Paris in the Summer  
(When it didn't sizzle, thank heavens ....)
 
Our 40th wedding anniversary on July 3 2009 was spent with our son Jonathan and his partner Jenny in the garden of their good friend Roger Rowe in Norwich. They presented us with various gifts, wine and food, and then finally an old postcard which could be exchanged for a weekend in Paris whenever we chose.  We chose to travel with them and our grandaughters Sienna and Camille and to delay the holiday until Spring 2010. Work intervened - Jonathan runs the Norfolk and Norwich Festival every May and Jenny is closely involved with it. But at last, on June 12 we set off with Eurostar at the beginning of three marvellous days that will be remembered for some excellent meals, Batobus trips on the Seine, wanderings through the streets - and the underground labyrinths of the Metro - as well as the delights of two grandaughters who are now old enough to chat away in English with us and Spanish with Jenny. 
And if memory dims, the photographs below will remind us ...
 
 
 
The well-appointed and attractive apartment Jonathan and Jenny had rented for us in Paris - a cheaper and convenient alternative to hotel rooms - was a minute's walk from the Seine and an excellent cafe where Liz and I breakfasted each morning on strong coffee, croissants or French bread butter and jam.  It's only drawback was the five flights of 73 winding stone stairs that led us and our luggage from the street to our front door. But the views were more than compensation.  From one window I could lean out and take the photograph of Notre Dame on the right. 
So, we left in the morning on Sunday and didn't return until late that evening. And when we made several ascents on the Monday we consoled ourselves with the thought that the exercise would help offset the after effects of the rich food and wine we had indulged in for nearly two days.   
A first stop on the tourist trail was inevitably the Eiffel Tower and though I had ducked climbing it on two previous visits I had promised Jenny that this time I would join her in the lift at least to the first level.  The queue when we arrived snaked around the tower base and illuminated signs warned us that waiting time was about 40 to 45 minutes. Third time unlucky I decided and we walked back to the Seine where we found we could travel all day on the Batobus for 13 euros each, hopping on and off at any of its landing points.
 
 
Waiting for the Batobus, Camille, Sienna and Jenny alert ....
 
u 
.... while Jonathan challenges an iPhone game
 
 
Jenny and Camille enjoy the bracing river air (left).  
Liz ditto (above).
 
 
 
Then Dad takes over on a quick walkabout.
 
Nana nods
 
A view from the bridge
 
Moods and Moments 
 
 
One has to climb to stardom
 
 
But now I'm here I've gotta sing ....
 
 
And gotta dance ... 
 
 
 But now I'm gonna feed pigeons in the park.
 
                                                                        Coy Camille
 
                                    Confident Camille
 
                                                                If I pretend to be asleep he might go away
 
                         Well I thought it was funny
 
Jonathan and Jenny pause for pix
 
 
Then it's back to the guidebook for a good restaurant 
 
Eating places we'll remember. (Above) A stop for lunch (Right) Post prandial pluie
 
 
 
A few that didn't fit but couldn't be lost 
 
A quiet corner of Notre Dame
Double-decker granddaughters
 
 
 
This little finger
 
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