(On a clear blue Sunday sky, the Eiffel Tower is magnificent. The surrounding area leading to it adds so much more colour too, with the winter trees in deep brown and gold. We wanted to catch Eiffel both in bright morning sunshine and with the setting sun. However the long queue, even at 5.30pm knocked out our plan. Still, from the top, it was refreshingly cold and the views were eye-popping, including the grand finale from the bottom - the flashing Eiffel ! - see video below. I plan to return..) 
(This is the world's most visited museum, and I can see why now. We were unsuccessful in getting in the 1st time we came here bcoz the tour leader forgot it closes on Mondays. Well, not this time, with control of our own time. Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is simply a true beauty, with her demure smile. Local french painters were invited in to do their own copies, which gave the place a real 14th century feel. But what about those sculptures, including the 100BC-old Venus de Milo, and what must be the first ever selfie ever taken in the world? ) 
(The streets of Paris lights up again, with a special treat for us - MasterChef food on the roadside, can you believe it? Frederic Scheurer from Season 4 was just about to close his pop-up foodtruck when we managed to get 2 delicious takeaways - a Thai set and a salad - that was all he had left. Quirky French sights during this time of the year, including a middle-finger in their Metro stations) 
(Playground of the rich and famous - both buildings have appeared in countless movies, including the most recent 'Grace of Monaco'. Hotel De Paris was closed for renovation, so no entry was allowed. But we didn't think walking into the Casino with a few hundred euros in our wallets was a smart move, in case, we were tempted. The photos of Princess Grace with young children at many bus-stops brought back warm memories of the elegant lady, unlike the stiffness of Nicole Kidman in the movie) 
