Street walkers in Paris

We went on a guided walking tour of the hidden secrets of Paris (thank you Peter & Lesley and Mark & Jilly). It was great and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a different side of this amazing city. Our guide was very knowledgeable and combined historical facts with local colour.

We walked through the expensive fashion district and historical areas as well as streets with a real local French feel, places where the locals went about their daily business.

Streets with local butchers and bakers, places that sell cheeses and chocolate shops and small cafes away from the tourists. We discovered narrow arcades and back lanes with dusty antique stores and small interesting shops. We also stopped outside the shop of the only umbrella repairer in Europe. Apparently he isn't there very often as he is now a bit of a celebrity.

The 3 hour tour took us in a winding route from the Place de la Concorde to the Pompidou Centre with a stop for a macaroon and a cheese tasting along the way. A bit of education, good company and gentle exercise, what more could we want!

Actually, when the tour ended we just happened to walk past a shoe shop that had a pair of boots with my name on them. How could I resist! So, education, company, exercise and a new pair of shoes ...... Just about a perfect day.

Various pics

Now it's just getting ridiculous. 

I've taken a picture of the Mona Lisa, can I go now?

View of the Seine from the top of Notre Dame. 

Stairs in our apartment building - looking up. Thank god we're only on the first floor. 

The helical stairs in the arc de Triomphe.

Lost our sidekick

Lost our side-kick today. We put Brodie on the train to London figuratively covered in post-it notes..... do this ..., don't do that, only talk to nice strangers, don't live on junk food, etc, etc. We arrived at Gare du Nord hours early, which seems to be our (usually my) way and gave last minute instructions. I think she was glad when it was time to go.

We had a final dinner for her last night. She had been looking for snails on all the menus and found them last night in the small bistro at our front door. So snails and smoked duck and rock melon for entrèes. Both very delicious. The main dishes, followed by dessert and washed down with a couple of glasses of fine french wine finished a lovely meal.

After a final hug we caught the RER back to Boulevard Saint-Michel and walked to the Jardin du Luxembourg. We had our lunch sitting on the green seats enjoying the sunshine. The gardens were in full bloom, a pretty spectacular sight. A large pond, beautiful flower beds, carefully manicured trees, green, green grass and a very imposing Luxembourg Palace. Not a bad place to while away an hour or so. As we walked out an elderly busker with a violin was playing "La vie en Rose" which seemed very fitting. I think he could only play the chorus but hey that didn't spoil the mood at all.

Paris parking

Best parkers in the world. They leave this much space at the front too!

 I watch with awe as they manoeuvre  into the tightest places (says she who can do a perfect 8 point parallel park). Seems it is okay to park here

or here.

It's okay to pull up at an intersection, put on your hazard lights, get out, ponder which way you should go and let traffic bank up or squeeze by.

It's also alright to miss a parking spot, even if it's an illegal one, in a one way street and then back up, sort of around the corner, sort of across the road and sort of nearly hitting pedestrians on a crossing. Jump out, swish your very Parisian hair, get your handbag and disappear without looking the least bit guilty.

The patron of the bar said all of the above are not legal and they all could get "the paper" from the police but with a typical Gallic shrug and a smile that seemed to say c'est la vie.

Lots of things close early on Sunday (cont'd)

Wandered around Montmartre for a while listening to some buskers, avoiding portraitists and then onto the Salvador Dali Museum - I thought Dali must have been on some weird drugs, but as he said, "I don't use drugs, I am a drug".
The climb down the mount was fairly easy but long, so we treated ourselves to a crêpe for lunch before heading back to the metro (more steps).
At the line change, we made a quick decision to visit musée d'Dorsay. It's in a huge building that was previously a railway station and houses some great artwork. Renoir, Rodin, Van Gogh, and many others on display. And a lot more steps! If we don't all lose weight on this trip, there's something wrong.

More photos

On Montmartre 

Marchè Bastille

Mushrooms

Cheeses!!!!

A curse on a city without awnings

It was a slow start to the day, by the time we were organised the weather had turned and it was raining. As intrepid tourists we weren't going to let a bit of damp slow us down, so we headed out for some breakfast and to find La Poste to send some postcards (yes very old school).

We quickly decided to dig out the rain jackets from the bottom of our bags. By this time we were getting rather damp around the edges. Our pathetic rain jackets (not such a great market bargain now) as well as looking daggy we're too short in the sleeves.
Managing to send the cards we smelled out a patisserie and had croissants and hot chocolate.

Admitting defeat - wet shoes and jeans and soggy backpacks we headed home being continually dripped and rained on. No shelter and lots of puddles on the paths.