hi everyone, we have moved on from paris, but i just had to entr in a blog for this,. the effiel tower was definetly the highlight for the kids - we walked up the first two stages, and then took the lift right to the top! there weren't too many people about until that point - infact there were no queues, i think we are out of the summer rush. what summer, the whole time we were in england, we had probably two days of pure sunshine - the rest was either rain or overcast - and chilly. poor stu had the flu while we were here and got very chilled on the tower - we stayed in the Montreal hotel- in the heart of paris - and parked our car under the madeline church...it was expensive living, but worth it, we had some good dinners out with our friend hamish and anne - anne's father owned the hotel and she works some days there, so it was good to have that personal touch. we also met up withthe sister of a former trainee...Peggy showed us a bit of paris shopping - well, window shopping - although on the way back from the Arc de trimophe the day before, tim got lucky, and we bought him a new pair of adias shoes, which were quite reasonable for their quality i think!

we ate at two french restaurants - both very nice and the waiters really good with the kids - the kids were very good consdidering they had to stay up so late! dinner doesn't start until 8 or 8.30pm in paris - and it was hard to be motivated in the morining, if you got to bed at after 11 most nights! i had to wake the kids up after 9. they enjoyed the morning breakfasts - even if stu and i thought it was way too much carbohydrate - 5 different ways of having bread basically! bagette, crossiant, then a chocolate crossiant and so on... plus they scored a hot chocolate, which is mde the french way with lots of chocolate and milk!

we also went to the lourve - saw the famous mona lisa and some of the sculptures from the romain times and of course the famouse michangelo - it was a huge place, the kids were free, but stu and i had to pay 18 dollars each, and after two floors we were all knackered! there is only so much yoi can take in. we did go back in to see Druer (a famous 18 c painter ) and there were some rubens and others as well. I c ould have spent the whole day in there! some of pictures the kids see are quite graphic, esp the revoluntarily frnech ones,lots of children and women in distressing situations - not too much blood - but just obvious scenes of capture and kidnapping - isabel often asked me what was going on, and i had to pass on a few - 'oh those kids will be all right honey, they won't murder them."

getting out of paris, was slightly easier than getting into paris! the french road signs are terrible! and just when we thought we were home and hosed - hello, we end up in the orly airport, going round in circles for ages, before finally getting an exit south!

(my naivagating skills have increased 12 fold - and i think stu's driving must be commended for some quick action, as i change my mind going round the roundabouts, no not that exit, not that one, yes, yes, that one that one!!By this stage i am pointing francially in the general direction.... ok, will up date you on our travels soon, we are in chamonix for now about three days out of paris.