Issy-les-Moulineaux

Woke to lots of lovely messages from home for my birthday and a sweet card from Janet and Chris. Another cool start to the day with glimpses of sunshine, 15 degrees to great walking weather.
We decided to walk to Roland Garros and see how far it was from our apartment. Breakfast was first stop at a cafe with outdoor seating. Shame about the smokers and vapers. Despite this we enjoyed our platters of orange juice, coffee, croissant and a piece of baguette with jam. At the same time we marvelled at the traffic and how the roundabout was negotiated by cars, bikes, trucks and pedestrians.
Continuing down rue Victor Hugo we made it to Roland Garros. Tight security with areas cordoned off and long lines to get in. Discovered we need to be around the other side for our night ticket entry but our side for our day ticket which was good to know.
Heading home we stopped for a Panochet, shandy at home. Lunch and started watching the tennis on TV.
Snoozes all round in readiness for the Moulin Rouge.
On approach the outside was just how I remembered it from years ago. Sadly the windmill is not there. The path into the Moulin Rouge was lined with beautiful mosaic tiles showing the iconic windmill. Our table was close to the front and shared with another a group of Australians!! Champagne flowed as the cabaret style band played dinner music and sung. We had a yummy 3 course dinner, starting with prawns, then salmon with a red rice risotto and dessert was a mandarin jasmin tea ganache with crunchy rhubarb and almond crumble.
The show went for 1.5 hours and was incredible. The combination of dancing and circus acts were amazing as was the iconic Can Can. It lived up to expectation and more. The costumes, music, choreography and dancing was entertaining and well performed. Lots of smiles, thrusting, gyrating and energetic dancing right up close and personal. To quote Chris, 'not a pimple in sight'!! Oh to be so fit and flexible.
The end of a great day of birthday celebrations.Les mer