France - Day 4,Well a day to remember for some good things :-) and some not so good :-( The day started on a ominous note with our dear friends the navigation aids namely Mr Tomtom and Mrs Google, who couldn't decide which streets were closed due to repairs or parked cranes, which were one-way, which were too narrow and streets with authorized access only. The plan was to drive and park at a Metro station and then take the metro into the center of Paris. The plan was, we thought, a good one, the implementation ended up not so good. Finally 2 hours later than expected we found an underground car-park that our van could fit into, thankfully right beside a metro station. Dad was frustrated to the point that a return trip back to the holiday home a definite possibility, thankfully the rest persevered and the trip into the city and sight seeing went well
The highlights of the day were visiting the Eiffel tower, the military museum and Napoleon's tomb.
Paris itself is amazing, very grand with big wide promenades and open green spaces.
The drive home was somewhat long as dear Dad decided typing the wrong location into the navigation aid might liven things up a bit by adding an hour to the trip much to the delight of the rest of the family - not!! What's more we had torrential rain to cope with but the bonus was an amazing lightning storm!
The wide open spaces and boulevards that exemplify the heart of Paris
The Eiffel tower, there were hawkers everywhere selling miniature towers and yes we did succumb - well they were cheap, eh Mum?!
Next visit was the military museum, with some amazing displays from the middle ages through to World war 2. We spent 3 hours there but we could have easily spent a whole day.
More displays of Medieval Armour and an amazing array of cannons,
Photo to the left - need we explain more?!
World War 1 weaponry and displays.
World War 2 was extensively covered with displays of a vast array of military equipment, interesting to see it from the French perspective this time. What was super cool was this fold up motorbike that could be parachuted down in its own metal container.
We came to the conclusion that old Napoleon had quite a high opinion of himself, one that the French people have embraced, everything was over the top and ostentatious to the max. Check out his tomb, you could fit his whole family (and half the french population into the building.)
An effigy of the man himself
McDonalds for tea, Mum and Dad were too shattered to cook, and fast food for the children is a real treat!!
Spectacular lightning diving home, just continuous lightning the whole way.
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