We arrived in Paris early this morning, to rain and mist and more traffic here, then the average holiday Friday in Auckland.  We found the New Zealand Embassy and spoke to the wonderful staff there who had our passports ready to go.  I confessed on the way into Paris that the London Embassy had told me they would not recommend travelling through Europe without our passports and perhaps we should alter our plans and pick them up in Rome, some time after Easter.  The Rome Embassy was more cool, she said as long as you don’t need a plane, you’ll be sweet!  (Kiwi interpretation of her very proper English)  I decide to go with her more encouraging advice and had I run into trouble, I would have been ringing you Emily from Rome Embassy!!!

Leadlight windows from Notre Damn

Iain then fessed up that he had just read the car manual and we were not allowed to take the rental van into Czech Republic!  Best 3 days that van ever had!!!!!  What goes on tour, stays on tour!???!!!

Alex lights a candle for Gran and Grandad

Count the chimney pots!!

Well, we have made it this far without mishap and are now staying just out of the main centre of Paris, only by about 4 metro train stops, so close really.  We can see the top of the Eiffel Tower from our room, so we are not that far away!  Today we visited the church at Notre Damn completed in 1345!!! (Alex lit a candle for you, Mum and Dad, its in the church), the padlock love bridge (didn’t have ours with us, so a job for tomorrow), the Lourve (and saw Mona Lisa and many other amazing works of art for you Rho), Arc de Triomphe and the tomb , Champs-Elysees and generally walked until we fell.  The others are now crashed out in their rooms as well, resting their feet for tomorrow and I am looking out my tiny verandah door, watching the sun go down over Paris.  If I need a bit of a pick-up, I wander over to the tiny verandah and look out over the chimney pots, to top of the Eiffel Tower. 

6th Floor, spiral staircase, God help us if there is a fire!!

I might be very tired and foot sore, but I am tired and foot sore in PARIS!!!  I am toasting the city by having a tipple of red out of my tiny bathroom, plastic water glass.  Here’s to you, Paris.  (Ian, I am bringing you back here, so start planning now!)