Some more resolved issues-

August 30, 2008 at 5:55 PM

I wasn't able to post yesterday because I ran out of battery on my laptop. It seems as though there would be a simple fix for that right, (just plug it in) but here in Europe the power outlets are of a different wattage and have different jacks than those in the Americas. I knew this before I got on the plane, but what I did not know was that computers needed their own specific power converters. The normal ones that they sell at the supermarkets will fry your comp. So I had to spend time attempting to speak french and crisscrossing from one side of Paris to the other until I found a place that actually had one of these special power converters in stock. I'm sure that if I spoke French, this all could have been cut to 30 minutes, but unfortunately this became something of a wild goose chase.

The whole episode really affected my ability to go out and busk, though I did manage to play for a couple of hours. I found that the best pitch so far has been at the Notre Dame.

Entry for 8/31

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time climbing the Eiffel Tower, where I met two cute girls from Germany, then later the girls and I went out for drinks. They left this morning for the south of France. It's too bad. It would have been fun to hang out again.

I'm having difficulty balancing time spent doing tourist things, with time playing, just going to the tower took 1/2 the day, but oh well. I'm having a great time.

Today I went to the Basilique Sacré-Cœur and the surrounding area called Montmarte, where I played. I did quite well in this area of cafes next to the Sacré-Cœur and made 22 euro in 1 hour, but then tried to play on the steps outside of the Sacré-Cœur and had very little success at only 4 euro for 15 minuets. I'm going to go play beside Notre Dame tonight. We'll see how it goes.

Drinks are very expensive here. Across the street it's 6,50 euro per beer. If you give them 7, (that's 10$ US per pint) although you can drink on the streets at 2 euro for a tall boy (although that's pretty ghetto.) No open container tickets in France :- )

The food here is so good. Some things are cheaper here than in the states, like bread and cheese! My lunches consist of a variety of bries, baguette and grapes- all of which are super cheap and are better than anything that I've had in the states. So, not a very healthy lunch, but delicious!

From Christopher Jacoby
Posted on August 30, 2008 at 8:51 PM

The old Crawford magic meets the Old World! I miss you, man. Grin at some beautiful girls during Bach for me.
Elly says hi- he is still rocking the Trax station and indie theater on that beatup cello, still living.

From sharelle taylor
Posted on August 31, 2008 at 9:34 PM

I'm living vicariously through this blog - takes me back 30 years or so. Only when I did it, I lived on baguettes, a jar of vegemite, a bag of chips, and cheese - and I really whacked on the weight.
If you get a chance, and if you like that sort of thing, I remember the museum of mankind (whatever the translation is in french, somwthing like musee de l'homme ... ) was really interesting and well worth the money, even though I was a reach scab at paying for things.
at the sacre coer, is that where the chapel is at the top of a flight of steps and there's a whole bunch of street artist and sketchers and markets on like a promenade at the base of the steps? If its not, then the place that is that would be a good busk patch, I'd imagine. Only I can't be of any more help in identifying it.
Keep having a great time, and keep us updated.

From Joe Fischer
Posted on September 1, 2008 at 4:34 AM

with you ALL THE WAY
nice work
please keep posting
you LIVE the dream
do you have intentions
to travel to other countries ?

From Joe Fischer
Posted on September 1, 2008 at 4:42 AM

the fresh bakery bread
is superlative !
have you tried any of the wines
yet ?
perhaps, try visiting Switzerland.
many "frogs" are fluent
in many languages
however,they conceal their
knowledge to themselves
bon chance !!!!

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Some more resolved issues-

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