Paris - day 2

I woke up to grey skies and temperature of 1C!!!
I felt like staying cuddled up on the sofa watching a film, but I would be wasting a day of sightseeing in my 4 days of Paris, so I put on a couple of layers of clothing and set out to the underground station nearby.
I decided against first going to the Eiffel Tower as there would be no visibility due to the foggy day. I took the "blue line" train to Anvers station to visit the Sacre-Coeur Church in the highest area of Paris - Montmartre.
After exiting the station I followed the crowds along a narrow lane and soon the church was visible.
I climbed over 260 steps to the top, with a couple of stops... but there is a funicular available that takes people almost to the top if you cannot climb the steps or are very unfit like me.

Sacre Coeur - over 260 steps to climb...

A bit overcast

This church was financed by two businessmen who promised to build a church if France escaped the Franco-Prussian war. Its dome is Paris's highest after the Eiffel Tower. Unlike Notre- Dame, taking photos or filming is not allowed inside this church, which is a pity as the painted dome is beautiful, as well as the stained glass windows.
The one thing I didn't like is the dozens of salesmen trying to get your business from bags to key rings and postcards, as well as a few beggars - but unfortunately these are everywhere.
Back to the underground station, I again took the "blue line" train to Charles de Gaulle Etoile station to the Arc de Triomphe. When I got there I noticed a Red double decker tour bus and inquired about their tour of Paris.

Arc de Triomphe

Rue Champs Elisees

I bought a 2 day ticket with a boat tour for 32 euros and jumped on the bus. You get a map of the circuit and earphones to plug into the side of the seat and the commentary is transmitted in 8 different languages, and you get out and jump in at any of the 9 stops.
By the time we drove up to the Eiffel Tower the day had cleared slightly, and I joined the long queue to buy a ticket to the top for 13,40 euros.
The lift ride was quick with a stopover on the first platform for a change of lifts.
Right at the top the views are magnificent, but due to the overcast day you couldn't see as far as the 70km they say! Still, the climb is worthwhile. If you don't want to pay as much you can climb up the stairs, or just take the lift to the first level.

View from above. Isn't the shadow of the Eiffel tower interesting?

Ticket prices

Back on the tour bus, I was already freezing and decided to just stay on the bus until we reached the Opera house and  the department stores "Galleries Lafayette" just behind it.

Here I caught the train back home to "defrost" with a cup of hot tea.
Tomorrow I will again board the bus for my second day of the tour.

Bonjour Paris - Day 1

1st day in Paris -
After a long flight from Singapore to Paris, and only a few hours of sleep, I arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris at 6,20am with a temperature of 5C.

After quick passport formalities due to my European passport, it was time to collect the luggage.

When I exited, my daughter was waiting for me, then we descended to the train station, bought a stack of tickets to be used during my stay and took a train to her tiny 6th floor apartment on Rue La Fayette, 10th arrondissement, not far from Gare du Nord. 

I was amazed at the minute size of the apartment where my daughter lived  – lounge, 1 bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom in only 30sqm (322 sqft) - the apartments are extremely expensive.

I later saw an advert for a 17 sqmt (183 sqft_ apt for sale at 199,999 Euros!! A 14 sqm (150 sqft) one for rent at 665 Euros per month. It's not a cheap city to live in!!

Karina had to leave to go to work and I was left with the house keys so I could go out and explore. I made myself a tea and some toast had a bit of a rest and by 10AM, armed with a map, I was at the underground station which is 300 mt from the apt.

I decided to visit the Louvre today and see how I would go with time and energy.
I bought a 14 Euro ticket that included entrance to the Museum and the Napoleon suite as well.

The famous "Venus de Millo"

Amazing painted ceilings

A super huge painting

The Louvre with the Pyramid built in recent years

The Louvre was packed with people from all over the world and it must be one of the most popular museums in Paris. It is huge and I walked for many hours from floor to floor, room to room.
I had so many WOW moments and felt quite humble and just a speck in the universe compared with the grandiose works of art and so much talent.

Many modern day artists sat in front of the masterpieces painting their canvas. Very  talented people.

My feet were already killing me after so much walking around, but the church of Notre Dame wasn't too far away and I decided I might as well visit it.

Cathedral of Notre Dame

The back of Notre Dame cathedral

It was now time to return home on the underground train.

I loved all I saw - the monuments are majestic, there is plenty of space around them, a few green areas around the city bring in some colour. So many interesting things and almost 200 photos taken.

On the downside I found the French not too friendly, although I stopped at a few corners with my map trying to decide where to turn, no one approached me to offer their help. At one stage when I was worried I was on the wrong track I actually stopped an elderly man and he told me which direction to take. And just like me I saw plenty of wanderers with their maps, but no good Samaritans...Even the Louvre security people sitting in almost every room had grim faces.

Tomorrow I'll visit the Eiffel Tower...see you then.

Preparing to travel and Movie Night

This was quite a stressful week - I'm going to Portugal tomorrow, flying via Paris where I will stop to visit my daughter for 4 days. The decision was made quite recently when we heard the sale of our apartment in Lisbon had been approved. The apartment is furnished and we will have to get rid of the furniture and our personal stuff before the handover at the end of November, so I decided it would be a good idea to fly there and sort things out.

Of course this was actually not the best time for me to take this trip, as work wise I have 3 colleague writing University exams so their availability is not ideal. So after many hours working on a roster that would suit everyone I was happier with the situation. As usual there are a thousand and one things to finish off at work, which took me a few days to finish, but 
I'm pleased that I could leave it all sorted out.

