Paris

I have been in Paris for about an hour.

My shitty cereal box french saved me from getting ripped off in the cab. I told him I would pay the meter rate and not the three times higher rate he wanted. He saw the Canadian flag on my backpack and thought he could take advantage of me. Nice try, buddy.

Driving through England and France is a lot like driving through Southern Alberta toward Saskatchewan. It's not all that interesting. I didn't get a window seat because I nearly missed the bus. The coach line's website said they take off from Stops 10-15 at Victoria Coach Station. The do not - they take off from <i>Gates</i> 10-20 <i>inside</i> the actual coach station, and not at the stops outside. I am glad I left some getting lost time, at any rate.
We took a ferry over from Dover where there really are white cliffs. No bluebirds, however. The ferry ride was not like any other ferry I've been on - there were eight decks, three bars and a food court. I had something called mushy peas with my lunch. The English have found a way to make peas into a starch. It's really delicious. I could have eaten a whole plate of them! I think I'm going to need to learn how to make them. I know there are boxes in the grocery store at home, but it doesn't seem any more difficult than "put peas in blender till mush forms".

Later on there will be pictures. I am staying in because I'd rather be indoors in a country where I don't speak the language while it's dark and I have a habit of getting lost.

I am mere blocks from the Eiffel Tower. It is all glittery. I will investigate this tomorrow.

In order to get from the outskirts of Paris to the hotel, we had to go through three tunnels, including the Pont de l'Alma tunnel. That'll impress Mom if no one else.