Paris
17/09/2011
I checked my account last night and I have spent around A$130.00 per week for the five weeks that I have been in Paris (approx). That works out at around A$20.00 per day for food, local transport, phone and photocopy costs at the Central Library. Added to the pre-paid accommodation that is around A$80.00 per day for my stay, or about the cost of a motel room in Australia. Pretty good value for money!
I tried for another breakfast at the Maison Espanol and they were open on a Saturday! I even tried for a second cup of "flat white coffee" but I had learned from Angus McColl back home that you ordered a long espresso plus hot milk on the side. Here I was promptly directed to the brewed coffee in the jugs which also had a Thermos of hot milk sitting next to them! Second cup was free! I like this place.
I searched for the recommended department store on Google and it came across as very "up-market". But, while Google searching "Paris mens clothes" I got "Used clothing" as a category. These shops look like second-hand designer clothes but it was worth a look. I am off to the closest one today, however, it is still a fair distance from the University district, which also suggests it is not a budget establishment. On the way back I will call into Place d'Italie if necessary. This afternoon I plan on more laundry and booking travel.
Well my trip to the second-hand shop was remarkably easy, or I am learning the ropes. Bus 67 got me close to the Place Bastille and I used that as my landmark to get the Boulevard Beaumarchis where the Emmais shop was. The trip was a good sight-seeing venture, irrespective of the jeans. As it was, the used-clothing shop was just what I needed, I found a pair of grey denim work trousers with lots of pockets that were just a bit tight round the waist but fitted very well otherwise. Total cost was 7.50 euros and they will be perfect knock-about clothing for the barge! It only took me about 20 min in the shop and the sales-lady pointed me to the change "cabinets" without me even having to ask! I thought the rack where I got the trousers said 15.50 (still a good price) but what it actually said was "Maximum 15.50"! Prices were marked individually, depending mainly on the label. American Levi's get top dollar apparently. Mine do not even have a label so were relatively cheap.
After leaving the shop I headed back to the Place Bastille and from there to the Seine for a quiet stroll along the banks checking-out the booksellers stands. I took some photos of the Seine "residential" barges all lined up in a backwater near one of the bridges. I came across a Bus 67 stop going in the right direction and as it was lunch-time, jumped on the next bus back to Cite'.
Immediately I got back to my studio I took a good look at my "cheap jeans" and I am fairly sure they have not been worn. All the buttons were there and the button holes were new and stiff, there was no sign off wear or fraying, and the stitching was all intact? A really good deal, if just a bit tight.
Having a second par of trousers again meant that I could now wash my number one pair without running around in my cycle shorts until they were done. I proceeded to do that and threw in all my dirty shirts socks etc to make sure of a clean wardrobe for the Canal trip. The laundry is getting pretty cut-throat now the students are back; 5 washing machines and about 300 students equals a traffic-jam! A lot more clothing in piles on the floor because they were left in a dryer (or washer!!) for too long. Use it or lose it, literally. It means sitting on top of your wash until it is finished, like at a commercial Laundromat. I am not complaining because that is the only other alternative, but at higher prices.
Lunch and laundry was all done by 3.15pm so I set to work with the online travel booking. A bit of train travel research first using the "Seat 61" Blog.
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