Raj: As we head deeper into central France, I'm finding it much more relaxing - quieter with less people and great scenery. The pace is slow and easy - most places only open at 10am and then close for a couple of hours for lunch - nice unless you want to do something at this time. You can't but help be caught up in a mood of melancholy. Our current digs (a modern mobile cabin) is really nice and cosy, and we're all able to sleep in in the mornings. We still h...

Vikki: We have wheels - freedom. It's great to be in a car again and driving. Left hand driver's side and right hand road lanes are confusing, and the relaxing of driving isn't there yet though I'm sure it will come in time. The chanting of "loose left" and "tight right" as we go around corners and the million and one roundabouts we've come across so far (to make sure we stay on the correct side of the road) has become common place. Not sure what I was thinking g...

Vikki: The last couple of days have flown quickly, checking out the main tourist sites like Notre Dame, the Catacombs, Monet's Musee - Orangerie, Montmarte and more. It's been an education and such extremes from skulls and cross bones to Monet's "Waterlillies". The most disappointing thing has been the weather, it's cold and we've had to rug up to keep warm. It's a shame as it would have been wonderful to soak up more of the culture and way of Paris on a sidewal...

Harley and Anouk: Yesterday we visited the Louvre Museum. It had lots of priceless paintings including the Mona Lisa. When we got to the room that the Mona Lisa was in, it was jam packed with people taking photos. We managed to take a photo which was lucky (lucky that Anouk was so small, she managed to squeeze through the gaps and get right up to the front to take a photo). It was really exciting seeing the original painting. A fact about the Louvre: there are ov...

Raj: Yesterday we arrived in Paris by Eurorail from London (a very fast and smooth trip barr the delay due to a "trespasser" on the tracks). On arrival, we struggled a bit with language and orientation so the going was slow. Unfortunately we timed our metro ride with peak hour traffic - jammed in like sardines with full packs on our backs (and carrying the kids bags most of the time also). However things got better when we finally arrived in Malakoff, just out...