Back to Paris, France by Kev

3.9.2025. We got up, had some breakfast and packed our bags. We said our goodbyes, and Don drove us to Brighton so we could catch the train. We got train tickets and hopped on the train to London. We arrived, and waited. As usual we are very early, but that's better than being late. We were late for the Eurostar once already and it cost us a small fortune, not happening again. Our time came, we went through passport check and security, then boarded our train. I wasn't all that happy to leave the UK, but we had to go back to France for Emma's birthday, and of course to continue our trip. We got to Paris just before 8, and headed towards the metro. A couple shortish trips and we were at our new stay. We noticed a franprix (supermarket) near our stay. We dropped off our bags and headed back there to grab some pasta for dinner. That's it, dinner and bed, day done.
4.9.2025. IT'S EMMA'S BIRTHDAY!!!!! YAY!!!! Today started with snuggling the birthday girl, followed by a trip to a boulangerie for breakfast. Mel, as always, has outdone themselves, in regards to organising things. We hopped on the metro and headed towards an Illusion museum, YAY, Emma loves museums. This one was on the smaller side, but there was still fun to be had. Eye and mind trick stuff that started to give a headache, a spinning walking platform that really did my head in, and some games stuff to really mess with ya melon. Emma was very happy to work out a puzzle, that becomes a pyramid, from wooden blocks. Next? Well now it's time for lunch. We walked to our next stop, a building in a small street. Apparently the oldest building in Paris, and the home of Nicolas Flamel, renowned French alchemist. It's now a restaurant, a somewhat expensive one, but not completely out of our range. I think we had 6 courses, all small, but by the end no-one was hungry. There was a glass centre piece, with what was obviously a “philosophers stone” in the middle of it. What we didn't know was that it was actually butter. All the food was delicious, Andrew even ate cucumber, and that doesn't just happen, that's a miracle. We talked with the very friendly staff, and it came up that Emma wanted to be a chef. We were then invited into the kitchen to meet the head chef and staff. Andrew got to eat a zucchini flower stuffed with fish. He gave me a taste, bloody good. Then we got a photo with everyone. At the end, when we got our dessert, Emma also got an extra with a candle to blow out. Mel had mentioned that it was her birthday when booking. It was poached peach and vanilla cream, and while I didn't try it, Emma said it was fantastic. Emma offered, I just declined. All in all, it was a very nice experience. Next up was another short walk over to a place that sells games. More importantly, games that have you walk around parts of Paris, looking at landmarks and working out puzzles and riddles to find clues and answers. Another great activity that both kids really enjoyed. I enjoyed walking and watching them. Trying to work out the map, finding things on buildings and working out the answers. Mel would put the answers into an app they downloaded, with the hopes of a reward at the end. It occupied us for around 3 hours, and took us to some nice parts of Paris (near the shop). What do we do to finish the night? Karaoke of course! Emma loves to sing, and once locked in a small room by ourselves, so do the rest of us. We had an awesome evening singing and dancing with each other. Two hours flew by in no time. We made our way back to our stay, and we stayed up and watched some tv. Emma said she had a really good day, I know I did.
5.9.2025. We spent the day blogging and planning the next part of the trip. Throw some food in there somewhere and a few coffees. In the evening we made our way over to meet Celine and the kids at a park near their home. The kids played, and Mel and Celine chatted. After that we went to their place, ate pizza and talked a lot more. The kids can't talk to each other, but that never stops them. Kids games are universal, and improvisation a necessity. We said goodbye and headed back on the metro.
6.9.2025. After breakfast, we headed for the train station at Gare Montparnasse to pick up Manon and Nathan. They have come over for Emma's birthday. We spent the day with them, walking around Paris. Got sandwiches and ate them sitting in a park, then walked around Paris some more, visiting the Arc de Triomphe and walking along the Champs-Élysées. We stopped in the afternoon for some refreshments at a brasserie Mel used to visit a lot. After that we made our way over to Emma's favourite brasserie for dinner, the one that stocks banana juice. Decent food, some nice drinks and plenty of conversation. Emma got a couple nice small things and a little bit of money as gifts, and afterwards we went back to our flat. As Manon and Nathan are staying with us, all 4 of us crammed onto the sofa bed. Not very comfortable, but it worked.
