Slightly damp in Munich

Just getting to the TGV out of Gare de L'est on Sunday morning was a good test of co-ordination and work, or something close to work. Yvonne and I were scheduled to eventually be on the same train into Paris on the following Saturday afternoon, which duly eventuated. But there was just a bit of tension as we grappled with a french rail system in 'perterbation' as Sarko tries to raise retirement ages from 60 to 62, with country rail services which included the odd bus or two and just the uncertainty of being on the move in a foreign country. We then lobbed into Saturday evening Paris metro services to find our hotel and then fitting in an all too brief Paris encounter with Eleanor and Andrew at Bastille to recall some of the good times we had in this town over 26 years ago. It seemed that most of the world seemed to be gathering around Bastille for a long evening or two; people of the streets, a political protest, youngsters looking for a good night out and others looking pretty well lost.

On Sunday morning we managed a hasty conversation over croques monsiers and coffee with Yvonne's sister Jenny and her friend Maureen before ducking back into the metro and heading off towards Munich.

Paris is still a great city but our brief encounter left us with a feeling that it has seen better times and is losing it's French “cool” image-more aggressive, too many people and a bit down on it's former glory.

The change to Germany has been remarkable. Yesterday was very cool in Munich with some persistent showers. The city centre is very enjoyable and rather sophisticated, even if we were cooler than we would have liked. But a couple of treats in comfortable, homely wood lined taverns drinking beer and apple drinks whilst eating sausages and sauerkraut managed to fix things. Last night we ate in a local beer hall just up the road from our hotel and it was very comfortable experience, the food was good and we are looking to similar experiences today.

A quick look at Australian happenings was not that much a source of interest. Rudd and co are now making such a mess of things that we are wondering if we should ever go back down under. The resources tax is just the latest in major blunders being made in policy setting and it makes us wonder where these people are getting advice from. Roll on election day.