I love Paris in the winter - when it drizzles...

Hola!

Firstly, thank you for all the kind birthday greetings that you left- it was much appreciated!  The day was busy but it was nice that the person I share my class with and I got to share our birthday together (can you believe that1?) - she snitched on me to the rest of the class and they bombarded me at playtime with massively raucous renditions of Happy Birthday as I was putting away the singing assembly resources!

I had a nice evening and I received some wonderful pressies which I will post about at some point!

This evening, I further confirmed my suspicions that I cannot make clothes or costumes to save my life by trying to create a head-dress for my now decided "Guinevere outfit".  I decided that it might be the least trouble (boy was I wrong!).  I'm wearing a 70's vintage dress and after several failed attempts to make a conical medieval hat that didn't make me look like some demented garden-gnome, I tried to make a head-dress like this.  Due to lack of organisation or being able to locate ANYTHING I wanted, this has been constructed out of a pair of purple tights, a strip of gold and navy material  offcuts, some chiffon ribbons and hairbands!  I'm going to look a mess!  (I am providing my head-teacher with a hat and skirt for her Mary Poppins costume!)

Anyway, I thought I'd share some photos of my half-term adventure from last week.  Eventually, got around to it!

We travelled via the Eurotunnel in our car early on Sunday morning and arrived in Paris around 3pm trying to fathom our way to our hotel when ALL the streets on the SATnag were 'No entries'! We attempted to ask a policeman what was going on and how to get there.  He very helpfully shrugged his soldiers and said, "You can't go there!"  Thanks sir!

 We stayed in Monmartre at a simple but perfectly comfortable, clean and well-situated Timhotel. I suspect the French equivalent of a Holiday inn?  Monmartre is a very Bohemian arty place.  I loved this shop facade!
On the first afternoon, we had a quick scour of Monmatre and then headed towards the flea-market in Porte Clignancourt.

 Beautiful Sacre-Coeur!  I think this place is far more beautiful than Notre Dame.  It seems lighter inside.  Alas, no interior shots were permitted!

 Monmartre is on a big hill, so the views across Paris (when not hazy/cloudy) are amazing!

 I think this shot gives you some idea of the steepness.  You can catch a Funicular railway up the hill but we walked!

 Originally, we planned an Amelie-style treasure hunt as just below here was the park in which she sets the trail for Nino!  I imagined that this was the telescope she indicated for him!

We shunned the Metro in favour of walking, in order to enjoy the sights.

The flea-market was a little disappointing. It was a series of shops in warren-like structure most of which sold amazing antique furniture out of our price-range.  The vintage clothing was expensive and a bit ratty!

 I had to take a picture of this in the shop window!  Amazing piece of art though I hope that wasn't a Stradivari!

It was perishingly cold in Paris and already after only a while, the cold had chilled us to the bone so we sought food, drink and shelter.

Alas many of the photos are on CBC's camera which I don't have but serendipitously, we came across a hilarious cafe I'd read about in Lonely Planet called Chez Louisette's which still has live performers- the host sings Edith Piaf songs!  It was impressively crowded with locals, gaudy decor and a band and singers.  As we ate lunch, (I tried Lapin moutarde- was lovely!)  we were serenaded by singers- all the staff sing- and a hilarious waitress who danced flamenco-style ON the table next to us!  It was definitely an experience!

 Subsequently, we headed via the Metro to Cite Ille, which is an island in the middle of Paris where Notre Dame is.  Even the short walk from the station was positively ARTIC so gladly, we discovered that Notre Dame was in the middle of a service.  Thus we sought sanctuary.  It was gloriously warm inside, jam-packed to the rafters with a congregation listening to evening Mass.  We sat down and I promptly fell asleep on CBC's shoulder for about 10 minutes, grudgingly roused soon after. It is a beautiful building, again of which I have no photos sadly.

 You can see how vast it is though can someone point out the flying buttresses?!

 CBC had the bright idea of walking along the Seine.  So we meandered along the cobbled paths by the gentle-lapping waters.  It was much less cold down there than on the road as we were somewhat sheltered from the bitter wind.

 The walk afforded us some lovely night time views (not lovely from Kezzie photo-taking point of view).  That's the Louvre!

 We walked up to the Tuilleries gardens and wandered among Privet hedges in a maze like layout until we reached...

 The Louvre entrance which was impressive in itself!

 We attempted to sneak in and steal the Mona Lisa but didn't get past the entrance...

 We must have walked 2 miles along the river, meeting no one.  Then we walked up into the town.
Terribly, we ended up in Starbucks for a well-needed cup of tea and cake, as we couldn't seem to find any cafe open at the late hour.  Walking towards the tube, we could see an amazing building on the horizon which turned out to be the Paris Opera house (I'm wondering if there was a Phantom lurking?!)

Finally, feeling the effect of walking around 8-10 miles, we returned home to our hotel. The last steps, a final hurdle to the reward of sleep!

More anon.

Have you been to Paris?