In which our intrepid heroine braves French waitresses.

1:30pm

Perhaps my conversation with the only-French speaking waitress did not work, I'm still waiting for my salad. Or maybe this is how it works.

I had to change hostels because they didn't get that I was booking for two nights when I called.<1--, but I might not have been able to get the second night anyway, they seem very full.--> Lots of French people staying in them, I guess they've come down to the city.

I figured I'd walk up to the Louvre, up the Champs Elysee to the Arc de Triomphe then down to the Tour Eiffel and back.

It's tempting to visit Pont de l'Alma, where Princess Diana was killed, but it's too much effort. It's funny that Linda circled it in my map without prompting last night when she was suggesting (mostly non-touristy) places I should visit.

The wine is making me sleepy, and there's not yet any sign of my salad. I need to go to the bank before I can get a coffee, assuming the salad ever comes.

4pm

Tabac, Rue de Rivoli

I ended up getting the bill at the last place, they didn't mention the salad but broke up my change so that I could easily leave them a tip. As if!

Bought postcards, wrote postcards. Had an omelette and a coffee. Coffee f20, omelette f22. I can't work out prices here at all. I bought a Fanta at Gare de Nord to get change for the ticket machine, and it was f18, which seemed ridiculous but I guess that's station prices.

It's raining but I'll go for my walk anyway cos I won't have that much time to do stuff tomorrow. Besides, it should make it less crowded and it might make for atmospheric photos.

4:48pm

Things have a way of working out. Got temporarily spatially confused (ie lost) and ended up back at Places de Vosges, and therefore in front of the store of my favourite designer of all time, Issey Miyake. Yay! [Much later in my wanderings (ie, I was lost again) I came across the Issey Miyake retail store. Loved it.]

The buskers are so good, it's as if the Busker's sub-committee of the Picturesque Committee raids the Opera schools and orchestras.