24 May 2015 - Thanks for the sunshine and memories, Paris!

We welcomed our last morning here in rue Felix Faure, Paris, with mixed feelings.  We have loved Paris and soon adapted to the small living space here, living as many Parisians do and prioritising our early morning trip to the boulangerie.  It is always exciting to be moving on to our next destination but it is also sad to leave a place we loved.  We so enjoyed our time in Videix at our lovely "Les Trois Chenes" accommodation and we have also enjoyed Paris: two different experiences of France and the French.

One last morning trying to catch a good reflection

Please note "Frogs Legs" are on the menu

 We were warned by more than one person that the French are reluctant to help and can be rude.  Our experience is the opposite.  All our encounters have been most charming and I love the ready greeting of Bonjour or Bon soir even when passing a garbage man in the street. The French are happy folk and from our observation love family time and just being together.  May be the small living spaces do lend themselves to good family relationships because they simply have to get on. 

After reading and loving "Almost French" by Sarah Turnbull, I keep looking for those illegal extensions to attics and this was the closest I have seen.

 For my morning walk with Tim we decided on one last early morning visit to the Eiffel Tower where the crowds were gathering already at 8.30AM.  As the Eiffel Tower workers actually went on strike yesterday because of the pick pocket problem, the weekend visitors to Paris would have been a bit miffed not to get up the Tower.  Our visit last Monday was virtually crowd free and a breeze! We haven't observed any pickpockets (but who does?) and there is certainly a police presence.  Mind you, we don't look like dithery tourists who might be unaware of their environment.  We walk fast and if we have Tim, with his strong athletic presence and thuggish haircut with us, who would dare?  So, Tim and I once again looked up at the amazing structure, did a circuit and headed back home.  the accordian player was there on his early morning seat, seemingly just playing for pleasure before the crowds spill over to his area.

Tiny but amazing cantelope

Our local boulangerie doesn't open on Sundays but many do and we stocked up for breakfast and lunch and returned.  On our way back, we were asked where the boulangerie was and could direct the bread hungry Frenchman.  I loved that I could understand his question and that I could give him an answer!!  Carrying a couple of baguettes does give away the fact that you have just visited a boulangerie!

And so we post some more cards..

Ah the French Open...and a good chance to enjoy free orange juice!

 Pack up day is always a bit of a drag as we try to re-pack our bags (and zip them up!) ready for the next challenge and journey.  We try not to let packing and cleaning up dominate our day though otherwise it is wasted.

Horses along the Seine

 Not wanting to visit any other museums and still wanting to explore more of Paris we walked along the Seine again, this time all the way to the Notre Dame and then across the Pont Neuf.  The long long  long queue for the Notre Dame was made us feel glad that we had visited it already on a week day and avoided the weekend queues!  A tip for future visits!  We had set out to find the bird market, wich we did not far from the Notre Dame.

Luke trying his best to hang on like the big kids!

Whoops!

My Dad reckons all "proper" old clocks have Roamn numeral 4 as IIII rather than IV...and he's right!

Pont Neuf with Notre Dame in background

The Notre Dame Cathedral

Paris is never boring!

At the bird market

Flowers at the market

It is a bird and flower market and colourful but not too busy and not too big.  The birds were pretty and much better cared for than the birds we saw at the big market in Bangkok.  In amongst the birds were some gorgeous rabbits: some probably for eating and others for pets but what grabbed our attention were the chinchillas.  We had never seen chinchillas before and didn't really know what they were!  Chinchillas are South American rodents about as big as a small rabbit and dense velvet like fur. They are critically endangered in the wild having been hunted for their fur.  As they are crepuscular animals most were sleeping today at the market but they were extremely endearing.  Well, we learn something every day! Now we know what chinchillas are!

A Chinchilla!

 Tim chose to run home and we spent a bit more time cruising around the market before taking the Metro back home. 

The photo I really wanted today: The Metropolitain sign - many stations now just have Metro.

Note pneumatic tyres on train on trains on some of the older lines but not all.

 We called into Carrefour supermarket before walking back to the apartment.  Luke, the keen observer was intrigued by the animal vegetable signs and they were rather appealing!

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Supermarket signs - an eggplant whale!

A pear mouse!

A bok choy fish!

The big pack up is nearly done with a few finishing touches tomorrow morning.  It is hard to believe we'll be in London this time tomorrow!  It will be a late night and a restless sleep as it usually is before you travel.  Karl and I shared the last bit of the Saint Agur cheese as our farewell to Paris!

Our tiny kitchen - see what I mean about having to open the fridge door to access the oven!