Guitar Hero…

No need to say anything – just need to listen to those cool sounds man…

 

 

 

Paris by Day – or queuing part deux

It even rains in France – honest it does. And when camping in a forest its also much cooler in the mornings as you are in the shade. Waking up earlier than usual for our day out Ben takes shelter in the food tent.

 

With the boiling the kettle to add a little warmth inside too.

Having made it to Versailles again we hit our first queue of the day to get our tickets for the RER into central Paris. Good time for the daily pain au chocolate.

And look out the window too.

Arriving at Invalides we walked across the river and had lunch, albeit a bit on the chilly side, in the shadow of Julius Ceasar in the park outside the Louvre.

 

And before joining our second queue of the day to get in, Jess touched the tip of the pyramid.

 

Having queued to get inside, and queued again to get my ticket, kids go free, we battle the crowds to see the Mona Lisa. Jess isn’t that impressed. Onwards we go through the Egyption section and I touch the top of a real pyramid – and then get admonished again and again by Jess for touching an exhibit. Sigh. In fact the most exciting thing in there was finding a aircon vent in the floor on a staircase where we could stand and cool down.

Having made it out of the Louvre and walked over to Notre Dame where seeing the queue, a very very long queue, we bypassed it headed via a croissant shop to the Eiffel Tower – where deciding not to queue again to go up Jess fulfilled a life long dream…

OK – so the pirates eye patch is missing – but wearing a beret and eating a croissant will just have to do.

After another queue we get on the Bateaux Mouches for a sightseeing tour from the Seine.

‘One day, one day I will go up there’ dreams Jess as we pass by again.

Chilly here and there the most interesting thing was being stopped by the river police as they were diving off a barge – but looking for what – a bomb, a body, who knows….

By Jove its Bouldering

Following a recommendation from Neil at work – who after 8 months intensive training he stubbed his toe on his first day and had to go home -  we headed to Milly-la-foret in the Fontainebleau forest.

Yes a picture of the forest – and with me having a wee – thanks Jess. But look – who’s that – its Ben – not having his photo taken.

 

And again.

Now this is what you call a boulder.

 

Conquered - with Jess sat atop.

 

Being eaten by a boulder – am I doing something wrong?

 

Ben starts another climb.

While Jess shimmies between two rocks.

Ben atop yet another rock.

Jess up a tree, not a rock.

 

Its just that the tree is growing out the top of yet another boulder – which was quiet a hard climb.

Gravity defying ability.

 

Billy was getting jealous and wanted to follow Ben & Jess.

 

Making his way slowly up the boulder to Jess at the top.

 

Just in case he falls – OK!

 

A fantastic call by Neil – and a really good three or four hours climbing rocks and pieces of cheese, well rocks shaped like cheese triangles – though they seem easy by the end of it we were all hot sticky and exhausted.

 

On the way back we stop to hold hands with the straw man.

 

Possibly not – he’s kinda big.

 

A very good day all in all.

Versailles – or queuing part une

Photos by Jessica

Having queued for at least an hour and a half for tickets to get into the palace and gardens we enter the palace to a hall way almost as impressive as the one at Sky Farm in India.

Stuff on the wall.

 

Me – queuing again

A big head.

A painting.

 

Talk to the hand.

 

Man with sword in little black dress (in marble).

 

Jess’s bedroom ceiling will soon be like this.

 

People people everywhere – in the hall of mirrors.

 

Another head – slightly smaller this time.

 

Inside done, and feeling big impressive room weary – we have a break.

 

And plan where to go next.

 

The audio guide.

 

A bollard.

Ben.

Just a small pad eh!

 

Self Portait.

 

Me again.

 

One foot.

 

Jess’s apple.

 

Something French.

 

Two feet.

 

Capturing the moment.

 

Ben not being photographed.

 

Ben not being photographed again.

 

Ben not being photographed again again.

 

Me! Or rather – not me.

 

On the move again.

 

Fountains dancing to music-ish.

 

Just a lot of water really.

 

Jess enthralled.

 

Having had an ice-cream and walked even further Jess sits on Marie Antoinette's rock in her garden to rest before the long walk back. No queues though thankfully.