Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Paris!

Last morning in London. A quick visit to Carnaby Street - made famous by the Beatles  for fashion.
Gorgeous shops and lovely old pubs.


Super fast walk back to the hotel to check out and head to St Pancras Station to catch the Eurostar to Paris! The train travels at 300kph, so everything just whizzes by.



Seemed we were in the tunnel for only about ten minutes and then emerged to beautiful French countryside, scattered with little villages, all with their own church. 
Arrived at Paris Gare du Nord, hopped into a taxi - Sam went to jump into the front seat of taxi , grabbed at the door handle and realised he was going to hop into the driver's seat. We both got the giggles!
Our apartment is in a gorgeous little street, surrounded by little cafés and boutiques in Marais. Have passed a chocolaterie, patisserie and crepe shoppe - all minutes from our door. Definitely trying them out.  The delicatessens are stocked with huge ranges of cheeses, salamis, olives, pestos - you name it. Delicious!

Our room is upstairs through the wooden door .



Strolled through the streets and across St Phillippe bridge to Notre Dame Cathedral. Just a 10 minute walk from the apartment. Wow! Amazing stonework. 




So much to see and so many beautiful statues, buildings. So much history.  Walked to Sorbonne University and up to the Panthenon. Unfortunately under repair, but incredible piece of architecture.
St Michel's Statue
Sorbonne
Panthenon

Tummy's rumbling, time to tackle a restaurant menu. No French really between us, but we manage to work things out. Then the lovely waiter says would you like an English menu! 
Sam of course has duck - a breast (36D he reckons) with a Roquefort sauce and I have skirt steak with green pepper sauce. The potatoes are amazing. Thinly sliced and deep fried - real homemade crisps.
All went well with a glass or two of Bordeaux Red wine. 


Wandered home back over the bridge of love. Covered in padlocks! Thousands of them. A lovely wee man was on the bridge playing his piano accordion . A lovely night in Paris.



Big day tomorrow. Back to apartment with a bottle of Beaujolais and a semi-early night!






Farewell Dublin - It was Grand!

Farewell to Ireland. A fantastic stop over and catch up. Lovely to spend time with the Fairleys and Tania and family.

Back to London to catch Jethro Tull concert. One of Sam's all time favourites - not so much mine.
Good old pub grub before the show. Award winning Beef and Ale pie, mash and vege.

Then off to the show we go. Huge queue, stretched right around corner. Very surprised. Wide range of people from old rockers to the young!



Sam extremely happy. Played all his favourites. First part a lot of new material with visual show and second part pleased the crowd with the Tull hits. Still gets around with one legged prance whilst playing the flute! Brilliant!

Fairley's Hop on Two Stop a Tour

Saturday 24th May
Happy birthday John Fairley! 
Today is catch up day with Tania Rosser and family and John and Michelle.
Off to Dundrum - 6 floors of shopping - all you could want under one roof. Heaps of shoppers - a quick whizz around - no buys.
Tania, Simon and Serge meet up with us for coffee. Lovely to see them again and catch up. Tania looking fantastic , lean and mean ready for the Women's Rugby World Cup in August. Playing for Ireland, shame not for us! Serge so cute - just love the Irish accent!
Learn a few Irish sayings - pet, brilliant and grand. New word for drunk is locked! 



Next is the Fairley's Hop on Hop off twice tour!
Stop 1: A lovely drive to Enniskerry and to Powerscourt Estate just a ten minute drive and you're into the countryside. Narrow roads and little villages.





Stop 2: Johnnie Fox's - this is the highest pub in Ireland, we're not even as high as Te Mata Peak! What an awesome spot! It's a museum really, lots of interesting relics. Great Irish music, Guinness and a bowl of ribs as an entree. A must if you're visiting Dublin.

Love the Weather Forecaster! About as Irish as you get!




Ribs demolished, it's home to get ready to head out for dinner with John, Michelle, Tania, Simon and Serge.
Another lovely meal. Great night with great company!