Paris - Day 4

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Geo: 48.8529, 2.27588

So today I got up, showered, rang Air France and Etihad and picked two more fights....still no bags. I had hoped to spend today seeing the catacombs, Sacre Coeur and Monmarte, but as it now looks like I will be without luggage for several weeks (if at all) I thought it might be best to go buy some clothes. I put in a call to my insurance company to find out exactly what I was covered for. The guy at Global Nomads was able to give me the number for the Etihad service desk at CDG....this is a number that neither Air France or Etihad themselves could give me. I rang the service desk, they took my details, promised to investigate and call me back. They also gave me two phone numbers for the company which is handling my luggage. Now they never called me back and the numbers they gave me are ringing out, but I feel like I'm getting somewhere.

So according to Global nomads, as my luggage has been delayed for more than 12 hours, I can spend $150 a day for 3 days on necessary items. That gave me $450 to spend, so it was off to H&M. The hotel directed me to 3 shopping strips. The first one was what they called a huge shopping mall around the corner (Huge must be a subjective term, these people clearly, have not seen Chaddie) however it had H&M and Marks and Spencer, where I was able to buy a few dresses, T-shirts, knickers and socks to keep me going for a few days. What they didn't have was pants for tubby bums like me. This is why I hate shopping, fashion in Paris, like fashion in Melbourne, does not apply to the larger lady.

After the first shopping strip I returned to my hotel and dropped my bags, placed another call to Air France. Still no luggage. However the lass I spoke to this time explained that the ground crew at CDG have been on strike since the 1st August. This explains why my bags have been stalled at CDG for so long. It was finally starting to make sense. Clearly some essential services are still happening because everyone else on my plane got their luggage....I'm so special. Even though this is still a huge inconvenience, I now feel much better knowing there is a valid reason for the delay.

The next shopping strip was De Passy, only a few blocks from the hotel. They did not have fat clothes much less fat pants. I did manage to find a discount store that had toiletries. I found my usual shampoo, but no conditioner. Looking at the other brands it would appear the french do not like to condition their hair, lots of shampoos, no conditioners. I was able to locate one bottle of Pantene conditioner, so Pantene it is.

Next stop Galleries Lafayette. I was a bit tired by this stage so I decided to be lazy and catch a cab (it was hot and muggy today) I hailed a taxi at the taxi rank, one pulled up but he already had a passenger. The driver yelled out the window (I assume he asked Where are you going?) I replied Galleries Lafayette in my best french accent, he signaled me to hop in...weird. He dropped his existing passenger off just around the corner, reset the meter and proceeded to my destination. He was the happiest little cabbie I've ever seen. He spoke very little english but tried to talk to me anyway. He was very excited to learn I was from Australia. That prompted questions of did I have a husband or children, and would I like to go out for dinner tonight. It took four or five tries for him to communicate that last one. I was very flattered but politely declined.

Lafeyette galleria was madness. People everywhere. There were people walking around with suitcases, I'm assuming to put all their purchases in. If you love fashion and shopping I imagine it would be nirvana, not my cup of tea I'm afraid. I purchased a bag for my new clothes from a vendor across the road and then caught the bus home

Tomorrow I'm off to Arras, I wonder if my bag feels like visiting me there ;-)

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Comments

[Bear bum]

Get to the coast and travel the nudest beach route, ditch the stinky sox.