My youngest daughter and I have just returned from our latest adventure. We went to Paris for a long weekend - on a shoestring (or cheaply if you prefer).
We arrived on Eurostar late afternoon early evening with no real notion of where our hotel lie. After fruitless map consultation we admitted defeat and phoned a friend who kindly texted us directions (these were so handy they are still saved on my mobile!) When we finally arrived at the aforementioned hotel I was slightly dismayed. From the outside it was pretty old and run down. We duly checked in and were told our room was on the first floor. As soon as we mounted the rickety spiral staircase with its faded red carpet and opened the door of room 21 I fell in love.
The furniture was old, the carpet was old, the room was the most peculiar shape and our 'bathroom' appeared to be inside a rather large cupboard, but the double doored window was wide open and the little railing outside it was actually touching the upper branches of one of the trees in the little square below. I was hooked. Although everything about the place was decidedly geriatric it was polished, bleached and boiled to within an inch of its life and the view of life on that little square was more addictive than any soap opera.
Over the next three days we visited the The Louvre, braved the Metro, was turned away from the Eiffel Tower (must remember to take that up with the Obama's) saw the Arc de Triomphe and spent a facinating morning at a flea market on the banks of the St Martin canal. We walked the Champs Eylsees shoulder to shoulder with millionaires!
I defy anyone to visit San Chappelle and not be rendered speechless by its beauty. I simply do not have the words to do it justice. Notre Dam was simply amazing and the Sunday morning on the banks of the river when it seems the whole of Paris come with picnic lunches, wine, children, dogs and any musical instrument they may possess, simply to enjoy each others company and music was an education. If you have'nt been yet and you get the chance, do go. We may not have bought designer labels or feasted on fabulous French cuisine (They have Lidl in Paris!) but it was a mini adventure I would not have missed for the world!
