Paris Day 3 - Paris to Windsor

Our last day in Paris! Over a casual breakfast of croissants, juice, cereal and coffee we planned our day using the Metro map.

First stop was the Champs Elysees with a breathtaking view up to the Arc de Triomphe. The traffic was incredible but we ventured out into the middle of the Avenue to get the best 'straight-down-the-line' shots. (from a safety zone, not that the drivers took any notice!!) James was excited to descend down under the masive roundabout, the junction of 12 avenues, and up again into the middle, right underneath the Arch. It was noisy and he was grumpy so we had a quick look around.

The streets around the Arc de Triomphe are just beautiful and some of the grandest homes in Paris are located here. We just loved Avenue Foch!

Back underground and along to the Place de la Concorde. Martin regaled us with gory details of beheadings, including those of Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette. Rather creepy! We bought savoury crepes for lunch and once again, found a bench on the gravel overlooking the grass! (The French are paranoid about their grass. They advertise that many chairs are available for relaxation in the park...just don't put them on that inviting green stuff surrounding the dusty gravel areas). Watch out for rogue ducks in fountains, Mum!

It was a direct line from there through the Jardin des Tuileries to the Louvre. It was a fantastic sight of the glass pyramid (featured in the Da Vinci Code)in the forecourt. We really loved the classic French architecture surrounding us. Not enough time for the Louvre, unfortunately! Another time, perhaps...

One sight Martin didn't see last trip was the Basilica Sacre Coeur. It is a little out of the way but we felt it was worth the time. The nearest station took us into the heart of the Montmartre district. Very bohemian and chaotic and we would have liked to have spent a little more time exploring the colourful streets. Sacre Coeur sits atop a steep hill with many, many steps to the top! There was no way I was carrying either James or the stroller up those, so I sat in the shade and Mum and Martin tackled them. Very admirable! For those not as fit as my mother and my husband a funicular (rack-railway) can deliver you to the top. They were impressed and moved by the beauty of this church, especially when two organ chords reverberated around the mosaic-domed ceiling.

Nearly there! Train back to the hotel to collect our luggage and back again to Gare du Nord. We had a while to wait for the Eurostar check in so we had refreshments at an outdoor cafe. I took the opportunity to cross the road to buy some dinner for the train - quiches and baguettes.

We passed quickly through passport control - more stamps! - and boarded the train. We were lucky to be allocated 4 seats with a table between. Martin suggested a little pre-dinner drink from the 'Bar Car' and we felt absolutely decadent racing throguh France drinking gin and tonics! Now that doesn't happen every day!

Once on the English side of the channel the train was slow and the connecting train home to Windsor delayed. We finally arrived at our flat at 9.45pm - very weary and glad to be home but with some wonderful memories. Bonsoir!