Recovering from virus in Paris

Have had a slight delay in reaching el Camino. Contracted a virus while touring with my niece. She flew out Monday also not feeling well, initially shaking it off as a cold. At airport I was dragging, and suffering from headache. Said our lethargic goodbyes. I thought I would faint going to my hostel, especially the fifty foot staircase leading up to the front door from a lower street. Then checking in and being given the fifth floor with no elevator gave way to further dizziness. Upon further analysis, and thrity seconds of a digital thermometer in my mouth, voila 102 degrees (pack one)!
Fever broke later that evening, after laying low and taking Tylenol and applying cold washcloth compress on neck and forehead.
Next morning I felt well enough to go out and found myself hiking the dome and rooftop terraces of Sacre Coeur! Next was delivering some surprises to Hotel Concorde to leave in room for the pending arrival of my mother and grandmother who would reach Paris via chunnel after a few days of London. Wow, what timing--there was their tour bus out front with both seated in front, easily visible. A wave and I was on the bus placing a bouquet in my mother`s lap for her birthday and semi-retirement! Hugs and chit chat, the tour members were released by their guide to check in. We lunched and walked about the area, making plans for the next couple days.
The Louvre and Giverny gobbled up the majority of our two days.
My health quickly relapsed, and I found myself right back in bed after Giverny and farewells to Mom and Grandma. No hugs upon departure, just a white surgical mask to protect them and others from my germs, which by now were confirmed to be a virus. I received a text message from niece with doctor`s diagnosis.
The view from my room is extraordinary. I know it well!

Hostel Searching Tips

Before I begin, I like to occasionally enter a general disclaimer to remind you of a few things. You would do best to automatically excuse me of any spelling and grammatical errors or other entry oddities! These blogs are often entered late at night. The time you see posted is not the time I am posting. I do not have opportunity to go back and edit or re-read my work. There is no spellchecker. I am often using a european keyboard upon which the letters do not correspond to the keys on which I have been trained to type, which conflicts with spelling, punctuation and accents. Finally, I am not a writer. This is raw, first draft, in the field, off the top off my head blogging! Thank you for your support in overlooking any all all sorts of opportunity for my human error.

For Europe hostel searches and online reservations, I recommend www.gomio.com or www.hostelworld.com; the first being preferential.
When all others failed, not allowing for sameday booking, Gomio managed to both find available rooms/beds that appeared full on other search sites, as well as allowed for online reservations. The standard non-refundable fee for booking online with a credit card is two dollars. In addition to this, you will usually be charged ten percent of the room charge at the time of booking online (24 hour cancellation policy if you expect your money back). Keep in mind, this does NOT mean that the hostel you are checking in to will allow you to pay the balance with your credit card. Several hostels require CASH only. With some luck you may be able to use travelers cheques if already in euro denomination. If you or a parent is a AAA member, this service is FREE. That is, you may exchange US dollars at the AAA travel agency (Marginal Way, Portland) for Euro traveler checks. AAA accepts personal checks, cash and credit cards. For details, call AAA in advance to determine the maximum you wish to exchange and how you plan to pay.

When booking a hostel online, READ THE FINE PRINT. There are such things as curfews and lock-outs, and late check-in guidelines. To save money, pack a bath towel, and a bedsack/sheet (twin size that is sewn together). This will eliminate the need to rent for up to three euros per hostel (note, a sleeping bag for hosteling is unnecessary and would take up needed room in your backpack). A sleeping bag is essential if hiking The Way of Saint James, as you stay in refuges/refugios, or if you are planning to camp.
All hostels are different. I am staying at a lovely hostel/hotel in Paris which includes a delicious breakfast as part of the per night per person fee of twenty-four euro. Although you hope to find hostels for eighteen euros per night, a breadfast is easily worth five euros if it includes real o.j., coffee, teas, cocoa, cereal selections, croissants and petite baguettes! This hostel also includes free high speed wifi internet service. Showers and televisions are in the rooms (en suite), another plus (no stumbling down the halls). Take advantage of these pluses when you can, as some hostels offer other services or fewer services.
Okay, so where am I? Hotel Caulaincourt, metro Lemarck/Caulaincourt. 2 Square Caulaincourt.
This is in the eighth arrondissement, in walking distance to Sacre Coeur Basilica, Moulin Rouge, Place Pigalle/Clichy and other Monmartre favourites. Nearby Cimetiere Monmartre houses many memorials tombs of famous folks in history, such as Victor Hugo and Scott Joplin. Do a search for more details.

When to book? I am a fly by the seat guy. I booked only the initial first two nights stay in Paris for my niece, giving us time to regain our energies and decide where we would be going. It is common to book two days prior to arrival, or even the day before. Obviously you take a risk if arriving blind. If last minute, calling directly will provide you with availability not seen on the internet. Some hostels are happy to make that call on your behalf (reciprocity). Always OFFER to pay for the call (they will probably not accept it).