News

Greetings from the Dame of Notre

image
After a 5k wall we made it to Notre Dame Cathederal with no sign of a bloke with a hump (even though there looked to be some likely candidates).

The Cathederal is very ornate and beautiful inside, however despite the signs informing you of no hats, no drink and no pictures that’s exactly what you saw (this is France where no means unless you want to).

I’m not a churchy type of person, but I always thought confessions were done in wooden boxes so you couldn’t see the priesty bloke and he couldn’t see you?Not here, the confessional is a big glass room where not only can you see each other, but the public can also see you. Not many juicy confessions going on there then.

Today is food, walking to Montmartre and more food.

Blackpool Tower

image
I dunno, we travel all this way to find the Blackpool Tower and there’s no tacky fun rides with it. The queue to buy tickets alone was horrendous and then once purchased you need to queue to use your ticket, so we decided to leave it, unless of course a young Kal-El happens to be flying by (superman).

The Tower is an amazing feat of engineering, but lets not forget that the Americans have their own version in Las Vegas.

Where next then, more walking and more exploring then the plane back to blighty.

I Want Mussels

image
After our 10k hike from the hotel to the Eiffel Tower, then Notre Dame and back up to the Champs Élysées, we found ourselves drawn to a makeshift restaurant serving casserole dishes full of steaming mussels. With 4 waitresses and over 100 people wanting service we were the lucky ones. Fully energised and hammered we sought out Vin Chaud (mulled wine) and craps (yes I know how it should be spelt but these ones were crap).

A truly wonderful 8th anniversary spent with Mrs Fogg.

A Long Walk

image
Today sees us taking a long walking tour of Paris, since we are literally 5 mins from the Triumphant Arch, it was time to climb the 284 steps to the top for impressive views of Paris, before lunch at the Troccadero then afternoon tea at the tower, topped off with snacks at the Christmas fayre.

Chilly 1 degrees temp, but dry at least.

So lunch had, feet rested, off we trot.

When in Rome

image
Do as the Roman’s do, when in Paris, get skinted.

After sitting down for breakfast and finding that coffee was €8, tea a paltry €10 we decided to do what the name suggested and thought Fooket, McDs here we come.

Hunting Breakfast from here.

Well At Least

image
Yes at least Dick Turpin had the courtesy to wear a mask!

Yup, after a meal at a Bistro where the walls were adorned with hippos (they even had a caricature of Mnt Rushmore with hippos), Mrs Fogg suggested we have a nite cap in the hotel bar and this was the bill for 2 double baileys. We did enquire where the rest of the bottle was, which was met by quizzical looks by the waiter.

Appreciate we are looking to take a mortgage out, but not for a bloody drink!

Won’t be doing that again.

Got screwed from here and never even got his name!.

The Eyeful Tower

image
After an uneventful flight on the bucket airline (complete with members of the BBC on a works jolly, no doubt paid for by your license fee and the magnanimous offer for anyone to join them at a local bar for free drinks), we arrived to a rather cold and snowy Paris, ready to make our way to the Hotel California.

Once at the hotel we quickly dumped our bags and headed off down the Champs Élysées to a mile of Christmas markets either side.

A trip in the freezing cold Paris Eye (we were last in this in 1999 during a works day trip), this time there was a chance to see a beautiful sunset over Paris before Mrs Fogg craved Waffles, chocolate and cream, then ended up with half of it down her front.

Chance for a little rest, the back again to explore Paris by night.

Waffle Eating from here.

Ah Bonjour

image
8 years of being married to Mrs Fogg, last year she surprised me with a trip to Brussels, so the challenge was accepted and about 3 months ago I booked a romantic break to Paris, stopping in the Hotel California (how cool).

It has been hell trying to keep this a secret for 3 months, but wonderful to see Mrs Fogg smile so much at going to Paris. Christmas markets, nice sights and wonderful company is the order.

Watch for the updates.

IceColdPingu

image
VanillaIce Pingu is here, one of our many wonderful Christmas silly things.

With less than 20 days left we’re almost there, meat to collect and christmas shop to do and then we can hibernate. We even have tickets to see Its a Wonderful Life at the cinema and tickets for the Hobbit.