Paris...last day of our trip.

Today was a tourist day...or as much as we can in 8 hours or so!  Tony wanted to visit the Arc de Triomphe, last visit being 1978. We bought a day pass for the Metro and kept the network map handy.
We chanced upon the right exit at the Arc’s closest station as it was one of those emerge -from -the -stairs moments and there it was. Loved by the bus loads, but still an imposing presence. Despite the umpteen steps, Tony tested his knee and climbed to the top. The views are a treat.
After musing over the spread of Paris, we moved on. Actually hungry by now and found a classy Salon de Thé near Le Concorde, after catching the train there.  Despite the sweet temptations, we ate a salad!!! Tony was interested in the route of the final day of Le Tour. So having seen the Champs Élysées and the roundabout at Le Concorde the next Tour’s finale will mean a bit more.
Next was the forlorn Notre Dame. From the front she looks clean and normal, but oh so sad from the bank of La Seine. We leaned on a barrier and watched mesmerised by the workers moving so carefully around the vast scaffolding. Those “Flying Buttresses” are well and truly reinforced by chunks of oak. Cannot imagine the experience required by the engineering team. I remember that stopping the structure from falling in on itself was the first major priority.  The Cathedral is still a tourist magnet, unfortunately for sadder reasons.
Tony returned to the hotel as he declined my invitation to wander La Cimitiere Pere Lachaise. It was only a few stations away and I wanted to seek out the memorial to Oscar Wilde. I have always thought that his demise in Victorian society was disgraceful, if not a reflection on the era. So after a lot of wandering, I found it. A little sad that the site is such a popular one that the family have surrounded the memorial by reinforced glass.

After 5 most varied weeks, we fly home tomorrow. We both now have more understanding of regions that had been relatively unknown to us. Tony has had times of exhilarating fun on the bikes, but also some tiring days and annoyance with technology! Hats off to his skills. I always felt safe.
 It has been an adventurous holiday, time now to return home, to return to familiar routine and do very little for a while. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to my comment-tators. Cheers K and T xx