conquest train all day from italy to nice. it takes you through cote d'azure (french riveria) monte carlo and manaco through the window @ sunset. the day was horribly long very few stops
common sight; boots doing a crossword 
we got to nice at 8pm and had about an hour before the overnight train to paris. i was not especially impressed with the food in italy; some wonderful, some like gas station pizza. so i entered france thinking that the famous culinary countries were overrated. in the hour in nice we ran across the street to a bistro the french equivalent of denny's. i had a beef roquefort with FREEDOM fries and betsy had veal in a mushroom gravy. both were amazing!! i thought maybe it was just beginner's luck. no!! everything we got in france was fantastic. 
we got on the all-night train from nice to paris without cabin reservations, stepped into a sleeper cabin with three folding beds on each wall. i asked a young french guy who was on the top bunk, if the cabin was full and where to get tickets. he said find the conductor. i noticed it smelled really bad in the cabin and made a mental note that the stereotype was true, but ignored it and slid our bags under the bottom bunk and noticed that my bag slid out strangely. i pushed it back in and again it slid out. i pulled the bag out and looked to see what was blocking it. to my surprise, someone was looking back at me!! i quickly stood up and whispered to the frenchman that there was someone sleeping under the lower bunk he looked at me and said "yez you dum' amerIcan ze bedz arrr mad for ze sleepin" "no, there is someone under the bed." i said. he jumped down and looked under to make sure. then stood up and said "we mus alert ze proper auzoritiez." betsy and i took our bags into the next cabin (which was odoriferous as well) and i checked below the bunk before leaving and found another two stow-aways and the same in the next cabin. by this time the two stow-aways in the first cabin had gotten out and were walking the halls telling their friends to get out from their hiding places. now everyone in the car were checking under their bunks and found other hideaways. i apologized to the stow-aways for revealing them that i didnt mean to get them in trouble, the guys didnt seem upset and spoke in spanish. so i assume they were making their way north from spain. some of them wouldnt come out even as the conductors came and the train was stopped and the police came aboard. there were a total of 10 or so that were thrown off. one bought a ticket and upon arrival in paris the next morning i saw him get off, i ducked and we shuffled away quickly.
very NIIIIIICE train stationwe got to paris @ 7am and went to the couchsurfer guy's house we were staying with. dimitri came to the door in just a robe and told us to be quiet bc he had other couchsurfers staying with him in his small apartment in montmartre. he was like a little travel agent telling us exactly what to do. betsy and i decided to meet him later for dinner.
in front to the basilica du sacre coeur near dimitris apartment. at notre dame cathedral we enjoyed people watching more than the sights
the sapranos come to france.vinny and vicky
vicky
betsy's first real live gsypy
french modeling: think "naughty"
french modeling: think "oops i had an accident"
street life
street food
betsy liked the doors
betsy's fashion twin
we had lunch @ a creperie. it was packed and sooo good. savory crepe avec ham, mushroom, beschamel sauce
almond, caramel ala mode
i couldnt resist playing ball in the park. look @ that defense
i had to teach em frenchies sum'pun 'bout b-ball
picture at the base of eiffel tower
street food
champs elysees @ night
arc d'triomphe at night
