h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The next morning I sat down to breakfast nursing an unaccustomed hangover. Eager to show off my French, but uncertain how to translate what I wanted, I asked Riccardo how to order a cup of French Roast coffee.

"You don't," he said. "French roast is to French coffee as chop suey is to Chinese food. 'Un cafe' means a small cup of very strong espresso, served without milk or cream, so unless you like that, you should ask for "un cafe Americain.'"

I cringed, but worried about the effect of strong black coffee on my delicate stomach. I had un cafe Americain with my asparagus-goat cheese omelet.

"Obviously, asparagus is out of season, and this restaurant prefers to serve only local fresh produce, but we prevailed on the chef to used frozen asparagus for your omelet," Riccardo said solemnly. "You're only here for one day, and it's sheer accident that this famous ingredient isn't available fresh. Besides, the chef hopes the publicity will be good for him..."

They take these things so seriously here, I thought. After a mid-morning sightseeing tour of Calais, I subjected myself to more local dishes at lunch time, which included hochepot de beouf [pot au feu made with beef and beer], a pie made with Maroilles cheese [More cheese! I thought], and a tasty tarte au sucre for dessert

Then the three of us piled into a van for the 100+ kilometer ride to Lilles, where we would embark on the next leg of our journey.

"Our original plan was to ride a hot air balloon from Lille to Paris -- both communities have airfields designed for balloon rides," Riccardo explained as we left Calais, " but there was no way to ensure that the balloon would travel the desired route. Then the publisher -- he nodded to Scribbles, who had apparently been pulling strings -- happened upon an article about a solar-powered blimp that was being developed to fly from New York to Paris. They offered us a small prototype to use for our journey. We persuaded them that the publicity would be good for them."

I had imagined riding in one of those colorful balloons that you often see, but this blimp or dirigible was as dull as dishwater. Still, once we were up in the air, the view was lovely, and the November air was refreshing.

French coffee. If it's like Belgian coffee, it will put hair on your chest.

Elektra and I have had different weird flying experiences. SHE has been in a blimp.

She loved it - and said the most remarkable thing about it was how quiet it was...

I've finished writing tomorrow's entry. The plot continues to thicken

Greek coffee and Turkish Coffee will make their appearance on the train to Istanbul....

I've also outlined the entry for the day *after* tomorrow. Banish all thought of a romantic cross-Europe ride in a posh train like the Orient Express. This will be more like the Disoriented Express! But at least there will be no "Strangers on a train" or "The lady Vanishes" kind of drama.

[Amy P]

Asparagus goat cheese omelette sounds delicious.