Returning to Europe with pets

[Eric]

Sounds ideal, Christmas on a boat in the heart of Paris.  So jealous.

[Old Daffodil]

All the best to you Eric and Fiona for Christmas.

I wish for peace in the world and my thoughts go out to anyone with loved ones away fighting this Christmas season.

There are a lot of different nationalities on the neighbouring boats and we have had a Christmas Lights competition with each boat doing something with lights. The prize a bottle of wine. We also managed an impromptu carol sing but what with the wine flowing and all the different languages it became hysterically funny:D

[Old Daffodil]

It has been very cold and snowy, glad we were not driving much. There are plenty of Christmas lights in the shops and on a walk along the streets.
I have been trying out the French food out. pisaladiere is a similar to a pizza with onions,garlic and herbs,really good. I have cooked plenty of onion or butternut soup to warm us up too.Hot chocolate is really good with cream and marshmellows on top and in a big breakfast cup. Tartiflette is popular with skiers and is a potato recipe.
There are plenty of shops to look around and one called Laduree sells macarons in loads of flavours the boxes that the macarons are sold in are a lovely pastel colour with a design on. Chocolate shops are interesting too, real works of art. I have seen them all over France.

[Eric]

And the same to you Gloria and Gerry, have a good new year and keep the info coming.

[Old Daffodil]

We have made it back to England now after crossing the channel on the ferry. We had the dogs checked at the vets for ticks and fleas not more than 48 hours and not less than 24 hours before we crossed. At the port in Calais we were handed a machine to give them the reading of the dogs chips and then allowed on the boat once they were checked. Our dogs had to stay in the car whilst we went upstairs but they appeared to have slept on the crossing and were asleep when we returned to the car,good to know they were not distressed!
After the wide open space of France and the quiet roads English roads seem so busy!

[Old Daffodil]

Paris was fun. The weather was cold and snowy at times but there is so much to see and do.
I visited the Musee d'Orsay which was once a railway station terminal in Paris for south west France. The station has been converted into an art gallery for impressionist paintings,furniture and sculpture. The original giant station clock is still there and the building is really light and airy and very attractive. Good restaurant too!
The department stores of Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and Bon Marche are lovely.The  art nouvea domed ceilings are works of art. Being Christmas there were decorations everywhere and the theme was Abba in one store with dancing teddies and dolls.
There is a small shop called E. Dehillerin which sells kitchen equipment to professionals and is really old fashioned. The sales assistants seem to train at the Basil Fawlty school of charm !If you like buying cooking tools it is a great place though.
We enjoyed listening to the gypsy jazz being played in some of the cafes and people seemed to just walk in and join in playing instruments which they had with them. There was quite a lot of latino dancing in some cafes too, tango dancing especially.
With the weather being cold I was glad to stay in the warm and read a book too, Emile Zola is surprisingly good to read.It is a bit like a french version of Upstairs Downstairs and Dickens mixed together.

[BM06]

Well done Daffodil great ending to your travels, hope lenny's ok

[Old Daffodil]

Lenny is fine! He loves to be brushed and lies out on the floor stretching his legs out for me to brush them. He has been enjoying walking along parts of the Seine and appreciating the sculptures and gardens where he was allowed.

[BM06]

No, I was asking about Lenny not Gerry :D

[Old Daffodil]

:DI will let him know you said that!
Gerry is fine.We had a good time New Years Eve on a dinner cruise along the Seine near the sparkling Eiffel Tower dancing the tango!Happy New Year to you!