Day 1: Friday 28 March 2014

Up at sparrow's Friday morning, probably didn't need to be up as early as I was because as per usual I was out at the airport before the check in for my flight had opened.  Anyway once the check in was open I was through there, through security and customs etc with a minimum of fuss.

As I had a little time to spare I headed to the lounge for a light breakfast and a glass of champers.

Once I was on the plane I was heading towards my seat and one of the flight attendants (male) bumped into me, as we apologized to each other he stated it was his fault as in his words he "could have gone either way" and I think that I agreed with him.

You wouldn't believe that Hong Kong (HK) airport still has smoking rooms.  Tiny little rooms with 15 to 20 smokers in them and full of smoke, you wouldn't even need to light up in there, just breath everybody else's smoke.

Day 2: Saturday 29 March 2014

It really is a long way to France (I know that it is a long way to Tiperarry as well, but that is a different story).  The long wait in HK made the journey extremely tiring.  I was so tired when we got on the plane at 12.50am I wen to sleep straight after take off and missed my supper.  I got about 5 - 6 hours sleep and awoke refreshed and ready for brekky.

An uneventful flight from HK to Paris, we flew across the Gobi desert, Siberia, Russia, the Baltic states, Baltic Sea and then that well worn flight path from Germany to France.  I was surprised at how far north we travelled.  I will tell you something else, I also kept an eye on my compass and made sure that we were flying in the right direction at all times.

So after a long trip I have arrived in Paris.  Checked into the hotel (Clair, you were right the room is tiny, but the hotel seems good) and been out to check the area for the essentials; bars, restaurants etc.  It has been a beautiful day, about 20 degrees, very spring like.  The Luxembourg Gardens was packed with Parisians out soaking up the sun.  Flashy can probably guess what the spring sunshine has brought out.

Just a couple of Paris scenes

Lots of the French still smoking and the electric cigarettes seem to be the sophisticated thing to do at the moment.

I have been doing well with my French and making an effort to speak it whenever I can, however the French people I have spoken to have responded to me in English.  I think that they think that they are doing me a favour, either that or they can't put up with my excruciating French accent.  I will keep trying!!

Dinner tonight was at a local brasserie, The Bistro Racine, just around the corner from the hotel.  I had some homemade terrine and entrocote (steak) with fries and salad.  I had forgotten how rare a rare steak is in France!  After a beer and a couple of glasses of wine the old jet lag kicked in.  8.00pm and I was going to sleep at the table, so back to the hotel and an early night for me.