rockover

So far in Paris   Stupid french keyboards.   Yesterdqy, we got to Paris and bumped into Azucena's dad who was waiting for us in the square outside our hotel. We are staying in a tourist hotel for Students:  The area is a Student area (forgot the name – sordouin [Editors note:  Sorbonne] or something like that)   Since I am taking a day off from seeing things, we went to the landmark, Eiffel Tower. Oh man. There are three sections. 1st is just a level to walk around (about 3 or 4 stories high), the next level has a restaurant called 95 Atmosphere (95 meters up). You can take the stairs to the first level or the lift. The lift from the first level or from the ground to the second level. A second lift from the second level to the top. Oh my. I'm not great with heights so at the second level, looking up, was interesting. We went to the top and looked around. Another restaraunt was up there and to take their full course was about 750 Francs (7.4 f to ea $, thus over $100 per person). About 10pm; the lights came on. About 10:15, different lights that just flashed about announcing the lights zere on. The second lights lasted about 5 or 10 minutes. (daylight here is from about 5:45 - 10 pm easily). we stuck around to see if any other lights around the city would come on, but after about 30minutes; ze called it a night. After crossing the Seine river, other lights came on; but it was about 10:45 by then.   By the way, like London, Paris was built on an island. The Seine comes down; splits in two, then meets up again.   Paris itself is a pretty old town, but in the late 1800's some architect came by, set up plans for the streets and promptly tore down any buildings in the way. Sad, yes, but looking at Paris from 200 meters up, you get a sense of architectural beauty in the zay it was laid out. Not in squares, but a lot of angles that meet up. And very organized. Like a planned community, zhich it sort of was.   I,ll close here and try again tomorrow or Friday.