Then on Thursday a huge tragedy struck when we heard that the daughter of one of ours Doctors had lost her life in a car accident. She was only 28, and it must be every parents nightmare to lose a child.
We had to cancel two weeks of appointments for the Doctor, not yet knowing if and when she will return to work. Calling all these patients was a very draining and emotional experience for me and my colleague, as most of these patients have known the Doctor for about 20 years and were very emotional and touched when told what had happened. This is no consolation to the family, but I know many, many people will be giving them their support and prayers.

On Friday evening hubby and I got together with another couple and went to a movie session booked with "Gold Class Event Cinemas" gift vouchers. This was quite an experience, probably the first and last though, unless we get given more gift vouchers!!
We watched "Midnight in Paris" - a romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen in the beautiful city of Paris, quite fitting since I will be in Paris on Monday.

But let me tell you about the experience!!
We collected our booked tickets from the ticket booth and were directed to a lounge with dimmed lights, a few seating areas with small tables and a counter. We were given a menu each to choose our dinner, then went to the counter to order it, and were asked when we would like each course to be delivered.

Choosing our dinner

We ordered a sea food platter for 2, a dessert each, and some sparkling water, and a glass of wine for hubby. We then sat down in the theater and played around with our reclining chairs.
Shortly after the movie started our dinner was delivered and we started to eat. The only light was the movie screen but the food was visible enough.
After about half an hour they collected the trays and then brought our desserts. They were huge and I wish we had known as each bowl was enough for 2. I was disappointed though that I had to settle for a Malteser Sundae when I had ordered something else, but was told they had run out.

Just 34 seats in this theater

                                                                   
We had a good time, it was a lovely experience, lovely for a romantic night, but I think we would be better off eating that sort of food in a nice restaurant than sitting in a lounging chair while watching a movie.
On the way home I was adding up the value of the vouchers we had spent on the movie and dinner and it came to $320 for the 4 of us, that is $80 each.
I´m glad we were both given that as gifts as I wouldn't spend that on movie and dinner!!

Putting my feet up! Glad we weren´t the only ones taking pics.

Today I spent the day washing, ironing, changed the bed linen, gave a general clean to the house and still cooked 2 meals.

Now I still have to pack my suitcase as tomorrow morning I just want to sit and have a relaxed morning before going to the airport at 1pm for my 3,30pm flight to Paris.
I will try and post some lovely photos of my trip, if I get some time in between packing and visiting family and friends.

See you in PARIS!!!

MEN´S SHIRT REFASHIONED

Recently I looked at my sewing pile growing bigger and bigger and thought that I had to start doing something on a weekly basis to reduce the pile.
First on the pile were 3 or 4 of my husband´s discarded shirts.
Some of them had a threadbare collar, others had small holes where the collar buttons used to be....

So I unpacked my sewing machine, that hadn´t seen the light of day since last December when I had sewed some home-made goodies for Christmas and started the transformation.
I have now refashioned 3 of them, after looking around other blogs and library books for inspiration.

Here are the photos and instructions on how I did it. My sewing vocabulary isn´t probably very correct, but I hope you will be able to understand the basics.
Hope you feel inspired to do some refashioning too.
Next time I will post photos of the others, as I have done each of them in a different style.

The original shirt, note the threadbare collar  

I bought some ribbon and sewed it around the collar for a nicer finish.

I had lace that I had removed from a bra I threw away a while back, and when rummaging around for something to cover up the holes the collar buttons had left, I thought these bits would be the ideal finishing touch around the collar, adding a bit of femininity too.

At the back I sewed the middle pleat right to the bottom and made side darts too (is that the right word?)
It actually looks a bit skew here, but it´s in the middle.

I had cut the sleeves below the elbows, but after putting the shirt one, they felt too long...

Here the sleeves are shorter and the tunic looks better, I think!!

The finished tunic

Bacalhau (cod fish) Night at the Portuguese Club

Every first Friday of the month, the Portuguese Club in Hamilton Hill, (Fremantle), holds a traditional dinner with "Bacalhau grelhado" grilled salted Cod, served with jacket potatoes and chick peas.
After that, and if you are still hungry you can eat the "Espetada Madeirense" - meat skewer, made with diced cubes of rump steak flavoured with bay leaves, garlic and coarse salt and cooked over a charcoal grill.

The dinners are usually attended by over 120 people, are very, very noisy, which is not to everyone´s taste, but I find that it´s a way to eat a typical meal and to meet up with old friends or meet new people on a monthly basis.

My friend Kei is always the one who reminds everyone of the monthly dinner sending out emails to all her Portuguese friends and she then books a table accordingly. Most times we get about 20 people sitting at one of the long tables.

Delicious Cod fish, potatoes and chick peas

The food is good and plentiful, and you can always take a container to bring home your leftovers, as most people are unable to finish their overfilled plate.

After all that if you have a sweet tooth don´t forget to order a "Pastel de Nata" (Portuguese Custard tart) and to end off your meal drink an expresson (short black coffee).

(The address for the club is - 12 Strang St, Beaconsfield, WA - Booking is essential though).

The metal bars from where the "espetada" or meat skewers are hanging

Pastel de Nata  (custard tart)

Starter -  Portuguese Bread, olives and butter

Even the olives are well seasoned