Foix at last

After a very long day we arrived in Foix at 11pm. Kidda was waiting and I had pre organised dinner- fantastic to have our host Corrine and Andy have the table set, salad and lasagne for the troups who were pretty tired. We had meant to leave Paris at 9ish but were told roof racks wouldn’t be ready until 12 . Trained back to airport area and Eurolease pick up to find a Frenchie or two trying to work out how to put them together. Got practical Malcolm, the farmer lad, and then all the team onto it and after a bit of an Inspector Clouseau affair and at least 2 hours we were on the road. GPS telling me arrival time 11pm, just under 800km. Was not impressed!! We stopped just for food and diesel and made it 11.01pm- the longest drive I have ever done , but motorway great- tolls of about $50 and vehicle cruises easily at the speed limit 130kph. The final straw- no boats on arrival so chasing up first thing.
But kids loved Paris so was well worth it. After the bike trip day , we all except Callum, who had forgotton shoes walked to the Jardin de Luxembourg and kids did a run. Back for brekkie a French experience with French stick, jam, cheese hot chocolate, OJ and coffee. Great value hotel as this was included (Hotel Marignan 13 rue de Sommerard for anyone’s reference who wants a budget hotel/hostel in a great location). Hot footed it to the Louvre- used a side entrance , info coutesy of our tour guide from the previous day- no queue and straight up to the Italian masters and the Mona Lisa.
Kids wide eyed at the enormity of the building, the quantity and size of some of the art. After Mona Lisa to the Egpytian section- sargophagus, a mummy and more. Enough art for some, so we agreed to split. Girls walked the Jardin de Tuilerie to L’Orangerie to see Monet’s massive water lily series- just a contrast for them and a bit of an art history lesson on Impressionists.
Met family friend Anna Chrisp ex Tauranga, who has a job at the Australian embassy, and her boyfriend, caught the metro to Le Marais area and a little French bistro for a ‘girls’ lunch. Great to have a local show us around- Le Marais, a busy place on Sunday afternoon for the French locals, compared to tourists. A big Jewish area and as their holy day in Saturday, lots shops open Sunday. Jane and Alana made an op shop purchase then back on the metro. Had a scheduled 4pm meeting with the boys and arrived near the Eiffel Tower to crazy scenes of riot police and hordes Algerians, singing, banging tins , marching in groups. They had just played Slovenia at WC soccer and we thought they must have won with the scenes around us! Thought we’d never spot the boys but luckily met as arranged. They had hired bikes from the guy from the previous day- 10 euro for the day- great value and had been back to see lots of things mentioned the day before- Arc de Triomphe, street theatre outside George Pompidou, inside Notre Dame- pretty impressed with their resourcefulness and they were having lots of fun. Padlocked their bikes then joined the queue. Luckily wehad pre purchased tickets via internet which cut the waiting time. Bit of a trick though as they take you to second floor then need another ticket. Nice man let me jump the barrier and a queue to get tickets and then we were at the top. Magic view and with our tour the day before they could all see all the land marks and areas we had biked. Lots of photos and off again. Super shoppers wanted to get back to catch the last of the stores at Le Marais, so two more metro rides and the girls have got this transport totally sussed now. Boys biked back with bikes and we all met en route to hotel about7.30ish by this stage. 30 minute turn around and off for dinner- then with very aching feet we traipsed to the Seine to view the Notre Dame , lit up and soak in the atmosphere of this magical city. Lots of people, street performance, fire dancers, magic acts and a group who had taken over a small bridge by Notre Dame for roller blading. The had set up a ramp and high jump affair- impressive! Photos later when we get organised !