drizzly day

The sun decided to play hide and seek once I met up with the team from Lörrach and Compiègnes in Paris. In fact, that perfect weather from yesterday lingered on only until the seven of us finally met up at the famous starting of all French freeways directly in front of Notre-Dame cathedral, the point zéro. Whereas yesterday's sunshine had motivated us to do some serious walking in the forest, today's drizzles had me on the hunt for the next café-shelter every few hundred meters. Shame on me. :) I was a good sport for a while, especially around the Latin quarter (Saint-Michel) area - there, my stomach is always a good sport, since it knows it will be fed. Saint Michel was gracious once again and relieved my hunger with a nice but rather fatty greek sandwich this time. We all walked around a while, admiring the famous sites (I prefer the unconventional hangouts). Ronny and I split and chilled in a *-bucks café, whilst all the others braved a museum. The opera, palais royal, notre-dame as well as all the main sights, sort of loose their novelty after years of living here, but I was a trooper until the green *-buck logo distracted me. Still after the years, I can say the city is a beautiful one and sitting in a café is nowhere more meaningful than in Paris. Meeting up with the rest of the clan again, I got to talk with my good friend Anna at length, who has been through a lot lately. After catching a glimpse of the sunset featuring the Seine and the sparkling tower from a secret terrace above the Samaritaine department store, I decided I should make a move. Nightfall dawned upon us, indicating the need to go home before the wanabee-rappers-in-yellow-and-red-jogging-suits (that's apparently cool here) attempt to head you at the pass. Ahhh, nuts. Too late. They were all on my train again. I had to chuckle and continue reading my book as the train driver announced "ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for a delay in the service due to a security alarm having been pulled in one of the cars". After the little traditional fight with some officials was over, it was business as usual and smooth "sailing" until "Mur". Hey, in my hometown, there is as much adventure (or more) than in Paris itself.
(This time, however, I didn't feel half as vulnerable, say like after a trip back from GE with a bright red bag to accompany my suitcase and my laptop reading "Chocolatier Rohr - Genève".)