Another day in Paris

Today was magical and exhausting. I will write up the full blog and post pictures when it's not 12.30 after a long day. We used the Paris metro for the first time, moved to a magical hotel, bought baguettes and brie at street markets, visited the Notre Dame, went on a Seine cruise,  saw the Arc details Triompe from far up the Champs Elyses, went right to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Sunset, and had a lovely dinner in the Latin Quarter.

Continental breakfast at Perfect hotel

The full story:

After our breakfast at the hotel we made our way to Anvers station and caught the underground, making one change to St Michael,  Notre Dame, which is right outside our hotel. They let us check in and when I get the photo from Roy out our bedroom window I will post it here.

We went looking for a street market and don't think we found the specific one Roy wanted but had a good time where we were and bought baguettes and brie for lunch, as well as a delicious coffee éclair. Walking back to our hotel I took the photo of below the Notre Dame from the bridge where people 'lock' away a secret with a padlock on the bridge and then throw the key into the river.

Notre Dame from the bridge with padlocks

The Notre Dame must be the most beautiful building ever. We admired the outside, then walked around inside but ran out of time to go up to the top.

Notre Dame

 We took the boat from outside out hotel for a Seine cruise. We got off at the Champs Elyses stop and had time to walk to it and look down to the Arc de Triompe, which was bigger than Roy expected.

We got the next boat to the Eiffel Tower. We had pre bought tickets to go up to the top at sunset and it was absolutely magical. I was terrified at first as it's very high and the lift shoots up, but I got used to the height and what a view! The one side was windy and bitingly cold, the Arc de Triompe side was still and magical. It wasn't too busy and we could take as long as we wanted to admire the spectacular views. It was great seeing the last bit of daylight and then Paris at night in Christmas.

At the top of the Eiffel Tower

We caught the boat back to our hotel where I had a lovely warm bath to recover from a long and lovely day.

We ventured back out and while photographing the Notre Dame we met  a lovely lady from Norway who offered to show my parents around the fjords if they visit. She had been an air hostess when she was younger and one of her friends met a South African man when in the UK and ended up living on a sugar plantation in Natal, which this lady had visited. We said goodbye and went looking for dinner. Stumbled on the Latin Quarter just behind our hotel . It was lovely and vibey and we found a great spot with a 3 course dinner for 10 euros.

Got back exhausted. 

View from our hotel room