TILTING AT WINDMILLS - THE LEGSYBOYS' EURO ADVENTURE

THE CITY OF LIGHTS

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur

DAY 5: It is, by any stretch, a very exciting day - the last of the year and our first in 'Gay Paree'; all 4 LegsyBoys are excited and as we leave the apartment we are all equally....FROZEN!! Never mind, the weather may be wintery bleak but we are summertime happy. We jump onto the Metro (European cities manage people movement brilliantly) and before long we are standing and admiring the majestic Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, one of the truly great Parisian sights. The only thing that hasn't changed significantly is the number of overbearing young men trying to impart their tacky tourist wares upon you; we all have to earn a living - well, nearly all of us! - but it's a particular blight upon the streets of Paris. After a quick trip inside the baslilique to test the strength of its roof, we wind our way through the side streets to Place du Tertre, home to what seems like every portrait, landscape and caricature artist living in the city. It has always been the case, of course, and it is a genuinely colourful scene that we enjoy. A sidewalk vendor pulls out a piece of black paper and in the space of 60 seconds cuts out a silhouette of Liam that is, quite frankly, brilliant; but we didn't ask for it, so....NO DEAL!! We have far bigger fish to fry - after perusing all the artists at work, the kids settle upon a dynmic duo and set themselves down for a caricature, something that was on their 'to-do' list. Fifteen minutes later, we happily plant ourselves in a brasserie for some lunch and to admire our newest works of art.

Place du Tertre, Montmartre

Caricature models

A tad windy at Moulin Rouge!

Arc de Triomphe

If it started out freezing, then by now it's bordering on bitter as we stroll down the hill to Pigalle. Lined with myriad souvenire stalls, we take the opportunity to put beanies and gloves on everyone's hands (except mine - MachoBoy!) and then show the kids the famous Moulin Rouge windmill. Whilst doing so, Liam inadvertently stands on a Metro air duct and his scarf is blown 20 feet into the air (fortunately gravity eventually intervenes). Next stop - Etoile, and the magnificent Arc de Triomphe; it's so easy to overlook just how massive it is. We take some time to walk around it and explain the importance of it and what it signifies for the French people (it's really amazing how things like the 'eternal flame' stay in a child's mind). It's time then for a leisurely stroll down one of the world's most famous boulevards, the Ave des Champs Elysees. It's real glory days have faded and it's in danger of being overrun by chain and fast food stores (McDonalds on the Champs Elysees - pleez!), but it's still fantastic. As dusk approached, one of our holiday highlights then greeted us; from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Concorde, both sides of the avenue is a giant Christmas market. It's glorious, the lights, the colour, the food, the festivities, the aroma of chestnuts roasting, the ice skating rink, I could go on. We slowly walk along digesting it all, and then proceed down Rue de Rivoli, past the Louvre and back to our apartment for a bit to eat. The kids don't realise just how far they've walked (and without complaint) as their minds are set on the main event - NEW YEAR'S EVE!

The Unknown Soldier - Poignant Reminder

Champs Elysess

Eiffel Tower At Midnight - NYE

At 10.30pm we are on the Metro again; outside it's constantly drizzling and fit only for polar bears, but when you're in Paris on NYE then there's only one game in town. At 11.10pm we're huddled together, a shuddering mass of Antipodean flesh, staring up at the glittering golden edifice that is the Eiffel Tower, awaiting the countdown to bring in the new year. I can't praise the kids enough; they were uncomplaining, probably because they were numb with coldness. At the stroke, it all proved worthwhile; there were no gratuitous fireworks to distract from its majesty, instead the Tower was immersed in a mesmerising cloak of shimmering diamonds - truly unforgettable. Wet feet, chattering teeth and shivering bones - it's all been worth it for The LegsyBoys to witness the dawning of 2013. As we happily sit on the free train back 'home' we (belatedly) partake of the Spanish new year tradition - to eat a grape with every stroke of the clock (i.e. 12 in 12). Other passengers are somewhat bemused as Dulcinea manages to get 10 into her dainty cakehole, whilst Buzzy does well to account for 5 - they were BIG grapes!! The Aimster wasn't of a mind to do it, and as timekeeper I could not participate, but have already gone into training for the end of 2013!!
As we enter Rue Blondel, it may be zero degrees and endlessly drizzling, but the 'girls' are still doing their best; a 'Happy New Year' from The LegsyBoys is the least they deserve..........

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