Too much La Tour Eiffel can be bad for your health?

Wednesday morning we set off with no real plan in mind, which might explain why we didn't get home until about 10 pm!

After coffee and croissant at Le Preau we walked a little through the streets of the Marais, our feet following a crossword puzzle of left and right turns. Decided to visit the Cite de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, a centre devoted to the history of French architecture. There is an interesting exhibition in progress at the centre about sustainable urban existence, including designs and models for the redevelopment of Paris, bringing the outer suburbs and regions into one easily accessible region with a focus on social housing and sustainable living.

The Cite de l'Architecture is at place du Trocadero, near La Tour Eiffel and has some magnificent views of the tower and surrounding river and gardens.





After our fill of the views we took the metro to Galeries Lafayette to see a David Lynch exhibition. He has designed 11 windows facing Boulevard Haussman and in the Galerie de Galeries there is an exhibition of his lithographs and paintings, plus an auditorium screening early short films. The windows, art and short films were all as freaky as his feature films. I liked the shop windows particularly - interesting alternative to glamour displays, and to the windows of the neighbouring Printemps store that features stuffed animals draped with clothes and accessories - urgh.





As it was nearing happy hour and it was a beautiful early evening, we bought picnic supplies at a boulangerie and headed off for dinner on the Champ de Mars and watch La Tour light up. We caught the metro to Ecole Militaire station and had a drink under the red awnings of La Terrasse, just down from the hotel of which Mum and Dad have such fond memories. Just around the corner we found our spot and enjoyed dinner and probably the most fantastic view in Paris.



We walked up to the Tower and despite my advice not to pause by the hawkers, Brent bought himself a crystal (plastic!), battery-operated Eiffel Tower that lights up, flashing different colours. I was worried he was going to accept the hawker's offer of two more for just another euro or two, but he was happy with one - especially when the hawker at the non-Tower end of the Champ de Mars offered the same thing for half the price!

At 9 pm the already lit Tower put on her five minute fairy light display. Must be dazzling if you're in the Tower at the time.



After the light display we headed home on the metro. I was already feeling a little unwell and today have woken up with an awful cold. We have postponed a trip to Versailles until tomorrow and I spent the day in bed.

Brent has been in and out all day: the pharmacie for me; Lebanese pizza at the Bastille market for him; coffee a emporter for me from Les Mousquetaires - the cafe is so close the coffee is still hot when Brent delivers it!; pick up lunch from the boulangerie - baguette avec beurre at jambon for Brent, salade des fruits for me; trip to FNAC for Versailles tickets and to Bastille station for a carnet of metro tickets.

I'm feeling much better now than I was this morning - I'm sure being waited on has helped! - and am looking forward to a day in the fresh air tomorrow. We had the upstairs windows open all day and I have enjoyed listening to life in the courtyard in French. A small consolation for missing a day in the streets of Paris.

Tomorrow evening we are off to Palais Garnier to see the ballet Giselle. Hope my runny nose behaves itself - that ballet crowd might frown upon such common disturbance!