Paris Encore!

View from the cafe where we partook of hot beverages after seeing the castle

This weekend was again dominated by Paris.  I don't usually go two weekends in a row, but like a dumb bunny I bought the ticket there for one weekend and the return ticket for the following weekend, and had to either lose my two half-tickets or buy another two half tickets, and chose the more expensive option.  But hey, I am not complaining!

I almost didn't make it on account of this little feller, who got X-rayed numerous times by three suspicious customs officers, who I watched from behind their screen trying to figure out what on earth I was trying to smuggle into France.  Eventually I heard laud laughter and my money-eating skull-dugger was waved through.  Isn't he the cutest thing?  When you push the lever behind his shoulder he opens his mouth, the eyes pop out, and he raises his hand with the coin inside.  He was a gift for a friend ....

Money bank

The weather was lousy during this trip, overcast and windy and muggy - not cold not warm, just unpleasant.  Nevertheless we ventured forth, and educated our reluctant minds by visiting a museum located in an old castle near Paris.  Lots of neolithic and iron age and what not implements, all lovingly displayed and lighted.  But we were tired and in a pensive mood, and soon abandoned our self improvement in favour of hot chocolate and apple cake.

I wonder what future generations will think when they dig up old coin-eater one day?

That's where we should have buried the money-skeleton!

London Visitors

St Paul's - brilliant picture or what?

I was blessed with visitors last week!  They were staying in London, and since I am working there again and can clock off early we managed to cram in a lot of sight seeing and socialising.  As a matter of fact, I made do on about four hours of sleep a night, which finally took its toll today - I mainly slept.  

My battery died because I forgot to charge up my camera in the general excitement , so there are few photos, but you get the general idea - great weather and lovely venues!

Lincoln's Inn Field

I'll also throw in a few Mummers from Oxford, which I caught I know not when - they were lurking on my camera.

Culinary Adventures in Paris

When I went to Paris ten days ago - it seems like ages ago now - I went, inter alia (very inter alia) to Chartier, the famous restaurant in the centre of Paris.  Great food, and cheap, and loads of subjects for people watching, if that is your thing.  Very quick and efficient service - waitering in France is actually a profession in France, not a past-time for jobbing students as in England, and it shows.  I tried some celery salad and steak tartare and both were excellent.  We went early and didn't have to queue, but just check out the long line of people wanting to go in as we were leaving!

After that we skedaddled over to E. Dehillerin, apparently Paris' greatest cook-shop.  I have to admit it has an awesome range, and I was pretty impressed by the size of their pots, but their cast iron range was pretty basic, and they didn't have poffertjes pans, either.  Still, it was a well worth visit!

Other adventures during that weekend included the Bourse (stock exchange), a fleamarket where I bought a dozen linen union dish towels, lots of ice cream, and lolling around on exotic grasses.  Life was good!