60 Days in Europe…#34 Paris…

Laundry all done,and by all i mean all,My hold-all didn’t hold anything else clean…after the fella helped me he did his thing and left,I grabbed a quick coffee,went back(it was two doors away) and was alone then a fella walked in,no washing,closed the doors and proceeded to walk around the place like you see deranged tigers do at the zoo.I was getting a bit concerned to be honest.Anyway eventually he stopped in front of me and as I was as far away from the door as possible flight wasn’t an option…he said something,I indicated I didn’t speak French “ ah Anglais?” And we became firm friends but I have never shoved my clothes into my bag quicker,they can be sorted out in the hotel behind a securely locked door…these places do attract potentially dangerous types and you can never be sure when someone could turn…

Went to Pere Lachaise the famous cemetery that rivals London’s Highgate cemetery and it’s mind bogglingly big and impressive.Most people enjoy a mooch around a graveyard be it small & unkempt or grandiose and coiffured like this one(in most parts) I started off with the great plan of checking out all the famous dead people’s graves but quickly got lost both literally and figuratively,even though I had a map I was happy just ambling around…didn’t want the guided tour as I like to take my own time.I only got to see two famous gravestones but in reality I was’nt really looking.The first was Oscar Wilde and to be honest that one is a bit sad.It’s a bit crappy anyway but that just my opinion but it’s surrounded by glass with a note asking for people to show respect and not deface it.There’s a few dead flowers dotted around…

Of course I sought out Jim Morrison’s grave especially as it’s the anniversary of his death 53 years ago.There’s a barrier surrounding it but it looks well kept,there were also a few people around including a Californian couple telling tales from the old days.Can’t vouch for the legitimacy but hey ho.Currently in a bar surrounded by Doors fans of different nationalities who clearly meet up here on this date annually…anyway Pere Lachaise is a great place,well worth a visit…Highgate Cemetery £14 Pere Lachaise Free.Just saying…

Popped back to the original cafe I went to when first getting to the area and it’s cool,the owner has been great but there’s a lot of dodgy looking geezers in ill fitting suits on mobile phones coming & going constantly.Now I’m not saying anything iffy is afoot but if anyone gets a strange phone call at 3am it’s probably cos’ I have been caught up in a huge police raid…

Have seen a few people walking around sporting natty berets.Maybe it’s like a bit of French revisionist fashion like we had in the UK with the whole Peaky Blinders thing and flat caps…no strings of onions round the neck yet though…

There are certain things you notice about some places that stand out.They do to me anyway.Little things like in this area in the space of a couple of miles I have seen about ten Lyca mobile phone shops.I just find that kind of thing odd.How much demand can there be? Or am i being a bit naive or thick( or both)  and missing something obvious? 

The plan tomorrow is to sort out my Strasbourg ticket.Think I will just try to get another train and will go to Gare du Nord instead of Gare du l’Est,where I have been twice with varying degrees of success.Also I want to get to the top of Montmare.Don’t know why I didn’t do it last time I was here especially as I was staying close by…not sure I will be fit enough to climb up though,it’s a long old hike up them steps so think I’ll have to pay for the funicular up the top.Apparently top class views of Paris…

In a while crocodile…