This was taken just underneath the steps that lead to the Sacre Coeur.

The day started off with a typically French breakfast which was a refreshing change to the chain hotels that try and cater for all tastes.  After breakfast we set off exploring in light drissle which continued for most of the day, but at least it wasn’t cold and we were mostly indoors.   Our first port of call after breakfast was the Sacre Coeur, the hotel receptionist advised us to be careful because Romanian pickpockets were operating in that area.  The Sacre Coeur was more impressive than I remembered it, but sadly no photographs were allowed inside the building.

We then made our way to Place de Tetre where I had a Cappuccino which consisted mostly of cream…

Then we walked to the tube station to get to our next port of call, it involved a lot of stairs.  My poor knees got a little wobbly, so it was a good job it was time for lunch, which of course meant I was able to have a welcome rest before visiting Notre Dame.   I did smile as I rounded the corner and got my first view of Notre Dame.  I have been visiting Paris on and off over many years and I have never seen it free of scaffolding.  On this occasion the building itself was free of scaffolding, but there was a large scaffolding structure in the process of erection in front of the cathedral!!  I learned later that this is part of a temporary structure for the 900th anniversary celebrations next year.  It will allow people to see the cathedral details from a closer perspective.  I think that is a good enough excuse for me to go back next year   After Notre Dame we visited the Musee de Cluny which was close by, for several reasons the visit wasn’t quite as planned which was unfortunate.

More coffee and a long soak in the bath were needed after all that walking… Following my relaxation it was again time for our evening meal.  We ended up in an Italian restaurant where the Italian waiter spoke to us in French until it was pointed out to him that we were English by his boss   It is always a compliment when you get mistaken for a native of the country you are visiting   Whilst ordering my desert I got the opportunity to teach him the English word Cherry and how to pronounce it.  The desert was on the menu but he had not encountered the word before