Today was positively balmy at 16 degrees! 

Bethany would have worn shorts had I let her bring a pair... blue sky all day.

It may be nearly winter but there are beautiful flowers and fresh fruit everywhere!

Real or not real?

I have seen this staircase in postcards... now we're in our own postcards...  having to pinch ourselves to believe it's true.

It was a long walk from Villiers to Montmartre and we needed a sweet reward...  

Well worth the walk - Nutella crepes, hot chocolate and a tartine (baguette with butter and jam) 

We had to hold our cups and plates at times so they didn't slide off the tables while we watched the world go by and the artists paint...

 A perfect day to visit Montmartre and enjoy an expansive view of Paris in one direction and 

Sacre-Coeur, above and behind. 

These bubbles were huge!!!!!

OK so we did pay 2 Euro per garçon (!) to use the toilet here on the Champs Elysée (a little more than a Penny) but when a boy has to go, he has to go... On the positive side, I would actually call this a restroom museum - well worth the admission fee to see the colourful décor and toilet paper on exhibit... Almost certain one must fold any papier toilette containing a Paris scene on each square ... never scrunch! 

Despite some functional French I have not a single idea what went on in this puppet show. I do know the main character was 'Guignol' and I read somewhere that 'Guignol's sharp wit and linguistic verve have always been appreciated by adults as well as children'. Clearly what my French is missing is 'linguistic verve'... Have made a note to work on that with vigour and determination!

This is just some of what you have to look forward to in the gastronomical department Annie and Isaac... Yes great slabs of chocolate!

These delightful people have been made out of leaves and varnished. The fragility of the figurines and in contrast, Australia's robust customs regulations made me think twice... 

No autumn leaf people for me... shall have to leaf them in Paris... 

Intellectual cats, cafe culture, sailing boats, crepes and Christmas lights...

We loved wandering through the 6th arrondissement, the Saint Germain-des-Pres district - historically the home of intellectuals, thinkers and cafe going cats as it turns out.

Before entering the beautiful Jardin des Luxembourg we stumbled upon a fascinating open air exhibition of wildlife photography. 

Elijah writes - The pictures were amazingly wonderful and beautiful and striking.I really liked how it told you what animals and plants they were... for example a lemur, a  bee and a dandelion...  and where they live, for example this lemur lives in Madagascar and this bee lives in Europe. It was hard to believe that this frog is not poisonous with all its very bright colours that are soooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful.

 The sun was shining on the Jardin des Luxembourg and we were enchanted. 

Once Marie de' Medici's Luxembourg Palace, now home to the French senate. Thank you Marie de' Medici for commissioning this magnificent garden and the Luxembourg Palace back in 1611. Did it remind you of Florence? Could you have imagined the world of children and adults who would enjoy it for centuries to come?

 

Hamish writes -  Ahh the boats -  my favourite part of the journey. 

It's a wonderful feeling watching them sail along the pond.

Crepes for lunch were delicious!!!!

It was an Autumn canvas at Parc Monceau...

...And yes Isaac, football really does bring people together. 

Elijah found a way around the language barrier to make friends who spoke his language and shared his first love. We now have our very own French football to compliment the PSG jersey... and a way to let off steam and keep up the all important football skills... 

On the paths, not the grass!! 

When it comes to Christmas lights, a picture speaks 1000 words...

 A beautiful day and a magical evening...

Papillons and more...

Danielle writes: These beautiful papillons were happily fluttering in a warm and very humid plant filled room it the Cite de Science - a hands on science museum we visited yesterday with our friend Lucas - a charming young French man we met last year when he was visiting Australia. Lucas was just wonderful with the boys and so gracious and helpful as I muddled along in Franglais. These butterflies were my highlight... an unexpected pleasure in Paris yesterday.

We also enjoyed an amazing planetarium experience and if it hadn't been so dark and comfortable we might be able to tell you how the presentation ended... Bethany, Elijah and I couldn't resist a bit of planetarium shut eye just for a little moment. 

We wish the seats on the plane were like those ones!

Elijah writes - We saw the museum with Lucas. I loved the water play and the running track that recorded my time. I went 4.45 metres/sec. I also liked the planetarium but it made me sleepy.  It was very fun and we saw a big humongous ball. love Elijah xooxxoxooxoxoxoxxoxooxoxoxooxxooxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxooxoxo

Only in Paris

Hamish writes.....

The Eiffel tower is huge!

Walking under it was a treat!

Elijah was and still is pumped about his new PSG jersey. I bought a PSG scarf to wear to the game.

The croissants here are irresistible! Had one on our first day.. and perhaps every day after that too!

 A chicken keeping his head even when placed for sale in the window of the boucherie...

Elijah writes – In Paris I like catching the hop on hop off bus because you see the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. It’s amazing that the Eiffel Tower used to be the tallest building in the world. When I first saw it this morning I could not see all of it, only two levels. At the end of the day I could truly amazingly see the whole tower. After dark the Eiffel Tower got very sparkly and I got very sleepy and I fell asleep on the metro and was so close to falling asleep on a bus. 

Hot Chocolates in Paris are very hot and very chocolaty.

Mummy loved the Printemps Christmas windows... 

...and the stained glass windows in Note Dame.

Today was my second ride on the Paris metro and my first time to fall asleep on it.  

 Along the Champs-Elysees I saw lots of stalls. My favourite was the waffle stall. 

Guess what? A PSG shop too! I am going to look inside tomorrow.

We will always remember our first day ever in Paris and smile J

Planes, trains, taxis, buses, walking around Chatillon, croissants, florists, supermarket shopping (cheese  cheese, cheese)... and that's just day one! After very little sleep on the plane we have managed to enjoy our first day very much (!) with only a few edgy moments blamed on fatigue and hunger (yes even in Paris!!) ...  early night tonight before another adventure tomorrow!

All quiet on the home front

So glad to hear that they have arrived safely in Paris! Such a long time for such a precious cargo to be hanging in the air. Miss them all so much already. Can't wait to hear about it all. Shaun

Elijah writes: We have got off the first plane in Hong Kong. I'm so excited about the second one to Europe even though it is 2am Sydney time...

This is so exciting! We go away tomorrow and I can't wait! I have been counting down the sleeps and now it's only one sleep to go and ticking away fast. I don't think I will believe it's really happening until we get off the plane for the second time... in Paris!!!  Still then it's going to feel weird...but I know it will be really exciting. I wonder what adventures I will have? I hope there is snow involved somewhere!!

Hamish

Hamish sings 'Little People'

This is a treat!