Day 15: 5kms in 5 hours and more.

It's Monday and once again the weather is perfect about 24 deg and sunny. We have been away for 2 weeks now, and I have only bugged the house sitter 3 times, we do miss Rory but there are also a few Westies around to satisfy our puppy needs. Today was a free day, we thought about going back to the Louvre, and we are still tossing it around, but may change to the Pompidou Centre instead, I'm sure Mona won't mind..

We decided on a leisurely walk around the city and The Marais area. We walked past some fantastic pattisieres and chocolate stores, much like Acland St Saint Kilda, although every street here is like that but better.

We stopped for lunch at a small bistrot where Sandy was more than impressed with her little jug of wine, not to mention the food as well.

Lunch over and we just happened to stumble across the shopping area, never have I seen so many shoe shops with so many fantastic shoes, seriously I could have bought at least 10 pair, instead I just settled for the 1, as did Sandy as I had already purchased a pair in London. We finally made our way home after a 5km round trip ( at about 1km/ hr, broke no records here) without getting lost, we are getting good at this! 

Back out this evening for French Onion Soup then home to relax ready for tomorrow's big tour day with the owner of the appartment.

Today's Question: With so many bakeries, patissieres, chocolatiers, everything cooked in butter why are French people so slim? I want their secret!!

Day 14: Bonjour....and then what?

After a delicious healthy home made breakfast we made our way to markets at the end of our street. Yum, yum, and yum, we bought some olives, une baguette (that's one) and some flowers for the table.  I am sure I could be French, if only I could roll my Rrr's.

 We dropped our shopping back to the appartment and after a quick map check we ventured out to find The Louvre, Rue de Louvre is at the end of our street so we only had one decision to make, left or right and for the first time we made the right decision. A good start. We reached the Louvre only to be met with a massive line up.

The line was about an hour long, and it was quite warm so we didn't want to be standing out in the sun. I had read about a secret entrance which again we managed to find but you needed pre-purchased tix, which we didn't have so we will go back tomorrow. We don't want to disappoint Mona as I know she is expecting us, and unlike the queen we know she will be there! 

We then walked along the Seine over the Bridge of Lovers, a bridge covered in padlocks, with all the keys thrown into the Seine ( imagine the metal content in that water).

We then headed to the boat which was to take us to the Eiffel tower. Quite an imposing structure and a gazillion people around.

FACT: When first constructed Paris locals hated it and it was known as the giant asparagus.

 We are heading back on Thursday for dinner, I look forward to seeing it at night.

We got back on the boat to head home and got off at the Louvre to walk the rest of the way, past the artists, and the stalls and the lock sellers. 

It is becoming obvious that we are both getting quite fluent in the one French word we know- bonjour, because as soon as we say it people start talking to us in French until they notice the look of bewilderment on our faces, by Saturday we will just about pass as locals.

Today I Learned: You don't need a beach or a pool to sun bake, a cement riverbank is fine and bathers are a choice not everyone makes..