Last year we had a brilliant few days in Paris for my birthday. Recognising that it isn’t always a good idea to repeat and try to recapture the same enjoyment I still went ahead and booked a few nights in a Paris hotel. This time I decided that staying near the station would save on taxis and remembered that the hotel we used coming home from Dublin was comfy and convenient. So Hotel Libertel opposite Gare d’Austerlitz is booked for tonight!

A particular motivation for the trip was to see the new and beautifully restored Notre Dame. However, my search via their app to get tickets had been fruitless thus far. I’d booked other things for us to do but the cathedral was my original impetus and it was frustrating not to have any guarantee that we would eventually get inside.

But.. waking up early this morning I decided to give it one last try and.. bingo! Instead of ‘epuise’, a table of entrance times popped up. And on my birthday! So, I’ve booked and shall print them off as soon as himself is awake. On y va!