7.9.2025. Mel got up early with Manon and Nathan and walked them to the metro. Mel came back with breakfast from the boulangerie. Soon after that our uber was here to pick us up. Where to? You might ask. Well, to Asterix Parc of course. Once inside we looked around a bit before the gates opened. Andrew bought some coins with Asterix, Obelix and the dog on them. Once inside we first did some water rides, that's what I want first up, to get wet. There's a fair few people here, so we had to line up for the rides a bit. We did a couple we all wanted to do, then Andrew and I lined up for a rollercoaster. The Toutatis! You go up, almost over the big drop, then go backwards, up a big ramp. Then you get accelerated back down and up over the big drop. This isn't just any drop, it goes back underneath itself, so you're kinda hanging upside down a bit. Andrew and I were the front two people. When you lined up, you could choose where you wanted to be on the rollercoaster. Andrew said if we're gonna do it let's be at the front, so that's what we did. The view was pretty cool and it was a different experience going over the top, a little bit past straight down. We built speed quickly and raced around corners and through corkscrews. 45min of waiting and it was all over in a matter of seconds. Would 100% recommend. We did a few other smaller rides, then Andrew and I lined up for another rollercoaster. This one does 5 loop the loops and several barrel rolls. Once again, we waited. But it was worth it, I was a bit worried Andrew might be stepping too far over the line. But as usual he surpassed my thinking of his limits. We then did another ride Mel wanted to do, yes another water one. It was fun, and I really didn't get very wet. Unlike a guy across from me, he got soaked. We then went on another rollercoaster, all 4 of us. Emma was doing ok, but then it changed and went backwards. She got chucked around a fair bit and that freaked her out and she got a bit upset. We did a few smaller, calmer rides after that, before deciding we would go on the oldest ride here, Zeus's something or other. I can't remember the name, but it was celebrating its 35th birthday. Oh yeah, it's also made from wood. Even though you have seen lots of people ride it, that's still a little unsettling. Emma said they didn't want to do it, but the line was long and she changed her mind a dozen times while getting closer to it. We watched it, thinking it's not that fast, she'll be ok. At the last point, while we were lined up to hop on, she said “NOPE”. Mel told the lady organising the people and when the ride got here for us to have our go, Mel and Emma just walked through the car and kept on going out the other side. Are you sure Em? We're not lining up again. “YEP”!. Andrew and I got locked in, a very snug fit. We left the main area and headed towards the climb. We were going pretty quick up the climb and for a while, how big was this drop? We saw on our way up we dropped down through an open mouth. We went over the top, and dropped! Holy shit! Flat stick we went through this mouth, over a hump just out the other side. I know why they secure you in nice and tight, it felt like you were gonna fly out going over the hump. Then around a corner at break neck speed, back over I don't know how many humps and turns and twists. All the while it's rattling like mad, my eyes had trouble focusing. It seemed to last longer than all the previous rollercoasters. Finally it came to a sudden stop, and the madness had finished. I know I swore a fair bit, Andrew may have learned a few new words. I checked on him. He's ok, just dumbfounded by what we just went through. To sum it up in a few small words, I would say, brutal, exhilarating, chaotic and exhausting. Not what I was expecting. We thought, oh for sure they have made rollercoasters more thrilling now than they did 35 years ago. I was wrong. Yeah maybe it didn't have any loops or barrel rolls, maybe it didn't go backwards at some point. It didn't need to. From start to finish you had to hold on and got chucked around and rattled to pieces. I think the first thing I said was, “I'm glad Emma didn't do that”. We settled down with another slower ride. Emma and Mel got an ice-cream, while Andrew and I lined up for one more go on the rollercoaster that went backwards. It got picked as the app said it had the shortest line. After that it was 7pm, we'd spent the whole day here. We went out and waited for our uber to pick us up. The kids fell asleep a bit on the way back. We grabbed some pasta from a small place that was still open for dinner, then we all hit the sack.
8.9.2025. We started the day the way we have been for most of this stay, Mel went and got breakfast from a boulangerie. The kids then blogged some, while Mel and I planned and booked more of our trip to South America. Well Mel mostly, I sorta sit there and grab coffees and remember to make lunch. Mel and Emma did Emma's birthday interview, a traditional Mel has done for every birthday for lots of years now. Afterwards we just slobbed it for the rest of the day, finishing the night with boardgames.
