This morning was a leisurely start that began with ringing/texting family to tell them the big news. We then had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel and then revised our travel plans after checking the web and finding the Eagles game would be televised at the Aussie pub in the Marais this evening when we were planning to be at Montmatre. So headed there first instead and climbed the stairs to the Sacre Couer and enjoyed watching the annoying gypsies hoofing it when the gendarmes turned up. They were a little intimidating so much nicer without them. We took in the views from the steps of the Sacre Couer then wandered the little touristy streets of Montmatre. We walked away from the crowds and through some quiet back streets which were equally picturesque but much less stressful. Found a gorgeous street filled with terrace houses and a complete range of shops and cafes, real estate agents to motorcycle/scooter shops – a real French street for French residents and not tourists and lined with an avenue of autumnal trees. Headed back up the hill and succumbed to a tourist lunch in the main square – steak and frites and salad and yummy crème caramel for 11 euro.
The crowds had really picked up in the couple of hours we had been at Montmatre so headed off in the opposite direction and found ourselves in a much lower class area far from the madding crowds of tourists but still filled with madding crowds of mainly Sengalse locals doing their Saturday shopping and catching up in cafes. Hopped on the metro and down to the Marais district where the socio-economic tone increased a hundred fold. We headed straight to Cafe Oz on rue St Denis so we knew where it was for later on and went in to check they would be showing the Eagles game only to be told it was not being televised anywhere in Europe and we were about the 40th people that had come in asking about it. In fact, another group came in asking just after us and their news was that it was the final quarter and Carlton was ahead by 8 points. Larry immediately jumped on the phone to Ray who told us the Eagles were ahead by 14 points so we happily reported that to the Carlton supporters at the bar. Between them texting friends and us ringing Ray we sat out the rest of the game with beers in hand hoping the Eagles could hang on in what seemed to be the longest quarter ever. But they didn’t let us down so we are still flying high (and the phone bill home will be worth it!!)
As there was no game to stay in the area to watch we wandered off through the streets of the Marais and ended up at the Musee Carnavalet which is a free museum that documents the history of Paris. I had taken Larry there with the promise that they had an interesting display about the French Revolution but it was closed for the day so he had to look at lots of gilded salons instead. Lucky the Eagles had won and he was in a good mood! J Continued on the Place de Vosges and sat on the grass relaxing and listening to a group playing Alpenhorns. Decided we deserved an early trip home as we have been on the go for the last 3 days so headed home on the metro with only one diversion to a sports/golf shop Larry had noted near our hotel. It was absolutely PACKED (are there crowds EVERYWHERE in Paris???) with huge queues so we figured there must have been some sort of sale on although there weren’t any ‘special’ signs that I could see and the prices weren’t anything to make me grab things off the shelves. They had a golf section AND an equestrian section so we were both happy to browse and (in my case) soak in the nice smell of saddle leather. Our ‘early’ day meant we were back at the hotel by 5.30pm so not that early after all but nice to put our feet up, have a cup of tea and watch some telly. We’ll worry about dinner when we get hungry later on.
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