 | Russ celebrates arriving on time at St Pancras Station. The local bar, The Betjeman Arms, obviously knew we were coming as they've got the jugs of ale out even though it is only 9.30am. Even better they were giving away free samples. Unfortunately you only got about 25ml so they didn't last long |
 | Mike arrives and gets in some last minute guide book reading whilst I take the opportunity to snap the St Pancras Station roof |
 | Gene arrives and immediately heads for the free beer. For some unexplained reason, celebrity chef Brian Turner, was handing out the freebies and one look at his latest punter has him phoning for security |
 | After a quick Eurostar ride we arrive in sunny Paris. We have a beer in a bistro around the corner from our hotel. The Pantheon is in the background and this is where they bury famous French people. You would have thought they wouldn't have required such a large building |
 | Notre Dame is also just down the road. Dr. Rowe seems mighty pleased with the place. |
 | We try and act sophisticated and have a carafe of wine. This is nothing to do with the fact that it was much cheaper than the beer |
 | French bar snacks seem to displease Dr. Rowe |
 | The Invalides hospital. Somebody should tell these three that you now don't have to be an invalid to get in. Also, somebody should tell them their acting wouldn't fool a blind, deaf dog |
 | Our first view of the Eiffel Tower is partially obscured by the dome of St. Dicks |
 | The court of the museum of the army with the dome of the church at the Invalides in the background. Gene gets his camera ready to try and get in some serious tourist-like behaviour |
 | The cannon shot. Every trip the cannon shot |
 | Napoleon finally gets to look down upon an Englishman |
 | A scenic shot of the church at the Invalides. I'm sure every tourist whose ever been to Paris has taken this picture so I don't want to get left out. Napoleon is buried in there somewhere but a 7 euros entry fee and it being so nice and sunny we weren't going in. We were going to a bar instead |
 | The underpass in which Princess Di met her end. It's a shrine to her memory and the weird, the gay and those living in the past come to pay tribute, leave flowers and write graffiti on the wall. This pair fit into at least two of these categories |
 | The view down the Champs Elysees. I had to take my life in hands to get this shot as those French drivers don't stop for nobody, especially an English tourist |
 | The Arc De Triomphe. A large stone monument to the dead pedestrian. Your triumph is achieved only if you make it across the roundabout to the centre. Anybody taking the underpass is considered a wimp |
 | At the tomb of the unknown soldier, the brothers Rowe stand to attention |
 | The view from the Arc De Triomphe to La Grande Arche De La Defense. Its nothing to do with defence as La Defense is the name of the business district of Paris. |
 | The view from the Place De La Concorde back up to the Arc De Triomphe. As you can now see, the sun has gone and grey clouds have appeared. This still didn't stop us sitting down at an outside cafe and having a very expensive beer |
 | As you can see it was a very quiet day with hardly any tourists etc. This one is taken in the Jardin des Tuileries and gets in both the Place De La Concorde and the Arc De Triomphe. What value for money, two landmarks for one photo! |
 | The Louvre and the glass pyramid at the centre of its courtyard. As we were in Paris for only three days we decided not to go in as we wouldn't have had enough time to do it justice. We went to a bar instead. |
 | In the bar we had some frog legs. Gene appears ecstatic at the thought of getting his gnashers around their meaty goodness |
 | I'm a much more delicate eater of the frog. It tastes like chicken. A chicken that has been overcooked and left in the sun a bit to give it a bit more of a ripe flavour |
 | Eating frog legs makes you sleep |
 | The next morning's breakfast is a traditional French affair. Some street philosopher makes his point with a croissant |
 | Inside Notre Dame. The light of God affects ths souls of those seeking salvation... either that or my camera work was rather dodgy |
 | Lunch. Mad chitterlings sausage. What could be more appealing? Though Stearm potatoes look intersting too. They sound like they've been cooked by the members of a notorious Zionist terrorist group |
 | After feasting on pig guts and terrorist potatoes we head off to the Sacre Coeur. This is the view form the top of the dome back to thje Eiffel Tower |
 | These two enjoy the view but the third member of our party ran off claiming vertigo. It was probably nothing more than dizziness brought on by the fact that the staircase up to the dome had one of the tightest twists I've ever been in |
 | The Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre in all its glory. Again only spoilt by the dome of St Dicks... and some street hawker who accused me of being Swiss. The nerve! |
 | Inside the Pantheon. This is Foucault's pendulum which shows that the Earth rotates. It also looks like Dr Rowe has his legs crossed and is in need of the local cludgy |
 | The grave of Paul Langevin inside the Pantheon. This is so that you physicists who want to shout at him as you wrestle with his equations know where to go... |
 | The view form the Pantheon to the Eiffel Tower. I'd been staying in this area for the last three days and hadn't noticed it before! |
 | On the Eurostar on the way home, Gene gets a beer in under the Channel. Well, I say beer, does Kronenburg count? |
 | Back in London at the Old Curiosity Shop. It was shut. |
 | The final day. Seal watching on the river Roach. We watched them for hours but they didn't do much so we went for a beer at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club which happens to be Russ' local. |
 | Russ gets chased by a police helicopter. Something about clubbing baby seals. |
 | Russ is taken away for questioning... again |