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Published: October 8th 2011
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We slept in this morning. The bed was actually fairly comfortable - more like what we were used to at home. The beds in Switzerland only had a bottom sheet and a heavy down comforter with a removable coverlet and it was quite warm - so if you were under it, you were hot and if you weren't you were cold. Now we've actually got normal sheets with a bedspread and a fan in the room! We decided that today should be laundry day so we headed out to find a laundromat. We went down Rue Cler (Cler Street) and discovered a street that was a market. Here's a webpage describing it:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/france/ruecler0208.htm
People walked all over the street and cars and bikes and motorcycles had to ease down it. The street was paved with cobblestones in an interesting design. Most stores had awnings that they opened up out in front and put a lot of their merchandise out under the awning. We went down a side street from there and found a laundromat. We put all of our stuff in one washer and went back to Rue Cler to get something to eat. We finally decided on a Chinese place that advertised entree (starter), plat (main course), and boisson (drink) for 8 euros. We sat at one of their little tables and chairs in front of the store and ate and watched Paris go by. We then went back to the laundromat and dried our clothes - altogether that one load cost us about $13.00 and we brought our own detergent! Next we travelled by subway to Printemps and Galleries Lafayette - a couple of huge department stores that cover several city blocks and up to 7 stories high. Everything was very expensive and we didn't buy a thing. We saw a wristwatch that cost over 54,000 euros and fur coats for over 4000 euros. The eighth level was a 'terrace' clear on top that had fake grass and beautiful views of the city. Next we took the subway to Le BonTemps, another department store with a lot of variety - from books to furniture to kitchen items and of course lots of clothes. It was what you read about as typical Paris weather. It started off sunny, but soon turned cloudy and rained off and on a good bit of the day. We took the subway back to the motel to regroup and then went back to Rue Cler to find something to eat. We settled on Tribeca, an Italian restaurant with a little seating on the inside and quite a bit out under the awning. These restaurants have little round tables pretty much jammed together and a row of people sitting on either side. Linda ordered Lasagna and I wanted what the people sitting next to me had - big, juicy steaks, salad, tarter sauce and mashed potatoes. I thought I had it figured out that it was the first thing on the chalkboard, so when the waiter came I pointed to that and told him that was what I wanted. I was right about the tarter sauce but not much else. It was vegetable soup with 2 fairly good sized hunks of boiled roast beef on top of it and tarter sauce on the side. It was pretty good, but I would have rather have had the steak! Tap water is free, but sodas are terrible expensive. 4 dl (.4 liter) of Coke Light is 4.50 euros and no refills. Last night we ordered coffee for 2.50 euros and got small cups (no more than 4 ozs.) and no refills. In the grocery store right next to our hotel you can by 1/2 liter bottles cold for 1.24 euros. A euro cost about $1.35 in our money so that makes it even worse. After that we went to the Seine River at the base of the Eiffel tower and took a river cruise. It was a big boat - probably held 750! We got about 15 minutes into our ride and they pulled off and parked at a pier- pretty soon they came on the PA and said that there was a problem with the boat and another boat was on its way. The cruises leave every 30 minutes, so it was just the next cruise that came. It parked beside our boat and we all transferred and continued on with our cruise. The boats have a little handset with narration about the sights in your own language. We headed for the subway station and on the way passed a little eatery making crepes outside - this was about 11:00, but they looked so good we had to have one - 3 euros. He spread batter on a griddle with a little wooden 'rake' until it was about a 14" circle and real thin. He flipped it and then folded it in half and smeared Nutella chocolate on it. He then folded that in thirds, puts it in a paper wrapper and gives it to you. It was delectable! We took the subway back to the motel and here we are.
Linda: well i hope you are enjoying Shaynes reports cuz i think he is havin fun reporting. the reason i fell back on that gentleman on the subway was because when they start going they are serious! pedal to the metal! and it is hammer down for a while so i was being seriously pushed back for a while. i was so mortified! another thing bout this small room is to go around the bed you acually have to turn sideways. but it is clean but really old and i can believe in its day it really was a doozy. even has a bidet dispite the small water closet as they call the bathrooms here. and have not had one wash cloth. not sure why. and about the train episode of getting on the wrong car, was kinda embarssing going thru car after car pulling luggage and the worst part was going between cars and getting slammed into the wall and Shayne tryin to talk to me and i couldnt hear him. and i was convinced we had missed our seat and he was gettin upset with me and was tellin me just to go!! But i am quite impressed how smart he has been in planning this trip! if it would of been up to me to make it all work we may still be at the london airport tryin to figure out where to go! one thing Shayne mentioned bout the tight seating at the cafes, they are really tight! like 4 tables in a row touching! the waitress acually has to pull the table into the narrow aisle while one of you get in. its real cozy! and i fell in love with the way switzerland serves their coffee. bring you bout 3/4 a cup of strong coffee and some scalded milk. it might not be exactly that but i am gonna try it out when i get home and the coffee here is made each CUP fresh!
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