Notre Dame, the Pont de Arts and Merci ...

We've gotten into a good routine after 2 days, up early - I cook breakfast while Janine cuts up a baguette for lunch. The eggs here make great omelettes, Some of my best ever and then we head to Rambateau Metro.

We planned to visit the Louvre today, arriving about 8.30am to no people or queues.

Great, we thought. But then we saw the sign, 'Closed Tuesdays'. At least we had lots of empty space to get some pics in the early morning sun.

Oh well - off to the bank of the Seine to head to Notre Dame. It's a magnificent building and the display on how it was all built was fascinating. After a coffee break we crossed the river to the Latin quarter to find Shakespeare's bookshop - within camera range of Notre Dame, we discovered. It's a well known literary landmark and we sat inside the reading room just soaking up history. 

After lunch in the garden nearby, we headed to the Champs Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. Our final stop was Merci - department store with a difference. Some amazing furnishings, fashion and kitchen stuff. The prices were equally as amazing - but great style.

I'm sitting in our 6th floor apartment in the Marais watching the sun go down over the roofs of Paris with the top of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. This is pretty good.

Here are some pics from today ....

The Louvre - empty!

The Pont de Arts - with the padlocks signifying the love of the couple who placed them there. The railings of the bridge are starting to collapse!

Janine outside the Merci store. The Fiat is their symbol.