Sooz is still not totally well so our first port of call this morning was a pharmacy to get some meds for her. Hopefully she will start feeling better soon.
I left her to rest and used my 24-hour Tootbus ticket again. Did I mention I love seeing Paris this way? And just as well because it seems to get cooler (read: colder) every time I catch one.
We had about a ten-minute stop at the Eiffel Tower this morning for a driver change and it was interesting to watch the tourists and their interactions with the souvenir sellers and the people with clipboards. The souvenirs are arranged on sheets and a number of the sellers gathered up their wares and started to walk away while we were at the stop. I'm not sure if they are unofficial souvenir sellers and were being moved on or whether they have timed slots in prime position at the foot of the Tower.
You have to give marks for determination and persistence to the folk with clipboards. At one point they were all but chasing a couple down the street. And you could tell they were disappointed when two guys they had stopped didn't reach in to their pockets to make a contribution to whatever cause they were promoting.
The Eiffel Tower is incredible and you have to admire Gustav Eiffel's determination not to see it demolished (as planned after the 1889 World's Fair). Luckily he promoted its use as a communications tower which may be why Thomas Edison visited him there - in his private (secret) salon which has now been 'opened' to the public: you can look in (through glass) at figures of Gustav and his neice and possibly even Edison.
My mind has now turned to souvenir shopping and there is no shortage of berets, tea towels and magnets. They are everywhere. Mind you, I'm not saying that any of them are coming home with us.
Starbucks is here in Paris and do a large hot chocolate that you can wrap your hands around.. They also have facilities up (not too steep) stairs which is more than can be said for the Metro station that promised but didn't deliver. Both were very welcome after the freezing Tootbus ride.
We went out for afternoon tea at a little place around the corner from the hotel. I'm not usually one for cheesecake but if I have any more Creme Brulee, I may turn in to one. I am still in search of a better cup of coffee and this one wasn't too bad - again, served in a stemmed glass but this time without a straw.
Did someone say dinner? Girls have to eat and we found another new place tonight. There is no shortage of eating establishments in the area where we're staying and as well as having good food, there were so many other diners in there with us, it was very warm. Sooz had the salmon and I had the (innards of a) cheeseburger. Did I mention it was a late afternoon tea?
Unfortunately we didn't find out until later that this was the night there was a parade nearby as the Virgin Mary statue was returned to Notre Dame - another sign that the cathedral is on track for re-opening next month after the 2019 fire.