Last night and day in Paris...just when you thought it was all over!

 

As we returned to our accommodation after our river cruise we decided to have a nightcap and spotted this bistro on the corner of our street that we hadn't really noticed until now. When we entered we were told they were actually just closing but they would serve us. It was an interesting place with their own wine 'cave' in the basement and with a very welcoming host. 

The only people in the bar seemed to be employees. We finished our drinks when I noticed a sign offering glasses of Champagne at a good price and thought that this would make a nice end to the evening. The host was talking to a lady behind the bar so I chanced my arm and asked the chap drying glasses if they would serve us another drink. To my surprise he informed me he did not work here but just enjoyed helping out! He got the hosts attention who,on hearing it was our anniversary, agreed to open a bottle. After finishing them we ended up joining the employees /friends in a round of shots and a wee sing-song making a lovely end to the day.  

As we had some time to kill the next morning we set out after breakfast to walk to Av. Daumesnil and the Coulée Verte René-Dumont, formerly Promenade Plantée which is a 'green' walkway along a former railway line. We started at Allée Vivaldi and headed along to Jardin De Reuilly and over the footbridge 'Passerelle André Léo' onto this part of the walk proper.

The path is interesting in itself but the real bonus is its elevated position which gives great views onto the streets and buildings either side of it.

On the path you'll find many benches where you can take a little rest if needed. The three below each has a vibrant mural painted by Caroline Laguerre a young artist living and working in Paris behind them.

The walkway is a pleasant way to start your day if you are staying in the 12th arrondissement.We had enough time to fit it into our day before making our way back to our transport back home. Our walking distance today was only 9km but over the four days in the city we walked a total of 70km.

If you have reached this point I congratulate you on your endurance  and apologise for the time taken to describe our short stay in Paris.

Paris, day 4...Bateaux Mouches dinner cruise,a perfect end to a lovely day.

We celebrated our golden anniversary night (18th Oct.) aboard the Bateaux Mouches' Jean Bruel with their 'Prestige Dinner Cruise' floating through the heart of Paris, wrapped in music, memories and the magic of the Seine, a perfect end to a lovely day.

The food,wine and service were very good... 

and the musicians simply made a lovely evening even more special.

Thank you Paris!

Walking Paris, day 4...a rare disappointment.

 

After a good lunch and bit of retracing our steps up in Montmartre our next plan was to head down to Le Grand Colbert for an afternoon of a glass of Crémant de Loire accompanied by a slice of cake,which seemed like a lovely way to continue our day.

On the way the route took us down the popular rue Lepic the street with the cafe that gained considerable fame from its appearance in the 2001 film, 'Amélie'.This was where Amélie worked and was central to the films plot,it is now a popular tourist attraction.

People who know me know I love a good coincidence, so when hearing a lady asking directions with a Scottish accent, the first we had heard on our trip,we got speaking to het only to find out she lived in my home town of Kilmarnock and found she knew some of our family members,what;s the chances, eh?

Then it was along Boulevard de Clichy where we passed a sculpture representing a monumental apple made of steel, inaugurated in 2011, in homage to the philosopher Charles Fourier whose statue used to stand on this plinth.

Then it was over Place de Clichy and continuing on the boulevard until it becomes Bd des Batignolles then Bd de Courcelles before arriving at the gates of Parc Monceau. We wanted another walk through here as it is one of our favourite spots in the city.

Then passed (and a pop in) to the churh of Saint-Augustin...

with Joan out front...

passed Printemps...

and the opera house...

and the 'pub'...

before reaching our destination!

Only to informed by this chap on the door that it was not possible this afternoon due to an exceptionally busy lunchtime! I even tried my 'we are celebrating our 50th anniversay' card but to no avail!

We had to settle instead for a glass of 'kir royale' in Bistro Vivienne in Galerie Vivienne, which proved to be perfectly acceptable as a substitute...and we still had our Seine river cruise to look forward to in the evening!