3rd September (sunny and hot) 0 km

After another sumptuous hotel breakfast, (weetbix and muesli with yoghurt and banana in our room followed by baguette and emmentahl cheese and a cup of tea, followed by a coffee and half a Danish!), we were ready for another day of sightseeing. 

First stop was the Jardin des Plantes (garden of plants……as if you’d have a garden of anything else?), directly behind our hotel.  Wandered through that, enjoying the relaxed vibe and absence of traffic, before heading out onto the streets and into the Latin quarter.  

Lots of quaint streets and the smell of coffee in the air had us checking out the price of a cappuccino – but at $9NZ a cup, when you know it won’t be a patch on a New Plymouth café, decided against it.

Pete has a tendency to wander off so we made him wear his Hi Vis today.

Glanced up one of the streets and noticed this huge domed building.  Turned out to be the Pantheon (thought that was in Rome but what do we know?), we discovered as we headed towards it.  It was surrounded by a whole heap of spectacular buildings, seemingly in a bid to outdo each other.

The café’s were heaving around here and we were keen for a sit down but still the prices were sky high.  Determined not to be ripped off again, we wandered to the Luxembourg garden and sat in the shade and sipped our bottles of water.  We then wandered towards the Seine and found a reasonably priced café and finally got a coffee and something to eat.

The Orangerie at Luxembourg gardens

Mastering the art of the selfie.....since 1765

The “beggars” round here are something else.  They literally look like they have sat down by a tree, removed their hat and closed their eyes and next thing you know, they wake up and their hat’s full of money.  We kicked ourselves for wasting our downtime in the park on a seat! 

Good to catch up with our old mate Toffa - but Jimmy I think you should get your hand
off his pistol, gay Paris or not!

We walked over to the Ile de la Citie, the island where Notre Dame is.  More amazing looking buildings and hordes of tourists.  It is a beautiful place and well laid out but so so busy!  

It was another hot day and we were beginning to flag, so headed back to the hotel at 3.30pm for a couple of hours rest before going out for dinner.

Do the words Humpty and Dumpty spring to anyone else's mind?

Off out to dinner, but first, over to the station to check out where the train leaves for Orleans tomorrow. Hopefully we can get the 11.30am train, if we can get our bikes out of the courtyard they are stored in. Two guys we saw about them today, reckon no one will be there until after 12pm, which means we’ll catch the 1.30pm train instead.

From the station we checked out the little Vietnamese place that was closed yesterday. Today it was open. Dad and I ordered Thai Chicken Curry whilst Julia had Lemongrass Pork. The meal was delicious and all of us used the chopsticks provided and coped very admirably. Cozy little place only able to seat eighteen people.

After a quick return to our room, Julia and I took off to shoot Paris by night. Dad wasn’t coming tonight and wanted to be prepared, with gear packed and ready to go.

Firstly we walked down to Notre Dame and took shots from the bridge on one side. All along the embankment were young people getting ready for the school year, singing and performing chants. On the other side of Notre Dame whilst we we setting up shots, there were rats, at least five of them in a small area, scurrying around our feet, looking for food that had been dropped during the day. I wandered away to get another perspective and a guy came up and hit on Ju, telling her that she was very beautiful - no disputing that.  I totally agree with you my French friend and I am a lucky man.

Trying to find different angles, we carried on to the bridge taking us to the Louvre. From here you can get shots of the Pont Neuf  bridge. On this location, a brass band were playing, “Superstitious” by Stevie Wonder and making a great job of it. The Louvre wasn’t as illuminated , but we still managed.

Walking more quickly now, heading along the other side of the Seine, for the Pont Alexandre III . I was very impressed with this particular bridge the other day. From now on the Eiffel Tower was glittering gold in the night sky and what a sight. The Parisians of old may not have wanted it ruining their city, but it only enhances the skyline and is truly a sight to see. Time was pushing on and  so were we, heading for the Trocadero to get the best shots of this amazing structure. All the way along the embankment now, we were being treated with different views. The Trocadero is a massive structure, ideal as a viewpoint and packed with people just sitting and observing this glittering, flashing attraction dominating the night sky. It was a great way to finish our time here.

A walk to the Metro to catch a late tube home.  Our line was shut for the night and we were diverted to another station 5 mins walk away, where we’d had the dodgy incidents two days ago.  It was after 11.30pm and although there was no trouble tonight, as a parent I wouldn’t want my kids travelling on the Metro late at night.

Thank you Paris!

Arrived back after midnight and while Ju uploaded the photos, I did some washing and hung it up in the room to dry in the humid conditions. Thank you Paris for a wonderful experience. It may well be the last time we come here, because as good as it was, we are people who prefer the quieter, healthier and safer routes to travel.