Day 24 - Thursday 5th October - Paris

Nice sleep in after such an exhausting day yesterday. Foot feeling rested so we set off for Montmartre. Changed Metro lines a couple of times and got out at Anvers so that we could catch the funicular up rather than me having to do hundreds of steps. As it turned out we were able to use our Paris Visite travel tickets which made it seem quite worth while. It didn't take long for my foot to be aching terribly. Such a pretty and interesting area. Before taking the funicular I had a ride on the carousel of course, and wouldn't you know it, I picked the only horse that didn't move.  So I had to move to another one to make it more fun. Then we caught the funicular, took some photos with Sacre Ceour behind us, then headed up into the main streets of Montmartre. We'd seen last time that the main square was no longer filled with artists and their easels.  There are now two restaurants in the middle of the square and the artists are only around the outside. I thought there were a few less painters this time. Maybe the prices for their works of art are a little too high. Waking along these gorgeous little streets with cafés, creperies and souvenir stores it looks just like Paris and nowhere else in the world. Love this place. We chose a place for lunch that had Moules Marinieres (mussels steamed in a white wine soup - a big favourite) on its menu board, headed inside and the waiter led us upstairs as the tiny downstairs area was full. There were only 2 other couples and we were given the table in front of the door that led to the toilets. Soon after we sat down a huge group of elderly people started piling in, one even fell on the stairs near us. We wanted to get our order in before the group did and we told the waiter we were ready to order. We were ignored for too long so we left. We continued to Le Consulat, the very recognisable and iconic restaurant where two streets come together at a sharp angle - all the famous artists used to go to eat or drink and had been used in movies. It was a bit more expensive than the other one but so much nicer. We decide to eat inside rather than outside because it had gotten a little cool. Several people inside and we were seated next to a couple of American women who were quite lovely to talk to. They'd come over for 9 days before one of them did some work in a chateau somewhere in the country for a few weeks. We both ordered the Moules Marinieres with Pommes Frites and they were so mouthwateringly good! Easily the best we've ever had. And the fries were cut in a curve somehow which made them super crunchy and delicious. To say nothing of the bread! What a splendid lunch. After this lovely lunch we strolled around for a while before stopping for a crepe. We chose one of the many creperies and we each had a Grand Marnier Crepe and coffee.... nom nom nom. Bellies nice and full we did some souvenir shopping and John even bought himself a very chic dark olive green hat which looks very suave. Wandered around a little more then headed back to the funicular ams down to the bottom of the hill. We turned left this time and found ourselves in the rag trade area. Shop after shop after shop of fabrics, ribbons, buttons - i was in heaven. John didn't understand how exciting this was. I didn't buy anything because I haven't really felt like shopping but I did look and feel. Made our way to Anvers Metro station and headed home. En route we passed a shop with a window full of "kinky boots" and a piano that had been put out for hard rubbish collection. Bought some more supplies on the way home so that we could have dinner at home. My poor feet could do no more.