Geo: 47.1661, 0.238081We checked out of the Best Western at 8:15 and met our new driver, René, who despite the name is Dutch. He was wearing a watch with the biggest face I've ever seen and when someone mentioned that they were intrigued by his watch, Rolinka said it was because he doesn't want to wear glasses so he needs a big watch. This is the guy who's driving us around France!On the coach (which, by the way, is called the Heidebloem, which means "heather flower"), Rolinka gave us a quick rundown of French history, all the way up to President Sarkozy, who is known as Monsieur Bling-Bling. We were on our way to see one of Francois I's chateaux, so she particularly wanted to give us a bit of background on him. He was a ... read more

Geo: 48.8667, 2.3333I don't believe I've mentioned the weather yet. Well, maybe I did, but it bears repeating. It's warm. It's really warm. All I packed were long-sleeved shirts and a pullover. I'm dying! And it's not just that it's warm (close to 72F today), it's also humid. Most of us in the group have been going out without jackets, but the Parisians ... the Parisians figure it's autumn and damn if they're not going to dress for the season. I can't believe they don't feel the heat, especially in the Métro where it's like being in a toaster oven. They've all got scarves tied fashionably around their necks, and they're wearing layer upon layer upon layer. I've yet to see a Parisian remove a layer. Fortunately, my room has air conditioning! Willis Carrier is credited ... read more

Geo: 48.8667, 2.3333 My flight from SeaTac left 25 minutes late, but we got in to Heathrow just five minutes late. It took a little while to get through Security (but at least I didn't have to take off my shoes again!), and I thought perhaps I could make the earlier flight to Paris. When I went to the gate, however, I was told I would have to actually go back to the ticket counters and rebook the flight. By the time I did that, of course, I would miss the earlier flight so no point in even trying. Still, provided my flight leaves and arrives on time, I should be able to get into Paris a lot earlier than I had originally thought, thanks to not having any checked luggage. We'll see. I'm actually writing ... read more