C'est Bon!

Despite my best efforts and careful packing of only sensible shoes, I've still managed to get blisters -- I even have one on my toe! That said, it's the worst thing that's happened so far. Oh, and both my watch and travel alarm clock went kaput -- even with new batteries. Luckily, I don't have any early morning trains and can probably manage a while longer without either. Besides, my morning wake-up call is a sound I can only describe as bowling with garbage trucks on the Avenue Bourdonnais. It's kind of funny actually. It reminds me of Arles... Tristan, Deb and Stacey will know what I mean.

I'm sure you're really enjoying this scintillating post -- ha ha. There is a lot more to report. I love the location of my hotel -- it's just blocks away from Rue Cler (home of my favorite cheese shop in Paris) and close to the metro. Last night I went to Cafe Camille and ordered just the mashed potatoes for dinner. I thought of you, Deb and asked what they put in them (I was guessing Ementhaller). Nope, just cream and butter -- the French certainly know dairy. Mmmm... After that, I sat at a table outside a little place around the corner from my hotel and enjoyed a Pastis. Double mmmmm.

The weather here is perfect -- about 75 today and the same yesterday. Paris is a different city when it's warm, and it brings out a whole different set of fashion. Speaking of which, I saw a some Vivienne Westwoods today -- and a few other fancy things at the Galleries Lafayette. I went there looking for a watch -- came out with a dress for only 14.90 euro. Hrm... other than that, I really haven't bought anything except metro tickets and food. It is sooooo good.

I spent the morning in Montmartre -- loved it, very charming and I'm glad I passed on going out to the Petite Trianon. Sacre Coeur is massive and beautiful. I sat for part of the service. One of the sisters was singing -- she had a gorgeous voice. Then, I went to the Cemetary to visit Nijinsky and Degas' graves. I was taking a picture of a cat behind a tombstone when this little old man started talking to me. Turns out he spoke enough English and I enough French that we had a whole conversation. He feeds the cemetary cats -- about 90 of them. He asked did I want to give him something to help pay for the food -- well, not really, but he showed me his secret hiding place -- inside one of the crypts -- where he keeps the food when the guards aren't looking. I asked him if it was his family's crypt and he said no. What a surprise that would be if one of the actual owners opened the door to pay their respects and found offerings of cat food! I figured that was worth a few euros -- it makes a good story, and who knows -- maybe he'll be a character in my next play.

Later, I went to the Champs Elysses -- it was big, but paled in comparison to Montmartre. The Arc de Triumph is also big. Hmmm... that's probably not the best way to describe one of France's most important monuments, but really the cat man was more interesting.

I'm not sad about skipping most of the big things -- the museums, the monuments, etc... I feel I saw most of those the last time. Instead I'm having a great time finding all kinds of small treasures in Paris. It's been a lovely visit.

I depart tomorrow afternoon for Reims, then on to Strasbourg. More later.

Love,
Amy