Day 176, 5 December 2014 - Paris, France - Reunited and it feels so good... After 6 months apart the day had finally come and first thing this morning I headed out into the dark, chilly air and walked to the Gare du Nord - onto the train out to CDG and then, merely 30 minutes later, James came out of the arrivals gate - Fabulous to see him again and given the sheer weight of luggage (at least half of which was winter extras for me...) we even splurged on a taxi back to the city. Christmas was arriving in Paris even as James was and council trucks were unloading pink-baubled Christmas trees in squares around the city. I gave him the run-down and a tour of our little neighbourhood - right on the border of the 3rd and 10th arrondissements - lots of nifty places to eat including Moroccan, Turkish, Italian, Japanese and, of course French. We had the Frenchest of lunches from a hole in the wall lunch-bar - baguette with ham and cheese and a slice of salmon quiche. Took a stroll that became a walk and then turned into a hike down to the Opera Garnier, Galeries Lafayette and cruised through Printemps (pictured). Just being in these top-end stores made the credit cards shiver like jelly in our wallets. Finally back to the hotel and then, with a bang, it was definitely time for a sleep. James had the jet-lag excuse - I just joined in for a nap. Three hours later... Most definitely time for celebratory dinner - we went to a neighbourhood French restaurant just around the corner - about 90% locals and 10% travellers like us. Tablecloths, candles and a phenomenally efficient waiter - 25 diners and full for most of the evening - 'Twas superb fare - French onion soup for me, charcuterie (deli meats) for James, moules marinere (mussels) and beef bourguignon (both shared) for the mains and profiteroles and ice-creams for dessert. We certainly don't need to eat like that every night - but as a reunion dinner - superb. Thank heavens we'd done a big walk earlier!