Montmartre

In an effort to respect Claire's energy levels after another late night, we kept it simple for the day with a visit to Monmartre. We climbed up the steps toward the Sacré-Coeur Basilica with ever improving views of the city and increasing tourist densities. After visiting the impressive church and, Claire's favourite, lighting a candle for loved ones, the merry-go-round was the next coveted destination. After lunch, then returning home for a nap, we headed to La Gare de Lyon to connect with François and Isabelle, who were hopping off a train from Avignon and just in town for the night. Isabelle is Marie-Odile's sister, and Holly's family spent time skiing and enjoying summer trips with François, Isabelle and their four sons. We swapped adventure stories and family updates over a drink, and all too soon our visit was over. We certainly hope we'll get to connect for longer on a future visit, as we actually missed François, Isabelle and their sons by just a few days at a few different locations along the way on this trip... We finished the evening at a Cat Cafe (of all places!), where you could pet the resident cats while you ate and/or drank, much to Claire's delight.Read more