Champagne

Unfortunately we forgot to charge the camera battery, so these photos are taken with my iphone (not very good quality I'm afraid)

Inside the cellars at Mumm Champagne House in Reims - they have 25 kilometres of cellars

The champagne is cellared anywhere between 3-10 years (depending on the quality) before being disgorged and ready for sale

Outside the entrance to the cellar door

The best bit - having a taste!

The beautiful gothic Reims Cathedral, where kings of France have been crowned throughout history

One of the beautiful stained glass windows of the cathedral

On the streets of Reims, which was a gorgeous little 'city'

Champagne vineyards between Reims and Epernay - you can just see the village of Dom Perignon in the distance

...and Dom himself outside the Moet et Chandon cellars, where Dom Perignon is also made - albeit by a different cellarmaster using a very different blend to Moet et Chandon

A very poor photo of what is referred to as des Avenue Champs Elysses - a very long corridor within the Moet et Chandon cellars. Off to the left is the grand cellar which holds vintages from 1892 to the latest vintage champagne made in 2002

Each individual cellar holds 90 000 bottles of champagne (within 28 kilometres of cellars)

Having a taste!

Outside the entrance to the cellar door

Across the road was the former residence of the Moet family - very grand!

Paris Day 4 - The Marais and Laduree

The entrance to our Marais apartment building - it's like a fortress!

Inside our courtyard - it's rather gorgeous!

It looks rather quiet first thing in the morning, but at night our neighbourhood is packed with people - mostly gay men!

At first glance at this window display we thought this was a baby clothing shop, but then realised it was actually a boutique for dogs (yes, they are doggy underpants!)

The gorgeous window display (complete with macaroon towers) at Laduree on des Champs Elysses - Paris' most famous patisserie where we had lunch

Some more of the tasty treats inside Laduree

Our delicious desserts! (we are becoming a little pastry obsessed since arriving in France)

Paris Day 3 - Versaille

There was a massive line to get into the Chateau Versailles (the magnificent former royal residence) - lucky it moved pretty quickly!

The huge gold gates which are at the main entrance to the Chateau

The beautiful marble courtyard, which is the oldest part of the palace - dating back to 1670

Inside the interior apartments

More of the interior apartments (unfortunately, not a lot of the interior rooms were open while we were there)

The north wing of the Chateau with its impressive gardens

A marble terrace at the Grand Trinian - another chateau on the property which was the residence of Napoleon (among others)

Chris enjoying his first steak tartare at the Versaille tearooms

Paris Day 2 - art, art, art

Inside our little Paris apartment, which is in the Marais district - lots of hotels particulers (mansions), gorgeous shops and gay clubs

Modern sculptures in the square outside the Centre Pompidou (Paris' modern art museum). There were lots of street artists too, including a some break dancers and a father and son tap dancing duo

Outside the Centre Pompidou - the permanent collection included works by Picasso, Miro and Andy Warhol among many others

View from the top floor of the Centre Pompidou

The glass pyramids which mark the main entrance to the Louvre - thanks to our museum pass we didn't have to line up, although the line wasn't that long anyway because it was late in the day

Inside the Louvre's impressive courtyard. We didn't take any photos inside the muesum on principle (even of the Mona Lisa). There were so many annoying people with cameras and video cameras, and the number of people clamouring to look at the most important works was overwhelming

We ended the day with some delicious sweet treats!

Paris - Day 1 - the main attractions

Some goodies we saw in the window of a patisserie - they all have fantastic window displays

Exhibition building on desChamps Elysses

Huge Louis Vuitton on des Champs Elysses

The Arc de Triomphe at the end of des Champs Elysses

The Arc de Triomphe

The Seine

Our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower

.....and there it is again

.....and again. We decided not to wait in the massive queue to get the lift to the top

Notre Dame on the left. We're plannint to visit properly on Friday

Lunching at Cafe de la Paix - a famous parisienne cafe

Browsing the spectacular food hall at Galleries Lafayette. Everything you could ever want foodwise!

Monaco - Hermes, Cafe de Paris and the Monte Carlo Casino

The marina - littered with luxury yachts and huge cruise ships

A spot of shopping at Hermes........

.....followed by lunch at Cafe de Paris

....and a quick visit to the famous Monte Carlo Casino

.......all in the space of an hour!