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Cycling doesnt look much fun in Paris, until I saw these lanes on the Avenue des Ternes. Of course you appear to be on your own everywhere else, but hopefully this is the start of things to come.

Had a nice dinner in Moret-sur-Loing last night, although am not feeling well today so the rich food may be catching up with me. It was very foggy last night, so no trick photography! The picture is of the fortress that surrounds the city.

A few of us did a lovely dinner excursion to Barbizon last night. I just realised that I didn't mention below that my very nice, but expensive taxi driver took me through Barbizon on the way into Fontainebleau on Sunday.

We had dinner at L'Angelus, a lovely country-style inn with a fireplace. It was a virtual UN dinner, with Russian, Egyptian, Lebanese/Spanish/Frenchman, British-Norwegian, Nigerian-Canadian and Canadian-Australian representation.

It was so good that we are now heading 10km in the other direction for our dinner tonight -- to a tiny hamlet called Moret-Sur-Loing. Apparently, Moret-sur-Loing is "a charming medieval city gently washed by the Loing (River) which was a magnificent source of inspiration for Monet, Renoir and Sisley".

It will be dark, so not sure how much I will see. By the way, the photo of Barbizon was taken on phone that doesn't have flash. Not bad!

The sun came out in Fontainebleau yesterday, so Dina (a lovely woman from Egypt) and I decided to use our lunch to walk into Fontainebleau and see the Chateau. It takes up a big part of Fontainebleau, so you cannot really miss it, and we've seen it a few times, but hey, it was a sunny day!

It is the largest chateau in France, and part of it was built in the 1100s, and was used by King Louis VII. The more recent bit (which you can see in the photo) was built between 1522 and 1540.

I'm not sure why it looks like it is sliding off a plate. I can assure you that it doesn't really look like this, and take complete responsibility for any optical illusions . . .

Here's a photo of where our classes are held. Today we got to walk across campus for lunch. We have a wine tasting tonight, so we're getting to enjoy some of the surrounds.

No pictures today -- simply because:
a) it was dark when I got up and when I started the course (8am);
b) it was dark when I finished (6pm);
c) while the 3G phone is very cool, there is no flash; and
c) all that I saw was an ampitheatre and a lunch room (a very amazing lunch room, but still).

I contemplated taking a photo of my binder of study, which is taller than my mobile phone is at its longest end, but, well, that seemed a little geeky. In fact, mentioning this seems rather geeky :-)

So, instead, I can tell you that there are 25 people in the course and we are dispersed over 23 countries. You name a country (except the Americas (North and South America)) and we are well represented.

That and I have a headache from the economic theory. I am starting to think perhaps this isn't that difficult -- it is just like fitness -- you have to be focused, work at it alot and set goals. Except that it is economics. Sigh. Bring on the Mark Webber Challenge. This is like 44km of walking in boredom . . . ;-)

Leaving Paris about noon, a very nice taxi driver named Olivier took me down to Fontainebleau. For 120 Euros, I would expect him to be nice! That's over $300 for a one-hour taxi ride!

Anyway, I got here around 2pm, and Fontainebleau is lovely. Very old, very french and very cold! I am staying in the Le Clos de Merry, which is on the Rue de Merry. This picture is from my bedroom window.

I walked into Fontainbleau itself and found the Chateau and some shopping, although being Sunday, nothing is open. There isn't anything open at the University tonight (again, being Sunday), so I will head back into town later for some dinner.

The course starts at 8am tomorrow morning, and I have a 6:30am phone conference with Australia, so it will be a long day!

Even if you live in a buzzing metropolis like Paris, you need a Christmas tree for the presents.

They are decorated and put up everywhere . . . including around doors and on awnings.

Here, they are selling them in the middle of Rue de Raspail.

After successfully finding an adapter to convert the wrong adapter I was sold at duty free, I stumbled upon this trash and treasure market near Cimetiere du Montparnasse.

The French just have older trash than the rest of us. Made me wish I collected china Louis VII dolls or old leather bound books though. Lots of chandelier lamps too.

Swear this guy with the safari hat was trying to get his picture taken. I took three pictures over 5 mins and he is in every one . .

Like Australia, the major department stores have Christmas windows. Unfortunately, the pictures I took are too large to post from the phone, but this one shows some of the decorations of Printemps.

Well arrived safely in Paris after a very long flight. Have been sightseeing, taking the metro and wandering through the Louvre. This photo is looking across the Seine at the Palais de Justice.