Bon Jour! Se moi Mary Grace (being called Gracie now because Aussies and Kiwis I travel think that Mary Grace is just too long of a name)

AH!!!!!!! Calming down now... AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PARIS. Forget about the French leisure way of lunching/dining or promenading down Champs Elysee...I power walked down the Champs! With my pack securely on my back, money belt hidden way inside my knickers, water bottle on my left hand, an apple on my right and the camera dangling around my wrist; I power walked down the Champs Elysee after a very frightening walk around the Arch De Triumphe circle. So, if Washingtonians think that Dupont circle is a mess to drive in, the Arch's circle is intense...like the rock and roll music Hazy played (driver, Kiwi mate! OH MY GOD!!!! a hunk hunk of ...ooopps) when he showed our tour how driving is done in Paris.

This girl was walking with a mission...with Tippy (a lady doctor from the Philippines! AH!!!! I am the only American on the tour...bugga! oh that is the new word I learned courtesy of the Aussies..Bugga means damn, but it really means to get it in the ass--sodomy!! ouch!)

Anyway, walked down Champs, passed the Jardin something and took lots of pictures. I also walked across the Pont Alexander III or the lovers bridge. Nope, did not grab a French dude to play tongue hockey with...was walking with Tippy and Sam ( South African advertising agency art director!!! Mr. Gower, she is single and very pretty!) So pictures by the bridge and the River Seine.

Also saw the Notre Dame and the gargoyles. Was under the Eiffel Tower at night (first night in Paris really) all lit up. In a word, the tower is ELEGANT. Tall. Windy. I now know why they say that Paris's Champs is the avenue of rubies and diamonds. Paris at night is really spectacular...

The Louvre. Got lost trying to find the lady with the mystic smile. So, I headed for the Winged Victory, tried to wrap my arms around the Venus De Milo, prayed with St. Magdalene, ogled Cupid and Psyche's kiss and smiled at the mystical Mona Lisa. Indeed one day is not enough to see the Louvre. But an hour is all that I need to bake under the I.M. Pei pyramid. Musee d'Orsay...across the Louvre is lovely. say words of Degas, Monet, Mante, Renoir, Van Gough and Gauguin(spelling?).

I LOVE PARIS! I now know 10 romantic places to kiss in Paris! One spot is under the Sacre Coure (Lizzie, I took the steps as well and I was bloody tired when I got to the top!). Before getting to the church, I had to walk past the red light district. Yes, I have been asked to enter peep shows and sex shops. I did ! AHHHH!!!! I even got a bargain/deal for cock rings...anyone? anyone? ha ha ha ha ha hah

Beaujolais. I can't remember much...was bloody drunk...still am actually and now I am in Nice typing this e-mail. I will definitely need to find a semi private beach and lie topless for a while...

Wine region. Stayed in a chateau. There was a hill we climbed. Oh....Tieze. saw the church ('Te Ginny. I think I prayed there, but I know I passed out on the steps...Sam woke me up after she saw I was beginning to turn two deep shades of red...please send some sun screen...ha ha ha ha)

Well, my time is running out...will e-mail soon.

I am Mary Grace, topless and on top of the world!
October 1999