Paris - Friday 7 July 2023

The conference finished at lunch time. After that, I joined some colleagues for a drink at a nearby restaurant. I think caught the Metro to Chateau Rouge and walked up to Sacre Coeur. I have been here every trip to Paris. It is very beautiful. But today is hot and very crowded.

Place  du Tertre...

I then went for a walk. Passed Tour Saint-Jacques, The only remaining part of a 16th-century church that was destroyed during the French Revolution.

Then past Hotel de Ville which is the city hall. Another impressive building...

Street scene...

Place de la Bastille...

Found a restaurant for dinner. It's 9:30pm but still feels like daytime.

This was the best gazpacho I have ever had...

Paris - Wednesday 5 July and Thursday 6 July

On Wednesday I worked from the hotel. The conference started with a dinner at a restaurant close to the hotel. Nice to connect with my London colleagues.

Thursday was a full day of conference. In the evening, buses picked us up and took us to the river for a dinner cruise on the Seine. It was a lovely night. 

I met a partner from our Dubai office who will be moving to Brisbane next year...

It was light as we headed up the river, past the Eiffel Tower...

Palais Bourbon...

And night fell as we made our way back...

The clearance under some of those tunnels was pretty tight...

The boat docked before midnight and there were coaches back to the hotel at 12am, 1am and 2am. 

I was about to take the 2am when one of the partners suggested we go and find a bar. It's Paris...when are we going to be back here...:-)

We asked the locals where to go and although most bars close at 2am, she recommended one called O'Sullivans. So we caught an Uber to Montmartre. It turned out to be a really cool local bar with great music and a young local crowd. It was two story so we went upstairs and hung out for a while. 

Got back to the hotel about 4am. Great night!

Paris, France - Tuesday 4 July 2023

 Had an early meeting in the hotel then headed to lunch in Montparnasse.

After working in the hotel, I caught the Metro to Pigalle. I had been here before but not for a long time. This is Square Aristide-Cavaille-Coll...

Walked to Moulin Rouge. The area is really seedy in the daytime.

I started to walk towards Le Marais but it started to rain.

Stopped for a drink and a snack.

When the rain eased, I kept walking.

Great name for a bar...

Then it started pouring so I took refuge in another bar and had some dinner. I sat outside but due to the smoking I moved inside.

Rain eased again and I kept walking. Jardin Nelson Mandela is an impressive building...

Caught the Metro back to the hotel and crashed.

Paris - Monday 3 July

Arrived on the Eurostar at Gare Du Nord, and caught an Uber to Pullman Montparnasse in the 14th Arrondisement.

Montparnesse is a lively area with many nice restaurants and bars. This is the view from my room...

I caught the Metro to Le Marais and walked around.

Sat outside and had dinner.

It's a nice night and great to be walking around.

Back at the hotel to sleep. Big day of meetings tomorrow.

London - Wednesday 28 June to Monday 3 July

Flew into Gatwick from Naples on EasyJet. Long Uber ride to Monument where I'm staying. Lovely to be back in London. Haven't been since 2018.

Met a friend for dinner at a tapas place in Soho called Lobos. Great food.

Afterwards we went for a long walk. It's a lovely night.

The Thursday morning I headed to the office. This is the view from the meeting room where I spent a couple of days...

That night we had team drinks in the boardroom and then headed to dinner at an Indian restaurant nearby.

Worked in the office again on Friday. Then dinner a the pub near my apartment, The Walrus and the Carpenter. Then went for a walk to the river.

Saturday got up and caught a bus to the National Portrait Gallery. Then walked around Soho and Chinatown.

There was a pride parade that was crazy. I couldn't cross the road once it started.

That night I met cousin Jeremy at Vauxhall and we caught the bus to an up and coming area called Peckham. Had a few beers here...

Then headed to a rooftop bar that was formerly a carpark. It's a lovely night.

Next morning (Sunday) I wanted to buy some shirts. So I caught the tube to Embankment and walked to Jermyn Street.

Then caught the Tube back to Bank. This is the Royal Exchange...

This was across the road. Not sure what it is...

That night I met Monique and Graham and we caught the Tube to Pudding Mill Lane to see Abba Voyage. Loved it. The technology was amazing.

Monday morning I'm off to Paris on the Eurostar. Walked to Bank and caught the Tube to St Pancras. Fortunately I was business class so you use the lounge. The terminal is a bit feral. Boarded on time. This is the business class carriage.

Got a decent lunch...

And before long I arrived at Gare du Nord in Paris!