Helllooooo Everybody,

Its Sunday morning.  I got back into my room at about 130 in the morning from
Paris.  It was unbelievable.  I got the train from England that took me into
the channell tunnel and through French countryside into Paris.  I got my metro
ticket from La Gare du Norde (north station) and took the metro to Etienne
Marcel, Alan's station.  As I got out of the station, all frantic from having
moved at 100 mph since arriving, I looked up at the tall, white apartment
buildings with tall windows and iron gated terraces and took a deep breath...I
was in Paris.
I looked across the street and saw my friend Alan, jaywalking and smoking a
cigarette, looking like a regular Parisian.  We immmediatley went to a
Patisserie (bakery) and got an apple tarte that was scrumdidilyuptuous.  He
took me to his street - a long marketplace street with cheese shops, bakeries,
butchers, fish shops, choclatiers, tobacconists, all on the side of the
street...my eyes bugged out of my head.  His apartment is one where you punch
in a code and step up over a 1 ft high metal barrier into a beautiful courtyard
where all the apartments are.  His is a duplex, with windows looking down into
the streets.  His apartment is lovely.T
We went to dinner, both got Duck COnfit over roast potatoes and shared a bottle
of wine - got to do Paris in style.  We went back to the apt. for a hash joint,
the first thing I've smoked in a month - I leaned out the window, balancing on
the terrace, exhaling out into the Paris air over the streets - amazing.
Then we hit the bars for the evening.
THe next day, Alan had class, so I walked to the Seine, walked alongside the
Louvre and had a nice sitdown in the Tuileries Gardenes with the Eifell TOwer
jutting out of the sky in front of me, the louvre to my left, and the Arch de
Triomphe to my right.  I finished 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' - a 1956 copy that
I found for 2 pounds, and wrote some poetry for class.  I then walked a long
way to Alan's school, then caught the metro back to the apt. to cook dinner -
roast prawns and scallops over linquine, endive salad with walnuts, blue
cheese, and pear, followed by an absolutley insanely delicoius apricot tarte -
with about 3 bottles of champagne and wine - if you know Alan, this all makes
perfect sense.
The next day we relaxed at an Irish pub and watched football (soccer) for most
of the afternoon before I got my train back to Canterbury.  It was an amazing 3
days and we finalized plans for a 4 day escapade to Amsterdam for mid-Feb.
I'm going to London to see a gig this week, and then my mother comes for a quick
visit the following week.  As you can probably tell, all is well.

Lee, I got the discs, thanks so much.  I'm so glad to hear you're in Copenhagen
finally.  The falafel is hilarious.  We're designing shirts for us to bring
back to the states here with nicknames on the back and mine is.....Falafel, of
course.  As soon as you get to your permanent address, please send it, and let
me know when would be a good time to get out there - I have lots of time in
early April, and since I have class only one day a week, I can get over there
easily.  Alan has also expressed interest, but take your time settling in.
Glad to hear you've arrived.

Tess - I'm gonna try to get over to you in early April as well - I have a month
off for Easter.  Let me know if you are coming into England anytime soon.

Kate - Your adventure has begun!!! Wonderful!  Can't wait to see the pictures,
and real mail will be sent soon - flat enveloples I promise.

Lys - Ive been jammin out of Ladysmith and Kermit, quality stuff.  MOre India
Stories!!!!

And for Laura, Keith, and Brooke......LEAVE ALREADY!!!!!

I love you guys!!

Keep Writing,
Zach.

--