Paris by day written by Marvin

Saturday morning and we are out the door by 9-15am.  A few minutes walk and we reached a recommended market, compact in size although overflowing with produce from cheese to oysters.  next onto the Metro and we head for Montmartre and the famed Sacre Coeur.  The Paris Metro is efficient and we are still amazed after a few days that it doesn't appear really crowded.....perhaps due to start of the holidays?  Sacre Coeur dominates the hill top of Montmartre, and inside the cathedral is stunning.  It is good to be able to walk around the whole inside taking in the twelve points of the apostle and the large vaulted ceilings, Anne points out the confessionals to Katie, although hopefully she has nothing to confess at 8 years old!  Outside there are good views over the city, and we manage to spot the Eiffel Tower after a bit of searching through the trees.

Adjacent to the church is Place du Tertre.  A square famed for it's picture markets, artists and restaurants.  Anne and I remember the area well from 1999.  We settle at a café table and watch the world go by over a coffee and a beer.

From here the boys and girls go their separate ways.  Connor and I head to the Paris Expo Centre at Porte De Versailles to see "The Art of Brick" exhibition.  No not the mortar kind, but Lego!  Sculptures by the American artist Nathan Salwayo, and no toy trucks or houses in sight.  Incredible original works of art all competed in Lego and a few copies of famous works, including Michaelangelo's David and the Mona Lisa.  Truly amazing as you can see from the photos, well worth visiting if it comes to a town near you.

Next we went to the Catacombes, although the queue was a about 500m long, and limited to 200 people at a time, so will go back there earlier another day.
The girls have gone to Champs Elysees, so hopefully Anne is only window shopping.

A few days later we take a cruise on the Seine River.  We opt for Vedettes at Pont Neuf, a one hour cruise with commentary for 28euro.  The Seine is the life blood of Paris with most major attractions along it's banks.  Some highlights include 34 bridges, restaurant Tour D' Argent where it is reportedly the first place to use a table fork, the Concorde, the Louvre, Notre Dame and of course the Eiffel Tower.  A relaxing way to get a good perspective of the inner city.

The Metro is good, although it is also good to walk, the distances are not too great, and you get to experience the city rather than a tunnel.  Always a market to see or in the case below (bottom) the St Martin's Canal.