Hello from Paris!

I made it safely to Paris. The flight was ok, very smooth, however my ears popped painfully on the descent. I couldn't hear a thing out of my right ear.
My first experience with a french speaking person was with the customs officer, who after taking my passport, started speaking quickly in french. I don't know the language, and my ears hadn't unpopped yet, so I had no idea what he was saying. I just kept saying, "desolee, je ne parle pas francais". He looked up finally and laughed, "what do you want?" he said. He was cute, and I realized he had been flirting with me..."What do I want?" My passport, please, I suppose. I must have looked thoroughly confused...he just laughed again, stamped my passport and handed it back.
I realize now how big of a problem my language barrier is. Asking for directions on the metro turned into a silly display of myself and the attendant doing sign language and pointing at the map. The metro really is quite efficient, but I didn't even remember the full name of the street of my hostel, so I wasn't much help. I got here though finally, and thankfully, the receptionists all speak English.
I dropped off my bag in the luggage room, and headed out for a walk of the neighborhood. I walked for hours along the Seine, into St. Germaine, Le Marais, the Latin Quarter. It was all so beautiful and felt like a storybook.
At 3:00, I was tired, coughing, and weary. I started back for the hostel for a much needed rest. However, I'd gotten myself so off course in my wandering that it took me two more hours to find my way back! Paris is beautiful, but on no sleep, every corner looks the same as the last...By the time I got back to the hostel, I was almost asleep on my feet. My new dormmates, who were already there and unpacking, must have wanted to wear SARS masks for all my coughing.
This first day in Paris taught me something important. Always get a hotel, not a hostel with a lockout period, after a long flight.
Love Tori