Paris tres chic!

The train to Paris from Lausanne was fast, very fast.

We arrived around lunchtime and took an underground ride to the hotel, well not actually to the hotel but nearby and then after a bit of confusion we found the place to stay. That sort of confusion would continue throughout our stay in Paris. It might be pretty and with plenty to see but they could organise their streets better so that Daddy and Mama don't argue about directions all the time!

On our first night we walked - yep here we go again - to the Louvre just to see it from the outside and then wandered to the Eiffel Tower. It was lit up like a Christmas tree - I guess because it's near Christmas - and every 10 minutes or so the blue light on the tower would be supplemented (ok ok Daddy's word) by sparkling white lights. The only thing was, it was cold and we went to the second lookout level because we decided standing in the line for half an hour was enough without trying to go all the way to the top which would involve another half an hour of standing in the cold. It was a great view and we were able to see the Louvre pyramid as well as all up and down the Seine. Getting home wasn't as easy, and we discovered a metro station that was closed and replaced by a bus service which took forvever.

We went to the Louvre the next day and we were lucky that there wasn't that many people there and so we didn't have to queue to see the famous Mona Lisa. She was clearly looking at me - Mama says she was looking at her! I took a picture on Daddy's phone and set it as his wallpaper. There were lots of other works there and some really good statues but I thought the Mona Lisa was pretty cool.

After a good night's sleep we set out the next day early to catch a bus to Euro Disney. We went on lots of rides, mostly rollercoasters, and they were all fantastic. The Space Mountain one was the best one in the entire park. It shot us inside a huge dome and we travelled around at lightspeed getting thrown about in the capsule both in the dark and sometimes in the light. There was also an Indiana Jones ride that was all outdoors and Daddy and I did a 360deg loop in that one! On the bus to the park and on the way back I was talking to a couple of kids from Perth who had done much of the same touring that we have. They were looking forward to going home but they'd only been on the road for a couple of weeks.

While Disney was a great day out - Mama was very tired after more than 11 hours of it - the next day she still forced us out of bed and on the road to see some shops and a church that overlooks Paris. It wasn't a bad day but it did feature two things I won't miss about the trip - walking and it was pretty cold.

We found a great place for dinner every night which Mama told me was not a big surprise because the French are famous for their food and - this is all Mama - their wine. Even so, she drank Italian wine in Paris.

MILKSHAKE

I was nearly down to desperation stage in the search for a milkshake but on the other hand I tasted some exceptional hot chocolate. After discussing things with Daddy, I think we'll have to binge on milkshakes in London and hope that we can also get some in Singapore.

Counting down now, but very much looking forward to London ... Westminister Abbey, the tower of Big Ben, the rosy ....

Mac