Provence

We sped to Provence from Paris on the TGV at 300km/hr, then squeezed into a Citroen and got lost looking for our accommodation. When we finally found it, the kids were pleased with the huge pool set in an olive grove.

We headed out to the farmers market at Gordes to stock up on more olives, cheese and figs and explore the fairytale cobble-stone town. After we drove to the Abbaye de Senanque which was spectacular even though the lavender had been recently harvested. We walked around Chateau la Coste and checked out the sculptures that overlooked the old town. Checked out a few more towns in the Luberon and got caught without lunch during the midday shop closures.

Then came home to eat the fresh produce and swim in the pool.

Last day in Paris

It is hard to fit everything in but we have tried our hardest. Paris has been grand, hand-in-hand we have traversed the arrondissements back and forth. Today we started with a walk around our local Montmartre and headed to the flea markets on the edge of town. Fuelled with more croissants and baguettes we took the Metro to the catacombs, where six million skeletons from Paris' 18th century cemeteries have been neatly stacked in old quarry tunnels more than 20 metres underground to protect the living Parisians from disease. Mira insisted on walking the length of the underground tunnels with a map in hand while Zar was feeling rather uneasy. After we surfaced, we headed to the Luxembourg Gardens and watched the toy boats on the lake and ate ice cream.  We then swung by the Notre-Dame and all the while nursing an almost life-sized tiger balloon attached to the pusher that Flora bought at the market that morning.

We have absolutely loved Paris and are very sad to leave

Eiffel Tower

Today our Eiffel Tower dreams came true. The sun was shining and the kids were ready to go, only problem was the two hour queue. But two hours is nothing when you are used to a 30 hour flight. The view from the top was very impressive and the climb down the stairs was a definite highlight.

On our way to Luxembourg Gardens we stumbled onto a abandoned hospital that had been turned into a community and arts precinct full of young people, games, music, food, sculptures, camping pods and overnight hammock hire for $8 that Car was pretty with.