@devriesj,
Hi everyone
Am back from Paris and of course first thing I had to do was to catch up with the crew's news. Glad things have been going well - by our standards anyway, no real traumas.
Mis, I have a blank square where you posted your family pic and a message saying it's removed so wonder if Izzie has it and could email to me? Is that poss, Iz? I'm so interested to see it! Sounds like it was great!
We had a wonderful time! The Eurostar fire the day after we got there meant our journey back was in doubt so we tried to change our tickets to stay another day but Eurostar wouldn't let us. Damn!
Yesterday, when we returned, was the first day the tunnel was re open so we predictably had some extra waiting around, with not much information, you know the scenes when these things happen, and we stopped for a long time during the journey and could smell the smoke for a while through the air conditioning system, but hey, we got home.
The weather was so much better than forecast and it was hot and sunny, especially for the first two days - wonderful for us after our wet, gloomy summer. We visited lots of places with Sartre/Simone de Beauvoir associations and sat at the wonderful, world famous cafes Cafe de Flore and Cafe des Deux Magots, and watched the interesting Parisian world go by.
We spent ages in that area, St. Germain des Pres, which has endless historical/literary/philosopher associations and I must re double my efforts to find a millionaire as I wanna live there sooooooo much.
The Pope was spending two days in Paris and one evening we were in the crowds near Notre-Dame, watching him on giant screens progressing along the quays. When he arrived, everyone rose up on tiptoes and waved and cheered and held cameras above their heads so all we saw was the top of the Popemobile, not actually him, but it was such fun!
Last time we were there, in June, George Bush was visiting so presumably all these world figures must be timing their trips in the hope of seeing Daughter and me?
Also lit a candle in Notre-Dame earlier that day, thinking especially of Noah and Nathan - what a gorgeous photo of Noah, Brooke!
Visited St Sulplice church, which has a copper strip running across it which catches a ray of sun on equinoxes - the light runs to an obelisk against the north wall which has astronomical inscriptions on it, partly damaged during the French revolution.
And went to Musee de l'Homme (anthropology museum) for the first time - they had the Lucy skeleton there - lady from 3.5 million years ago. Also many busts showing the variety of face types in the world - apparently explorers used to make these busts when on their expeditions - I didn't know that.
And some really interesting jewellery, fabrics, inscribed tablets, tools from countless thousands of years ago - it certainly makes you think more deeply than usual.
The heads section had an inscription along the lines of " Plural man, one humanity" and I'm glad our crew is doing something to foster links between us, spread as we are all over the wonderful world.
Went in a couple of other churches, too, visited the artists' area (Place du Tertre) but mainly wandered around the streets - Paris is so lovely and I've been there on holiday most years since I was 13 but never tire of it.
Enough! Back on deck soon. Love to all.
'Fraid I've been down as well with "FI's" 
