>Five hours after touching down in Heathrow on my return from Sevilla I was aboard Eurostar heading for the French Capital. It did concern me slightly after arranging Paris if five hours was enough time to account for possible delays in the return flight, negotiating customs and immigration and getting from Heathrow to Waterloo. Thankfully there was no delay, immigration and customs took no time, nor did the wait for my luggage. Thirty minutes and two tubes later I arrived with over three hours to play with.

I should add that Paris almost never happened. When I went to collect my tickets I was asked for my credit card which I duly handed over only to be told it was not the card I had purchased the tickets with (the question was a little misleading as I had paid by debit card). I stood baffled for five minutes before turning to my wallet to look see what else I could offer. Thankfully the only other card I was carrying happened to be the card I had purchased the tickets with online.

Drama over, upon boarding it took a little under three hours to reach Paris Nord. There was no immigration control at the station so it was a question of locating the nearest exit and subsequently my hotel, which I chose for its proximity to the station – Hotel Nord, right opposite the station. On arrival I checked in, and had an early night having been travelling since 6am, with little sleep prior to that.

Wednesday I spent the day walking around the right bank trying to familiarise myself with the area, but also with the aim of finding Rue de Rivoli so I could exchange my voucher for a five day travel pass. After an hour or so of walking in the general direction, a stop off at Starbucks for a coffee, a coissant, but ultimately so I could play tourist and get the map out to find where I was, I so happened upon the street, and as if planned by the office where I would get my pass. I spent the rest of the afternoon walking the Tuileries gardens, the Louvre, Chatlet and the many streets between there and the hotel.

Thursday I returned to The Louvre but this time to visit its many arts of work within. It is entirely possible to spend days walking the galleries of masterworks and sculptures. I had intended two days, but instead spent around 4 hours walking the sully galleries of Medival, Egyptian, Greek and Asian artefacts before finally succumbing to the main attraction within the museum – La Gioconda – more commonly known as the ‘Mona Lisa’.

Friday I took in Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Musee D’orsay, the Grand Arch and a bit of shopping inetween. I have to say prices in Sevilla are by far less expensive that Paris. H&M, Zara for Men, C&A (yes! they still trade on the Continent) all faired better in Sevilla. One ofthe great things about the Euro aside not having to carry multiples currencies on the continent is te ability to easily compare prices. Clothes are at least 10Euro more expensive in Paris and coffee (or a rather generous espresso) can be double what one would expect to pay in Sevilla. C’est la vie. You have to accept that Sevilla is not in the same league as Paris.

Saturday I spent time walking Boulevard Lafayette (it seemed to never end, I ought to have used the metro) to take in the uber-chic ‘Grand Magasins’ of Printemp and the Gallarie Lafayette. ‘Grand magasins’ come with grand prices, and not even I would pay 190Euro for a pair of jeans, regardless of their name. Ridiculous prices aside, the window displays of Gallarie Lafayette were something special – if you could see past the throng of people gathering outside each one to watch the mechanical spectacular of what can only be described as metal pink and turqoise incarnations of bill and ben [flowerpot men] as well as other characters clattering away in time with some festive music. After tempting myself with some parisian retail therapy I took in some final monuments including the La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre, and the Place de Concord and Champs Elysee at night and the now infamous Moulin Rouge. I have to say of the Basilique and Notre Dame I found the interior of the Basilique to be more grand in style and appearence – perhaps because the interior was illuminated as there was a rehersal taking place inside for a broadcast the following day.

Whilst I spent five days in Paris, I must return one summer to take in the many sights I did not get to see this time round. I imagine Paris to quite something wandering the many streets and sitting outside the countless cafe/bars, bathed in the summer sun. A bien tot!