Happy Birthday, tension set "rev" shape ring.            

I open some birthday cards and other gifts that Grozzie had organised (others were still at home) :)

Petit Dejeuner en chambre - continental stylee :)

I had done my research and knew most places were closed today - the museums etc
This explains why The Eiffle Tower had the biggest queues we've ever seen here, as it was one of the few venues open today.

We managed to amuse ourselves. Walking up towards Arc de Triomphe and making our way down the escalator to the metro on Avenue de Friedland. We bought a carnet, a book of 10 tickets for 11.40 euros.
The ticket booths have multilingual guidance so purchasing your tickets isn't a problem.

a used Metro ticket. (they used to be an aqua colour).

We took the gold line number 1 at Charles de Gaulle Etoile towards Chateau de Vincennes, alighting 5 stops later at Tuileries.

We stroll in the gardens under the Carrousel and around the Pyramids at the Louvre. We press our noses against the glass pyramids looking down on the museum below. We tried to find the infamous upside down pyramid which we had found before when the Louvre was open. (Once home we found it on google earth in the middle of the roundabout d'oh!).

Hawkers were trying to sell chestnuts warmed over braziers in trolleys and other touristy nik-naks.

Snow starts to fall as we make our way back to the Grande Roue by Place de La Concorde.

Fortunately we did not have to queue long. I think it cost us 30 euros (can't remember). They loaded 4 cabins at a time, each taking about 6 passengers. We were in cabin 28. The ride was better than I expected, with 4 revolutions with several stops on the first revolution, then at least 2 full continuous revolutions where made without stops. The whole experience taking 20 minutes in total.

Grande Roue

The "Wheel of Excellence" flight was smooth and modern, much nicer than previous photos I had seen of people freezing in an open air cabin that rotated.

Alexandre III bridge.

We enjoyed fabulous 360 views over the Concorde, Seine, Eiffle Tower, Invalides, Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, La Defense in the misty distance, Sacre Coeur, Tuileries, Louvre and Notre Dame in the other direction.

We get the Metro from Concorde back to Charles de Gaulle Etoile. Tried to get some lunch at a cafe nearby but it was really busy and other restuarants were only serving full lunches, and we needed to be hungry for tonights special dinner. So we settled for yummy baguettes from La Brioche Doree on Champs Elysee.

I wrapped up even warmer back at the hotel before venturing out again on the metro to the Eiffle Tower.

We took the green line 6 to Bir-Hakiem (5 stops).

I always love this journey as you pop outside and over the river you get a wonderful view of the Eiffle Tower.

A romantic stroll along the Seine to the Eiffle Tower. We decide the queues for a standard Seine river cruise were too long today. So we wandered down to the quieter end at Pier 7 and booked a table for a lunch cruise the next day. All the boats looked splendid, we couldn't wait. :)
We had a look around their souvenir shop and cafe. I bought a special souvenir coin.

We decided to double check the reservation at the restaurant for tonight. All was confirmed (phew) :)

Crowds of queuing cold Eiffle Tower punters look on as we exit Le Jules Verne reception. The receptionist had to keep turning away people requesting reservations and those seeking the warmth from the biting wind. You have to reserve a table online and it sometimes takes months if you want a special date. (tonight had been fully booked for a long time)!

We huddled together as we walked along Champs de Mars in the cold wind to the sculpture at the end, then back again.

It was to our amusement when we saw loads of hawkers running through the gardens of Champs de Mars with their tatt wrapped in blankets from the police. There are so many of them all over Paris selling the same things, when you can buy the originals in the official shops.

Dusk was beckoning, so we made our weary way back to the hotel using the metro.
Warmed up and had a cosy nap before getting dressed up for dinner at the Eiffle Tower.

more on the next page ----->>

[editors note: I am loving reminiscing right now as I type this using maps.google.com,  with "Forget Paris" on the TV, a hideous film but has some of the best Paris scenery. French Kiss was a better film IMHO]