Paris for a day

The long lines at immigration as Europe rolls out a new fingerprint recognition system never materialised. Mainly because they didn't do it.

The usual struggle with getting a new sim card to work always happens but I think we kept it to under 45 minutes this time. 

We got ourselves on the correct trains, got off at the correct station and dumped our bags at a small shop to store just after 11am (love Stasher and Nannybag apps!).

Then it was off to our Parisian nemesis, Notre Dame.

Since its extremely inconvenient burning down, we have tried many times to get inside, and always failed. Today we tried again.

For those avid readers from the past who have been saddened by our continuing failed searches to find Hard Rock Cafes, you will realise that getting into this church has presented the same problems.

But the rain that had our plane skidding on the runway earlier had returned. It was cold and wet, but we soldiered on and finally got to go inside.

Was it worth the wait? Nope. Sorry but I'm not sure it makes my top 10.

And just a quick note to the Catholic Church. The place has burned down once, yet you continue with this practice:

For those of you in the betting pool, the result was 11:22am on day 1.

We stopped by a Maccas to get our caffeine fix, although the 3 flavoured teas that were on the menu did not please the Editor. If you ever offer her tea, don't mention Earl Grey or the wrath of the tea Gods will come down heavily on tea cups of the world.

We collected our bags and started the 5 minute walk back to the station that had delivered us. Of course this event was met by cold rain. I will use this platform to grade the $49.99 rain jacket purchase from Anaconda 2 weeks ago. I really should do a review.

I had a sneaking suspicion we were at the wrong station, but just for fun I carried 2 brick-laden suitcases down, and then up the stairs. In our defence, there were a considerable number of similarly confused suitcase people in the area.

Back out into the deteriorating elements we went and way down over yonder we saw what appeared to be the correct station. Same name, different location. 

We arrived with an hour to spare, got on the correct train and sped off through the countryside to Bordeaux.

Outside we were met, after a 200 metre walk in the rain, by Jeremy and off we went through quite small streets that I don't feel were made for cars, and arrived at our home away from home. 

Emma was cautiously happy to see us until I got to hold her, at which time it was off to bed for her. 

A giant rissole between tomato (I imagine that's not what it's called in France), black rice and salad followed by a really nice cake and then to sleep at 11pm on the dot, because that's what the timeshifter app said to do.