Paris

After the UK leg of our trip, we had six days in Paris – partly to attend an International Democratic Union conference, and partly for holiday.

This is the view from the hotel we were at the first night. Pretty damn good. Mind you the rooms cost more than the GDP of a few third world countries.

Converting prices in Europe back to NZ dollars is damn depressing and eventually I just gave up, and abandoned any idea of fiscal restraint. I don’t mean buying unnecessary things, but not fretting that a small bottle of coke is NZ$8. In the end can’t do anything about the fact that high inflation in the 1970s and 1980s devalued our dollar so much that our purchasing power today is reduced.

Ginga Ninja, German Girl and The Stig out enjoying the nightlife. We ate and drank outside every night – beautifully warm, sunny and light. There are thousands of places to choose from also. The six days there went all too quickly and will be returning.

I didn’t realise the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris was actually on an island in the Seine.

Students performing outside the Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Arc de Triomphe at Place General De Gaulle.

The Eiffel Tower. Superb.

Around 11 pm the Eiffel Tower lights up magnificently. It serves as a beacon for thousands of Parisian youths to party in the park next to it.