Good morning Paris! We wandered the streets and found a random cafe where we had a pretty rough breakfast of “cappuccino and tartines” (bitter coffee, rock-hard bread, butter and jam), we caught the bus down to Chatelet and meandered along the river to Notre Dame. She looks very sad under scaffolding, but the incredibly talented team of artisans and experts are working hard to have her completed by the 2024 Paris Olympics. Oh belle Notre Dame, come back to us!

We purchased a few souvenirs (scarves – the wind is bitter!), enjoyed the sunshine, queued at our favourite Boulangerie at the end of Rue Lagrange (5th) and ate our Baguette (Jambon Fromage) and Quiche (tomate courgette) next to the Seine in the sun and watched the ducks and boats float past.

We found an average but passable takeaway coffee and fresh chocolate/hazelnut croissant to finish off our lunch, then meandered back over the river to Rive Droit, allowing ourselves to get lost in the back streets.

We fell upon the beautiful Église Saint-Gervais, on Place Saint-Gervais (4th) entering by the back entrance not realising the majesty of the building until inside. She is magnificent and beckons a feeling of deep reverence in all who enter.

Passing by the Hotel de Ville and up through busy shopping streets in the 3ieme, we went into the Louise XVI and Marie-Antoinette exhibition in the Musee des Archives. After sitting in the sun for a bit, we eventually made our way back to Hotel Panache on the 74 bus.

Feet up and body horizontal for a well-earned rest before heading out for dinner. We expected a period of searching for a suitable restaurant, only to find Mamie’s bistro across the road had two seats in the window so we didn’t have to go far at all. The couple next to us were very friendly and we chatted and laughed. They had lived in Paris for 45 years and now reside in Provence, which is our next port of call! A very pleasant night. Hubby ate salmon and fresh salad/vegetables, and I ate ‘demi-poulet with pommes graisseur and salad’, which was, you guessed it, half a chook which I have to say I didn’t finish! The potatoes and salad were delicious, as was the glass of Cote du Rhone.

We ate dessert in the hotel because we had purchased a tarte-aux-pommes from the Boulangerie this morning, which we ate with a little Creme Fraiche from the mini Monoprix next door (these mini supermarkets are now called Monop’).

We watched some TV, then I did some work and slept, dreaming of Paris. Oh, that’s right, we are actually here!