astradele

I discovered to my pleasant surprise that the road Pitzman was on ejected me right onto la rue Rivoli, a major east-west road. I discovered I’d done a great big upside down “U” through the Marais.

I returned westwards to visit la Centre Pompidou. I fed my roasted chestnut addiction on the way – what else can it be called when I’m paying two euros for a dozen chestnuts?

I received a forcible reminder that it was still the weekend when I met with the lineup out front. As I have many days remaining here, I strolled along the streets some more, stopping in at some shops. Walking around so much, I’m getting a very good sense of this arrondissement.

I headed back to my hotel to rest my legs and eyes – hence why I’m up at 3AM local time! Still no itinerary, and I think it’s pointless dreaming to think I’ll have one. As the saying goes: if you don’t have a destination, any road will do.

I’ll probably start hitting the museum circuit tomorrow, and I must find better restaurants to eat. The ones so far have been fine, but how can I come to Paris and not try the sauces or the foie gras?

The trains to London and Belgium are also a consideration but I hadn’t budgeted for those. We’ll have to see how bored I am by Thursday.

The neighbourhoods are actually a lot closer than they seemed to me on the map. From 1er, where I am staying, I can reasonably walk to the adjacent neighbourhoods. Riding the metro will have to wait for another day.

I made it to 4eme easily enough, walking along rue de Rivoli. The weather is pretty miserable today, spitting that became rain soon enough. I soon lost myself in the maze of streets (I don’t know where I am as I write this!). I stopped in some shops, some pretty architecture buildings, and after ignoring cafe after cafe in search of something “interesting”, I stopped at Pitzman, a Jewish restaurant, to dry off.

What timing, my falafel just arrived! My first meal of the day at 4pm… I can imagine the disapproving look on a few people’s faces right now. :p

2pm local time. I guess I should get up, eh?

On the plus side, I haven’t felt this well rested in quite some time!