29/8/2015

We arrived a couple of days ago now. After a long and dry flight, found our way to our hotel in the poring rain, to an approaching dusk.

We did connect with Paris for dinner in Alesia and the first creme brulee. How good is that!!!

Appeared a bit dark in the morning, but weather improved greatly with the day. (Unfortunately we were dressed for winter). On the Metro we made our way to St Michel to check out updates on Notre Dame and the local neighbourhood. Much seemed improved and buildings cleaned. In Rue Mouffetard our favorite little restaurant was no more Farewell "Le Tire Bouchon". (crying) We did avail ourselves of a Breton hot chocolate nevertheless which went down extremely well. A walk to our favourite homewares shop at the south end of the 5th to get a collectable for the new home in Diggers Rest.

Next heading was Trocadero, the other side of the river from the Eiffel Tower, where we enjoyed the weather and great views of the Tower, Seine and various gardens. Other little cafes to have our Chocolat chaud and a Pression St Homer which killed a ravenous thirst and (from a safe distance) watch a conman and three accomplices with a ball and 3 cups routine. When they have tripled their money from two suckers they wrapped up and departed with the loot. As one expects in Paris, there was much music all around. Even a taxi driver with his electric guitar and a dude on the metro.

The mandatory visit to the Church of St Genevieve and St Etienne back in the 5th called us back there as it was closed earlier due to lunch requirements of the district. We stayed for quite a while enjoying the silence and devoting some prayers to our loved ones that have passed on and others we met in our journey of life. On the way home we dropped into St Joseph's Church near the Ibis to say hi to the Saints. We discovered the crypt of the Mnsr Ozonam whmm the Ozonam House in Melbourne was named after. A long and distant connection for Guy and his teenage social work with men was finally made.

29/8/2015

Evening meal at the local Italian joint around the corner. Then preparations for an early start to catch our train to Bordeaux, on which we sit now. There was a bit of a delay (20 mins) due to an "incident". Gendarmes all around avec substantial weapons. C'est la Vie en France.

　The remainder of the travel was uneventful.  Lovely scenery and houses; villages and their little shops.  Collected car from Bordeaux and arrived safely to the friendly welcome of our hosts Steve and Karen, also new pup Monty.  Weather here over 30 degrees C, the pool was nice!