18th September (Diary according to Daniel Hiles)

Up at 6:45am and it's still dark outside, but hardly anyone around in the hostel, have breakfast provided and off for ride on world's fastest train. Really impressed with TGV, and I've now gone (I think) faster than my Dad on the Japanese bullit train. Arrive in Paris Gare de Lyon on time (makes a nice change). We check out map and find that the hostel isn't too far so set off walking, arrive at 1st hostel, which yesterday said we could just turn up, it is full! But they recommend one just down the road. We arrive and get room for 4, 110 francs each so pretty pleased. We are quite far from the centre but price is much lower and with the metro system you are never more than 500m from a station. We unpack and set off into town for 1st explore after buying lunch from patisserie. Take M1 line to the end-Grande Arche, looks really good-good idea Timbo (not that I told him that!). We then head down on the metro to l'Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. We head to Louvre and glass pyramid and meet up with Ben. After arranging later meeting we head off to Eiffel Tower for lookaround and then return to meet Ben and go for look around and then return to meet Ben and go for meal. Choose pizza, due to effects of withdrawal symptoms and all except Mike share carafe of vino blanc. After dinner we need beer! Find cheap (relatively!) bar £2.80 pint of Amstel but since this is ½ price of other bars we go in. It's nice to have a new recruit to the group even if he is only a part timer! Walk round to check out l'Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel at night and then back to hostel.