Family Holiday

It's so long overdue this post, I'm almost embarrassed to put it up! However, it's not so often that you manage to get all of the Raoses in the same time zone these days and that's worth recording!

Our Parisian sojourn began on the Boulevard Saint Martin,


Outside our door

and directly opposite the imposing,


Porte Saint Martin

Thus began our explorations across Paris!

I modelled my newly acquired head piece - made in Italy, purchased in London, paraded in Paris - to demonstrate my cunning ability to adapt to cold weather ...


Not-quite-a-beret, not-quite-a-beanie, with not-quite-a-floral motif!

With such a large group of us, and our varied interests - some having never seen Paris, or anywhere in Europe for that matter - and some being over familiar with the Parisian landmarks, we had to split up to cover our bases.

Matt and Caro and I had some fun with the installation at the Picasso Museum.


Mirror wall

Dad and Dom discovered that you really do need several days to get through the galleries in the Louvre.


How many more works of art are there?

I made sure Dad got to see all the important triumphal arches.


Arc de Triomphe

Matt and Caro and Dad went to Versailles for the day and enjoyed ...


... the grounds, and ...


... the interiors, wow!

Dom enjoyed sightseeing with some of his favourite women!


Dom Juan and friends

The family cursed me again and again when they realised that the French also enjoy platters of seafood for Christmas celebrations ...


Fruits de mer

Fortunately there were plenty of other indulgences to be had.


Jewish boulangerie in the Marais

Including an old favourite ...


Le crèperie

... which won Dom over ...


Hmmmm, jambon et fromage!

Who would have thought he would ever stray from his ultimate favourite, citron et sucre?

Matt and Caro and I had a lovely lunch at the very traditional ...


Chez Paul

... in the Bastille area. Matt sampled the steak tartare - thank goodness my family has some adventurous diners in it, must be all those years visiting and living in southeast Asia Matt!

And Dad and Dom and Anna and I took adventurous dining to a whole new level the following week in London when we settled in for a full english breakfast at the ...


Art Café

After all that wondering around big historically rich cities in the cold with my ever changing entourage, I headed back to Paris for a few days on my own and was surprised and delighted to find the city dusted with ...


La neige

So beautiful, peaceful and quiet!