the line turned into a haze. We did that pace for about 3 hours. I got into Paris at 4.15pm and spend the next hour finding my hotel.

Tonight I had McDonalds just for the sheer saltiness – something that I have been lacking if the cramps in my legs are anything to go by. I walked out of the hotel and turned right, walking straight until I hit the river. Fortunately I hit 'Pont Neuff' a k or so down the road, which is the main bridge. It means I have an easy way to get back in case I get lost tomorrow. Paris looks good at night. Will have to get up high at night to take it in.

Well, early night (10.00pm) – lots of walking to do!

2005-01-31T20:06:21