Sharon brought a little soft toy, Wally the wombat, to take photos of to send back to her class. While setting it up for a photo in front of Sacre Couer, the church in Montmatre, a large Spanish family started laughing and pointed at our furry friend, and the father pulled out his white Spanish rat and placed it next to ours. They cuddled momentarily, the wombat and the rat, then the white lady was overwhelmed and fell over. Wal’s a lady killer! (see the photo)
Versailles
Versailles is a short 30 minute train ride from Paris and an hour long queue in the white gravelled courtyard of the Palace to enter. We chatted to a couple from Chicago and time passed quickly as he had my sense of humour. The Palace was, of course, grand. Those French kings must have bled their subjects dry to build these places. No wonder they took their revenge. In the Palace, the Hall of Mirrors was a stand out, but the gardens were the pick for me. We had to hire bikes for a couple of hours after the feet wore down to stubbles, and they were a help to see about one percent of the place. Another formal garden goes in at home.
Dodged a bullet
Yesterday “we” decided to go shopping, having made a list of the large depatment stores in Paris which were all having sales. Pritemps in Bvd Haussman was chosen and after seven floors of ladies fashion, managed to walk out with no purchases! We took with us though, a great view of the city from the roof-top cafe. While eating lunch in Montmatre, we heard the news from Jo of the SOO win by Queensland. Oh joy!
Beggars here are innovative, using all sorts of ploys to tug at the heart strings -cats & dogs with half empty bowls of food, cradling young children, lying crippled in the street. I saw one lady get up after our evening of violins, wander away as if touched by Jesus. The deaf society walk around all day not saying a word and probably go home at night and talk in their sleep. At least the accordian players on the train are doing something for their “living”. Being on a high part of the city, the ride back was a cruise with hardly a pedal for a few kilometres. I suffered from the pollution which is bad here when riding in the open up the rear of a thousand and one cars. My nose and eyes were streaming and the ride made me realise why I wake up with a sore throat each morning. Can’t wait for the fresh French forest fragrances when we drive south.