I am really glad I went back to Paris. I think of all the cities it was probably my favorite... even though on tues (day I got on the night bus) I took Min along with me to trek through the big park (big green areas on maps always lure me to them) on the outskirts of paris and after thinking "what a nice big, happy forest" and then we passed two women in tight outfits looking tired. Then we passed a few more. I looked across the street and there were 15 women in a various and colorful array of tight, tiny outfit all crowded around a vehicle.
Great. Min had a cold and didnt see the women and was wandering a bit deliriously.
"Not to alarm you but we need to walk just a little faster Min" "huh?" "we've wandered into a prostitute/pimp area..." "oh?..." I dont know if she quite believed me because she didnt see the huge group of women.... until she started see women in stilletos and black leather micromini skirts and tops strolling down the forest path every few feet.
We ended up walking through the heavily prostituted area of the park for a couple miles with random men coming out of the woods and amid the strolling prostitutes. and then there few typical men who think that because a normal girl(s) is in a bad area that gives him the right to act like a goon even more than he usually does. But the main one was in spandex, had a helmet and his bicycle- so it took down the intimidation quite a bit.
Min thinks hanging out with me is exciting. I wouldnt term mistaking dryed up stream beds as paths down a swiss mountain, getting lost, ending up in bad areas or attracting stalkers as exciting or that you would think fondly of time spent with a friend who seems to attract those kinds of situations, but she did point out it always turns out alright. We walked for hours and finally hopped on a bus with took us back to the love of the city "walls". We both felt a lot better.
Shoot, I havnt written more about my other time in paris so I hope that doesnt mare your view. Well, all cities have prostitutes and parks and bad men. Paris also has pretty, and scarves, and picnics and music, and trees and light and lovely lovely streets. London looks a bit hard compared.
tues night I took the night bus to london.
Got here fine, really short on sleep, so going to bed in a little bit.
Slept 13 hours, feel better, went walking around hyde park, kensington gardens. They are quite different in the summer. A lot of the grass is let to grow wild so you really get a english countryside feel at times. I went to Marks and Spencers, and did NOT buy a giant chocolate cookie. ick. but did buy a lunchbox
While I like Paris more, there is something nice about London, after I get over the general midwest heartattack of every 50p I spend, I am actually spending 1 dollar. and every 1 pound, 2 dollars.
It is somewhat bizzare to be in a place where I understand what everyone is saying and I know the words to respond to them. When I get to the counter to buy something I go through my word folder in my mind/ "What is the word I need to say?" "oh... yes...thankyou."
thank-you. and then I realize I know english quite well and don't need to be searching for it.
Someone asks me a question on the street and I respond, suprised I could communicate completly with words...
that's because you are in an english speaking country.
friday
going exploring. might buy a top.
sat
fly out of london at 1pm.
