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Published: February 24th 2008
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Monday 17th September Up at 8.30 and over to Mum's by 10.30, we caught the Metro out to Mont Martre, the highest point of the city and the nearest stop to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Not content with merely walking up the steps to get to the top, we decided to do it in style and hop in the funicular (which is like a elevator on tracks that goes up on a 45° angle). As it was overloaded with Korean tourists, instead of letting everyone get out at the top, the doors opened for about 5 seconds before closing again and the funicular started the descent back down to the bottom. The people in queue at the bottom were keen to jump in when the doors opened up but none of us were getting out. So, back up we went (minus a few expendable Koreans this time) for the second time and when the doors opened up again everyone yelled out "GO, GO, GO!!". Twas quite funny. Had to be there. Anyway, the "Basilica of the Sacred Heart" was very...churchy?! I don't know, maybe I'm starting to see too many churches/cathedrals/basilicas and getting a bit blasé as the panoramic view over
Paris from the steps out the front impressed me more so.
We then headed back down the hill, stopped at a little café for a caffeine injection and carried on towards the seedy, sexy and salacious side of the city. It was here that we found such dignified establishments such as the "Porno Shop" and many other neon lit enterprises. We walked by the Moulin Rouge with it's big red windmill out the front and had a bit of a look inside. We'll definitely have to go back at some point (especially after hearing Mum's report on how good it was!).
With Sid setting a cracking pace we walked down to the Galeries Lafayette department store, which was a bit like a French Harrods. The interior of the 10 storey building was amazing with an exquisite domed roof as it's centrepiece and all the floors visible from the circular balconies. I had to walk behind Mum and Em with a mop as they drooled over €5000 fur coats and €2000 dresses. In the end they bought some very nice €35 stockings. Cheapskates! 😊 On about the 3rd level we'd found the sporting goods section and there appeared to
be a model photo shoot going on, with a guy dressed up as a sportsman, a make-up artist and a photographer working away. Just as I was about to walk away, one guy approaches me wanting me to be the next model! After a bit of prodding from Em and Mum I relented and before I knew it I was in the change room slipping into a rugby outfit. I was then plonked into a chair where the make up artist started working his magic to make me look like I'd just finished a match, complete with bloodied nose and black eyes. Looking the part I now had to perform for the photographer who wanted me to look as scary as possible (not hard some might say). Having done my best (and trying hard to ignore the sniggers and comments from Em and Mum) we selected the best photo, which was then printed out for me and also hung up with the others they'd done in the store. I knew it would happen, I knew it was just a matter of time before I'd be a model in Paris. 😊
As time was slipping by, we headed back to
Mum's hotel for our last dinner together. We couldn't leave without trying some escargot (snails for you peasants) which surprisingly tasted quite nice covered in a creamy garlic sauce. After saying our goodbyes 😞 Em and I took off back to Gare du Nord station and caught the Eurostar back to Waterloo. We arrived home by 10.30 but as we were in between shifting flats we spent the next 2 hours cleaning and moving everything back in. What a weekend!
Tuesday 18th September Just leaving work on my pushy I noticed some guy was being rescued from the Millennium Bridge by firemen after threatening to jump off. Maybe it was the boss of Northern Rock?
Wednesday 19th September Happy 1st Birthday Goompie!!
Em applied for another nannying job for Ken and Barbie-like snobby couple around Chelsea. Missed out this time though, probably for the best by the sounds of them. ie. "In Chelsea it's the norm to take ones shoes off before entering the house."
Friday 21st September After work had last day of work drinks with Cam at the Cat & Castle in Canary Wharf. Just after arriving I got
Grrrrr....
Modelling In Paris....I knew it was bound to happen! a full pint accidentally spilled over me lap, thanks Jen! 😊 I gave my first ever autograph to Celeste for the TNT magazine letter that I had published (it was basically a rant to tell everyone to get off their ass and ride a bike instead of catching the tube). I'm famous! On the way home we saw an awesome busker at the tube station shredding the axe with some flat out metal. The man was so good we missed our train (and had to wait a whole 3 minutes for the next one!).
Saturday 22nd September After a cappa with Cam in Clapham we stopped off at Oxford St in Soho for what started as a window shop but ended up as a full bore shopping spree. A few outfits each and a substantial hit to the credit card later we toured home, exhausted. Once home we picked up a DVD from the first self-service vending machine in the UK. It was cool, you select what DVD you want on the touch screen, insert your card and it spits out the disc. Returning it was just a matter of whacking it in the slot. Too Japaneasy!!
Sunday 23rd September RIP Chowsie 😞
Today we were taking part in the London Freewheel, an event designed for the cyclists of London to take back the streets from the evil motorcar. A route around the heart of London was cordoned off to traffic and special displays, exhibitions and activities were taking place around St James Park, near Buckingham Palace. We set off on the route down the Embankment to London Bridge and got our photo taken by a pro at a couple of spots. It was good to see the thousands of people out and some of the bikes were pretty crazy including ones with inbuilt stereos and subwoofers. Back at St James Park we helped ourselves to the free sandwiches (OK, I probably shouldn't have bagged eight rounds but I did give one away to a homeless guy outside Harrods), checked out some of the stunt riders and had a relax on the grass. It was at this point that Emma realised her TomTom satnav device was missing from her bag, due to a pesky hidden back pocket that it slipped through. Doh! Oh well, that's what travel insurance is for. 😊
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being there
Great editorial ,, Just like being there