WEDNESDAY 13TH JUNE

Today was an essentially loaf around the churches day which was quite inspiring for both of us. We visited Saint Etienne du Mont next to the Pantheon. This church and its associated abbey and other buildings were constructed in 510AD with the current structure built in the 1,000 years and recently renovated to its original splendour. The remains and relics of Sainte Genevieve are in one of the chapels and her statue stands on the right hand side of the church's face next to Saint Etienne. There is a plaque in the chapel which records that in September 1914, the German Arny had broken through the western front and was approaching Paris. The people of Paris fled to the churches and prayed to Sainte Genevieve. The next day the Germans withdrew despite having superior forces and only one line of French resistence left to the east of the city. Since then, the French celebrate the day of Sainte Genevieve with much fervour and aplomb. We visited the book store and purchased some lovely choir music and cards.

Next stop was lunch at the vey popular Crepe place that has queues a mile long at night (check photo of this in earlier blog). It was a massive meal for a take away but the no left over policy prevailed. Next stop was the church of Sainte Medard which we walked past several time a day. Like Saint Etienne, this church is visible on 16th century maps and drawings of Paris. It was built in the 15th Century but there was a chapel of the Sainte Genevieve parish there since 1140AD.

WE needed to sit and stare at people before Guy's traditionelle Parisien hair cut so we plonked ourselves at the footpath cafe next to the Coiffure until 5pm. Guy emerged as a true Parisien at 5:40. For dinner strolled down to the Seine past some musicians playing on the bridge joining Isles de'Cite and St Louis.

We found a lovely little traditionelle restaurant on the Isle of St Louis where we were again tempted and sucuumbed to the onion soup gratinee. Duck and quiche followed, duly posted on facebook to ensure the followers were not left hungry.

The long walk home was uneventful with no sign of the mad woman.

The photo upload to the blog has been excruciatingly slow, hence there has not been many over the past week. Our appologies.
THURSDAY 14TH JUNE2012

Our last morning started bright and early with all the alarms going off at 6:30 and 6:32. Last minute packing and breakfast (sans croissants) and we kissed under the door archway before closing the door for the last time. Guy went with all the luggage in the lift and Caroline took the 139 steps down to level 0. Ten minutes later we were on the crowded and humid Metro to Chatelet where we we switched lines for Gare du Nord (Ga du Nor is the pronunciation). A couple of pastries and hot drinks later we were ready for our trip. It was an interesting start as some police had taken the seats of other passengers and that started the ball rolling with everyone else taking other's seats for the whole trip to Amsterdam. The whole trip was good, we had a better window now facing the direction of travel, and apart from one other customer who found his seat taken and the conductor to pacify him, very uneventful.

Arrived`at Amsterdam Centraal Station, which is massive and undergoing renovations still.

Once we had deposited some of the luggage in a locker, we managed to escape the crowds and find our way out into the glorious sunshine.

Adele had arranged for us to meet at a restaurant opposite the station, which we did. We did so much walking at the station that the rest on the terrace over a canal was just the solution. Such a change from the manic happenings across the road.

We had a nice lunch together, enjoying the sun and watching the tour boats pass.

Then it was a tour boat for us, they go for an hour so good for us. Guy got to see a good selection of the waterways of Amsterdam this way, starting of with the IJ, Amstel river and various canals of all sizes. The boat operator was top notch getting through all the tiny turns and bridges without flaw. We saw a lot in that one hour without any walking and lots of interesting things to look at. Guy took almost 200 photos in that one session.

It was absolutely brilliant to break up all our traveling for the day. Next it was on a train back to Schiphol the airport and collecting our tax, shop and check in. Now we are another day later and in Malaysia, waiting for our connecting flight to Melbourne.