Day 6. March 5.

How could it be day 6 already? It feels like I just got here.

Today I have some thoughts of trepidation and slight nervousness. It is the first day I am on my own. Sue dropped Sheela and me off at the Stanstead airport, and Sheela and I went off in different directions.

Thank God Peter had given me explicit instructions the night before. I had to take a train to the underground to St. Pancras station to catch the Eurostar to Paris. But I felt like I was traveling blind. I wasn’t really prepared.

The funny thing is, the reason I was having these thoughts is because I’m meeting someone at the other end at a certain time. I have this thinking about not letting people down and being where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there. Otherwise I would have felt fine to get lost and then recover and find my way.

So now I’m about to go into foreign territory. I’ve been to Paris before but only briefly, and while I studied French in school for a few years I can understand almost nothing of the spoken language. Reading it I can do a little okay at.

So much for thoughts of trepidation. Everything worked like clockwork. It’s so ridiculous to believe any thoughts of future.

I was met at the end of the ramp at the train station by the sweet soul, Karen Raimbault, and she and her husband, Vince, took me on a driving tour of Paris. Then we stopped in a little-known café in Le Petite Palace, which was one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.

Then we ended up walking up the Eiffel Tower as far as they’ll let you (750 steps), and then taking the lift to the top. I just can’t even believe that structure. Incredible! And the views were spectacular. We caught it just before sunset, so while we were up there we had a day look at Paris, then the sunset, then a night look at Paris in the lights. I now understand people love Paris so much. Magical!