Paris And Versailles - December

Jacks and I surprised her mom and made our way (via Eurostar) to Paris for the weekend. Jacks and I had been to Paris earlier in the year, so had seen most of the sights. We decided to re-visit a couple of our highlights, and also seek out some new attractions. We started at the top of the Eiffel Tower, where there was a huge chill, and an icy wind. Fantastic views though, with a clear blue sky. There was an ice rink on the first level, which was pretty 'cool'. We then jumped on the hop on/off bus, and did a route across Paris, seeing most of the highlights. We spent a bit of time at Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe, before making our way to the Catacombs. I heard a bit about these, and they sounded quite interesting. The rising disease in Paris left graveyards full, and to solve this, the powers that be created tunnels under the city where the bodies were stored. They were postioned into walls of skulls, femurs and tibias (legs), making up a corridor about 600m long. Literally thousands of bones, and quite an amazing scene. Before returning to the hotel we made our way up to the Sacre Cour, to witness the last few rays of the days sunlight.

Dinner was at a small, out of the way restaurant in Montmarte called Chez Toinnette. Fantastic food, and a great, although somewhat smokey, atmosphere. I told them that I would have given them 10 out of 10, if it hadn't been for the smoke.

On sunday we caught a train to Chateau de Versailles. Jacks and I have seen quite a few castles, estates and houses in the UK, but none have come close to the splendour and extravagence of this place. The state apartments, and kings and queens chambers were so grand that I am unsure how anybody could have lived there. There is a room called the hall of mirrors, which is truly amazing. The grounds of the chateau cover 250 acres, and they are really undescribable. Huge Canals, massive trees, statues, country houses, and the queens hamlet, which is like a little country village.

On sunday evening we spent a bit more time walking around Paris, and came across a winter wonderland in one of the squares. Unfortunately I was too old for the sledding, but wow did it look like fun. A great weekend in a great city.