Paris Day 2

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Today we enjoyed a morning at the Luxemburg Jardin (gardens) a most glorious spot for Parisians to take in the sunshine. Much like botanic gardens in Australia, but many more chairs for all to enjoy.

Every time I hear a police siren, I feel in the middle of the Bourne Identity – that Ei Or Ei Or noise of the European sirens is very different to home. These crazy Parisian drivers, we had wondered yesterday how they get their cars in and out of tight parking spots, but today we saw first hand. You reverse until you hit the car behind, then you go forward till you hit the car in front, then you repeat this 5 times until you are suitably angled to get onto the street. They are not even perturbed if you stand there watching. On close inspection most bumpers are damaged and scratched.

We were in a minor bingle in the hop on hop off bus, between a truck, the bus and a motorbike all deciding that although the bus was half out they would all try to squeeze into the space in the street with room only for one car. No-one gets out of their vehicle to exchange insurance details, they just wind the window down and work out who will squeeze alongside the other first, scraping as they go, mirrors entangled.

Later we were at the Palace Vendome, a famous shopping and hotel district, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Tiffanys, Chanel etc. I wanted to text my handbag addicted friend (she knows who she is) to say I was in the Chanel shop buying a handbag and matching wallet, but I know she knows me better, that I would be in the jewellery shops!

The streets are so clean, and the city is the most beautiful I have ever seen, so rich in history, art and incredible architecture. We have only experienced friendly people, even though we speak no French bar hello and thank you. One Parisian offering directions when we were looking at our map, even chased us down the street to tell us he had looked on his phone and given us the wrong directions.

Tomorrow off to see the art!

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Photos

The Luxemburg gardens
Beautiful spot to take in some sun

Opera
This was a beautiful ornate building, the photos don't do it justice. There is a model of the inside in the Musee d'Orsay that just blew my mind.

Little ants below lined up to come up the tower
Luckily we got to avoid the line as we were booked for dinner at Restaurant 58 on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower

Paris by night E tower-00299
You can't help but look like tourists so we may as well go the whole hog.

Comments

[Raelee Bruce]

Looking good there John relaxing in front of your weekender!!!!! Sounds wonderful Cheryl would love to be there with you shopping the Handbags would suit me and the jewellery. Would be nice to just soak in the atmosphere. The buildings, art etc. Take care and enjoy

[Bella]

Hi
Uncle mark told me u had no internet connection but I\'ll type anyway I love the Eiffel tower pics and the gardens and i knew you would buy something at the shops love u and miss u love bella