9.9.2025. French breakfast again, then the kids got some schoolwork done. We planned a little more, then I pretended to get some blogging done. We went for a walk through La Villette, a park area not far from us and where Mel used to spend a lot of time when they were younger. I enjoyed the walk and just being with my family. When we don't have to be somewhere or have to do something. When we can slow down and just be together. I get that we're not in Paris often, so we try to cram in as much as possible. I have enjoyed myself while I have been here. I do like having nothing to do as well. So the kids can just play, and we can talk if we want. I know Mel has a lot going on with being back here, plus all the planning that still needs to happen, plus other shit that comes up. I know they would like to move back here, and that it weighs heavily on them, knowing we will be leaving soon. Sometimes I think, why not. Why shouldn't we live here? I used to have the answers, now I don't know what to do. I don't like being around this many people, all the time. I also don't want to leave behind family and friends. Something Mel did when choosing to stay with me, so I feel selfish. I wish the world was smaller, and that France and Australia weren't so far apart. I do feel that I would always be running somewhere here, and would have less time with my favourite people. Time is something I can't buy and can't replace. So it is extra special. I'm happy to be spending all of my time with my family this year, but that can't last. For the moment we're still doing our trip, so I'll enjoy that the best I can for the time it lasts.
10.9.2025. Today was not very exciting, for the kids at least. They blogged, Mel and I booked tickets to Machu Picchu. So that was kinda cool. We have almost everything booked for South America. That's pretty much all we did today.
11.9.2025. The usual morning, bit of a sleep in, French breakfast then blog and plan. In the afternoon we met up with tonton David and we hopped on the metro. When we got off, it was peeing down. We ran for the closest brasserie and grabbed a coffee to wait out the rain. The rain slowed and we ventured back out again. We walked through some parks, saw ducks and other birds. We came across a herd/flower garden in the park and enjoyed smelling everything. We couldn't pinpoint what was making a nice smell we all thought was a little like curry, though we tried. After that we walked over to Franck and Bego’s, Mel's uncle and aunt. We chatted, had some drinks and a lovely dinner cooked by Bego. Andrew loved it, lots of meat. Before we knew it, it was after midnight. We better get back to our stay. David hopped on a tram and we booked an uber. A quick trip home and straight to bed.
12.9.2025. Despite our best efforts, we've collected more stuff than we were supposed to. So two boxes, one 7kg the other 3kg, are headed back to Australia(mostly magnets). I haven't repacked my bag yet, but I'm sure it will be a lot easier now. I made pasta with pesto for lunch, still better than anything I got in Italy. I have become very fond of pesto Rosso, which is basil pesto with tomatoes in it. Really bloody good. In the afternoon we went back to Emma's favourite brasserie and met with Jean for a coffee and to say our goodbyes. Emma obviously had another banana juice. Afterwards we went for a bit of a walk, looking for a hairdresser. Emma wants to get her hair cut, why not. After a long and exhausting search, about 20min, we settled on one. Andrew and I had a quick walk then sat down at a brasserie for a beer. Which just happened to be right beside the hairdresser. When Emma was finished, they came next door. Mel grabbed a wine, I gave Em a compliment and ordered another beer. It was starting to get late-ish and we had somewhere to be. We had a long stop at ALDI to get some nibblies, bloody slow service. We made it to Benoit and Malika’s a little later than planned, but still in time for dinner. Mel has known Benoit since they were teenagers, and they always keep in touch. We had a nice evening, meeting their new baby and seeing how much their son has grown in three years. Of course it got late quickly, that's what happens when you talk. We walked back in a light drizzle, brushed our teeth and went to bed.
13.9.2025. The usual morning again. Today we are looking to exchange some money to US dollars, because that's what they use in Ecuador. We found somewhere that could help us out, near Gare du Nord. Only they don't take international cards, great. Off to the ATM, then back to the exchange. $1000 secured, which won't last long as we need to pay for all the accommodation in cash, but it's a start. We found a nice little brasserie for lunch. Andrew and I had steak, Emma ordered something out of the ordinary for herself, lasagna! Change it up a bit you know. After lunch we looked for a new small carry bag for Mel, as the last one has karked it. We found one they like and headed back to the apartment, stopping on the way to grab some pasta and chicken for dinner. Which was a huge success, the kids destroyed everything. We watched a movie, Hotel Transilvania, which had them cacking themselves. Time for bed.
14.9.2025. Today we didn't do much. Breakfast, then another visit to Mamie Chris. When we got back everyone was blogging. Despite having time this week we still haven't managed to catch up on our blog. We stopped for lunch then back into it. In the afternoon, David came over for a visit and to drop off some waterproof jackets. We think we're going to need them in South America. He stayed for a while before we said our goodbyes. Mel went out for a drink and a chat with their friend Celine and I made dinner for the kids. We're all packed and somewhat ready for our next stop, the Galapagos islands.
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