Bonjour from Paris

Bonjour! We are now in France. Paris to be exact.

We stopped for two nights in Amiens in the Somme Valley. The weather was brilliant. The campground is in the middle of parkland and the river canal runs by the site. We cycled along the tow path that leads through a wetlands reserve right into the centre of the town. The day was so warm we had to stop and peal off layers of clothes.

This is a beautiful city full of unspoilt old buildings and one of the best Gothic Cathedrals in Europe. Where the Notre Damme in Paris is dark and shadowy this is a place of light especially in the mid morning as the sun is not yet at its zenith. Every corner seems to be lit with the reflected light streaming through the high windows and the stained glass is just outstanding. To top it off there is a very pagan labyrinth on the floor at the centre of the cathedral. Most of the city architecture is several hundred years old but the brick and stone work is flawless. It is a mixture of styles some of it even looks German.

We headed south across the agricultural landscape that stretches from the Somme valley all the way to the Seine basin. The extended cold weather has postponed much of the early planting season and the canola crops that were tall and festooned with fluorescent yellow flowers last year, were barely six inches high and still a sea of emerald green. All the farmland was a patchwork of bright greens and earthy browns as many fields were yet to be sown with this years crop. I love the French countryside even more than that of England. The pastel blue sky flecked with scudding clouds, the patchwork fields corralled by hillside tree-lines, the spring blossoms and the honest toil of country folk – I can see why this landscape attracted so many artist and painters. France truly is nature's canvas.

Well here we are in Paris – Again! There is something about this place that draws us like a bee to nectar. We seem to find new and unfamiliar corners of the city every time we come here. The weather hasn't been that great, not like the warm days we had in Amiens but we didn't mind. We did our usual thing, just wandered about the city. Walked along the Seine to Ile de Cite and the Notre Damme – it's 850 years old this year. It was a good contrast as we had only been in the Amiens cathedral the day before, which is almost a carbon copy of the Notre Damme.

The next day was Sunday and we found our way the the Bastille markets. This is one of the best markets around. The quality of the produce here is better than any supermarket. Everything is so fresh. There is everything here incredible fruit and veg, fresh fish and seafood, meat, chicken, rabbit, cheeses to die for, the world's best deli goods, home-wares, handmade jams and preserves, a dozens varieties of honey, great bakery goods and more.

We sat beside the canal and ate freshly cooked chicken, tomato, tasty brie and cucumber on warm baguettes. Topped off with fresh strawberries for desert. We felt veeery French.

Today was our last day here. We caught the tram to La Defence. This area was just about ready for the bulldozers when we were here in the 70s. Someone took my advice and the entire area has been transformed into a huge commercial precinct with shopping mall, park and gardens. Standing on the terraced gardens you can look straight down Ave Charles de Gaulle to the Arc de Triomphe in the distance. Its the perfect contrast of old and new.

We then caught the Metro to Montmartre and revisited the Sacre Coeur Church. Its more like Sacre Circus with the streets surrounding it filled with cheap trinket shops and street hustlers conning the gullible with the latest version of the shell game. There is even a carousel in the church grounds. When we were here last there were barely a dozen tourists and they were outnumbered by the local parishioners. We walked along Boulevard Clichy, dodging the sex show spruikers, until we reached the Moulin Rouge.

We rounded the day off with a trip to the Eiffel Tower – gotta get your money's worth out of your Paris Visite Card. Tomorrow we are off to Normandy and the D-Day beaches and hopefully some more sunshine. Au Revoir for now.

From Paris With Love.