The beginning!!

Had to post these retrospectively as we had no internet in Paris!!! Hope you are all well!!

Mel xoxo

Sunday the 22^nd August, 2010.

Hi everybody!

We are safe and sound! We just had our first day in Paris, the city of love and old buildings. Plane flight was good, British airways were ok, a little cramped in economy compared to other airlines, but the in flight entertainment was good; I think I watched about 5 new release movies! They didn't have us travelling together and actually had us seated at opposite ends of the plane, but luckily she managed to fix it and we got to sit together. We finally landed in Paris after three planes (or should I say two planes and three stops…), and approx 26 hours of sitting in the same clothes. Unfortunately I didn't learn after my last trip to Europe and we neglected to arrange an airport transfer! Thinking that we will easily be able to find the hotel, we set off on a trip on the train from the airport to the city. That train trip should not be a welcome to Paris, as it travels straight through the dirty slummy areas of the city. The train itself stank like urine and it was STINKING hot with no air con!!

So as you can imagine by the time we actually got into the city, we were sweaty and stinky, I was getting grumpy and craved a long shower, and we were forced to start wandering around the streets of Paris looking for a tiny little hotel in some street that wasn't even on our map.

Luckily, Brendon managed to track down the hotel quite easily but we were too early. All I can say is thank goodness I put in a packet of baby wipes and that I nicked the toothbrushes from the British airways flight! So we were able to at least freshen up slightly before lunch. We found a lovely café and had a nice meal. We both thought caffeine was in order so we ordered a glass of coke each. So how much do you think a coke would be? Usually what, $4 Australian??? Well for a medium 500mL coke in a café here in Paris you are looking at *9 EURO!!! 9!!! That's like 14 Dollars!!!

Anyway so after finally being able to shower and have a power nap, we were off to have dinner up in the Eiffel Tower. Then we went on a little cruise of the river. When the tower lit up it was beautiful!

Highlights of today:

· Laughing at the guy next to us on the plane (who was young and healthy – not a dialysis patient!) who didn't get up to pee for over 15 Hours even after 5 glasses of orange juice and 2 cups of water

· Pulling heavy luggage around the streets of Paris

· Watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle

• Shower and sleep