Activities * Exploring the township of Pitigliano * Family visits in Pitigliano and San Valentino * Trying to stay dry Highlight(s) * Catching up with family * Enjoying the slow paced friendliness of the local shopkeepers Odd Spot(s) * A vast contrast to Rome - when you enter a shop in Pitigliano (or any of the small Tuscan towns) it is mandatory to have some small talk. This is true even if you are the only one in the store or if there is a queue. When we went to the fruit shop - we were third in line to be serrved - and there were others queuing up behind us. We all had to wait as the person being served updated the fruit man on how her mother was and whether her leg was ... read more

Activities * Catacombes (Underground mass burial site) * Rest day * Searching on Seek for jobs in Paris Highlight(s) * Crepes avec sucre et citron * The amazing Catacombes - the orderly fashion in which the bones have been arranged is very respectful * Wandering through the back streets on a clear night * Enjoying our last day in Paris Temperature Variance (celsius) = 22 ( Melbourne 23 / Paris 1 ) Odd Spot(s) * No odd spots today - I think Paris is feeling like home. *Gelati count = 0 Weather Cold and icy, min -5 / max 1 degrees ... read more

Activities * Musee L’Oraingerie * Musee Rodin (Closed) Highlight(s) * Lunch at Laduree * Monets at Musee L’Orangerie * Fruit, cheese and wine on the couch for dinner Temperature Variance (celsius) = 23 ( Melbourne 24 / Paris 1 ) Odd Spot(s) * When out for lunch a bottle of wine is cheaper than a bottle of water. * After taking our time walking to Musee Rodin - we unfortunately arrived 3 minutes before closing. Oh well - it was a nice walk. *Gelati count = 0 Weather Cold and icy, min -5 / max 1 degrees ... read more

Activities * Chateau de Versailles * Champs Elysees at night * Eiffel Tower at night Highlight(s) * The amazing gardens at Versailles * Afternoon tea at Laduree - it was like hitting pause for half an hour * Having takeaway pizza watching the light show at the Eiffel Tower at 8pm. Two pizzas: EU$20.50, view of the Eiffel tower at night: priceless. Temperature Variance (celsius) = 37 ( Melbourne 38 / Paris 1 ) Odd Spot(s) * Joc throwing a stone into a fountain at Versaille and seeing it bounce across the ice and out the other side. * Not being able to look our Crepe man in the eye on the way home after having pizza out. I think he was giving us stink eye as we walked past. *Gelati count = 0 Weather ... read more

Activities * Shopping at Galeries Lafayette * Supermarket run * Birthday dinner at Le Jules Verne (at the Eiffel Tower) Highlight(s) * The shopping * Hot choc and Viennese Coffee at Lafayette * Topping up the fruit bowl at the apartment (the fresh produce here is amazing) * Dinner at the Eiffel Tower. The view was fantastic, the food amazing and the professionalism of the service was beyond any experience back home. Temperature Variance (celsius) = 18 ( Melbourne 19 / Paris 1 ) Odd Spot(s) * Must have been music day. There were buskers of varying ability everywhere we went. The Russian band tearing it up at Chatelet station was probably the highlight. The dude that boarded the train with his little microphone and piano accordion backing tape was definitely the worst. * Unbelievably ... read more