Day 655-656, 19-20 Mar '16, Angouleme-Paris-Amsterdam - How's that for a weekend's jaunt. It started early on Saturday (doesn't it always?) Up at 6.30 am with a couple of alarms set then off to the station at 7.15 am. Train left Angouleme at 8.30 and we were safe and sound at the hotel in Paris by midday. Our favourite hotel in Paris was kind enough to upgrade us again to a superior room, the same we had last time. We dumped the bags and headed out to enjoy the big city sights and lights. We ended up walking about for almost 4 hours - including exploring the Marais and the Latin Quarter - fabulous old buildings and far too many tourists... say us! We found a market at Place Saint Denis in support of Vegans/Vegetarians and animals. Found a gorgeous ring for the bargain price of €5. And it was going towards "save the kitties" or similar. All in favour of that cause. We pointed ourselves from Saint Denis towards the Seine and had a stroll through the square in front of the Hotel de Ville (the townhall of Paris). There was a bubble blower in the square and the colours were magical especially on a gray old day. We crossed the Seine and walked past the massive queues at Notre Dame. We're not big fans of queues. Took our time strolling around the Latin Quarter (thus known because it was the site of the Sorbonne University - where everyone spoke Latin!) Back to the hotel about 4 ish in time for "yummy corner" - coffee and cake in the small lobby. Followed shortly thereafter by a snooze to catch up on some sleep. Saturday night in Paris and it was off to Hitomi - our all time favourite 'all you can order' Japanese/sushi restaurant. Pretty sure they've got our photos up in the kitchen warning them of our arrival. Sunday was a 'busy but not busy' day - a wander about the covered passages of Paris then a coffee and off to Gare du Nord. Security has moved from the airports to the trains (finally) and there were massive queues to get on the train - but still all aboard by 3.20 pm and off to Amsterdam. A few more stops on a Sunday (or perhaps just longer stops) so took 4 hours 20 instead of 3 hours 20 odd to Amsterdam. But we pulled in on time (to the minute) at 7.42 pm (roughly), bought weekly tram passes and were settled in to our new abode on the Singel canal by 8.15 pm. Half a glass of wine and a beer later, tour of the house and an evening walk with Luca our little schnauzer and it was off to bed. The decision is already in - we like schnauzers. Big day tomorrow - getting the boots on the ground and joining a walking tour of Amsterdam.