8 - 22 January 2024 Paris (and Howard in the Netherlands) We had a couple of weeks of very cold weather, with sub-zero C temperatures most days. While the snow was very pretty, and a treat for a Melbourne Girl, it was also a bit treacherous. We also had some improvement in my foot which I'll explain at the end. It started snowing here the day Hilary left. Both Monday and Tuesday had a sprinkling of snow, and very cold weather. We had planned to have a couple of days rest and catch up on jobs, so, with the central heating working well we hunkered down, although I did have to brave the cold to go to a physio appointment about 15 minutes cycle away. On Wednesday it was still very cold so we decided to take the Metro to BHV, one of the large department stores, in the morning. It is only 2 stops away and has an entrance into the basement from the metro. It is an interesting store as it has a hardware store in the basement and a papeterie (stationery store) on one of the upper levels. We enjoyed having a look around and buying a few things. On Thursday we decided to go out to lunch and headed for a pie restaurant in the 2nd arrondisement. When we got there we found that it only had very limited seating and a long queue out the door. So we went to a nearby french bistro and had a lovely meal amongst the local workers. After lunch we headed to Les Halles a big shopping complex. Although quite small on the ground level it becomes huge underground, and even has an RER train station on level -4! I bought a new bathing costume, as I'm swimming a couple of times a week and my old one is wearing out, and Howard got 2 new pairs of levis which should last him for a while. Les Halles looks out over a park that is over shadowed by Saint Eustache church. On Friday afternoon we went for another visit to the Louvre. This time we visited Le Trésor de Notre Dame de Paris (The Treasure of Notre Dame de Paris). This exhibition is on during the rebuilding of the cathedral. Interestingly many of the treasures that the church had during the years were destroyed either in the revolution or by kings melting them down to pay for wars and such like. Still plenty to see though. We also had time to look at the french statues. Before heading home we went into the Palais Royale gardens again. Howard left for the Netherlands on Saturday morning, so I had a weekend to myself on Moondance. As well as many jobs and watching some Australian Open tennis, I took out my camera on the bike for some night photos. I lasted as long as I could but it was still bitterly cold. Petit and Grand Palais (Grand Palais is in the middle of renovations) Around the Place de la Concorde Near Hotel Regina on Rue de Rivoli Near Square Michel-Caldaguès, including rear of the Louvre and Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois. On Sunday our neighbour, Guillame, invited me to go for a drive in his car. We had a lovely drive around Paris and even up to Sacre Coeur via a street marked as no entry. The streets in Montmartre were surprisingly busy given how cold it was. We did jump out of the car for a quick look but it was bitterly cold so it was a very short visit. By the time we got back to the port it was snowing again. We had a quick drink at a nearby bar and then headed home. In the mean time Howard was in the Netherlands staying with our friends Ruud and Petra. On Sunday he went with Ruud to a fishing competition held on a carp lake an hours drive from Rotterdam. Although he wasn't fishing Howard was able to set up behind Ruud and watch the action (which wasn't very hectic). He learnt a lot. They even stopped for lunch for 30 minutes, which Howard thought was a great idea, to warm up, to be social, and just for a break. It was a very cold and wet day, but with Ruud's spare winter boots on, Howard managed to stay warm and dry. Ruud came second in his section - what a hero. Howard returned home on the Monday and we went for a walk together in the evening. The next day was cold again, with a frosty morning, but we decided to ride over to Decathlon near the Madeleine. I took out my old push bike rather than my e-bike, as my foot was feeling a bit better. The next morning when we got up, it had snowed overnight and everywhere looked lovely. We went out for a walk to take a few photos around and near the port. We went out for lunch at a nearby Bistro, and in the evening we had tickets at iMax to see Queen Rock Montreal, a concert movie. We had originally planned to cycle to the iMax in La Villette, but in the end we caught the metro as we thought it may be a bit dangerous to cycle in the snow. It ended up being quite a bit of walking as they were renovating the mall and there was a tortorous route to get to the theatre which required us to go down, then up, around and up again, but we made it and really enjoyed the show. On Friday we returned to the Carnevalet museum for the fourth time. This time we followed the history of Paris from the Revolution to the 1970s, which was the end of their permanent displays. We found it very interesting and informative, although I still found it difficult to get all the revolutions, restorations, empires, coup d'etats, communes etc straight. As has become our standard procedure, we borrowed a wheelchair to save my feet. On Saturday we had a very quiet day, I had a nice long nap. So we went out in the evening again. On Sunday we went for a walk on the Coulee Verte, an "elevated linear park built on top of obsolete railway infrastructure". We walked 2 or 3 kms and then caught a bus back home. It is a lovely walk with a different perspective of the buildings along the way. This was the last really cold day forecast. In fact the temperature that day slowly rose, and was hotter at night than it was in the day, getting up to 10 degrees. We are happy to have respite from those very cold days. Injury and Fitness Update Many of you know that I have had sore feet for almost 2 years, that has severely restricted how far I can walk. So while we've been in Paris I have been trying to get some improvement. I have been seeing an accupuncturist regularly who also has been doing massage, and giving good advice about walking regularly but not overdoing it. I have also been to see a Traditional Chinese Medecine Practitioner who has proscribed me herbs to cook up and drink 3 times each day. I also have been to Physiotherapists. The second one I went to has referred me to a third one who does Shock Wave Treatment. I was getting a some improvement with the mild excercises that the physio had prescribed, as well as the other treatments, but the shock wave treatments has made a huge difference. I am now able to walk a couple of kilometres without too much pain and have also reduced dramatically the amount of power my e-bike is providing, doing more of the work myself, and have even ventured out a few times on my old push bike. My right foot is now feeling much more normal. My left foot, which was the first to feel bad, and has always felt the worst, still has quite a way to go. But I am feeling more hopefully now that we will get some long term improvement. I have also had a problem with my shoulder for a few months that the physio has been helping me with. I have been able to return to swimming and am slowly increasing the distance that I swim in each session as my shoulder gets stronger. This is a great relief as this is the main way that I can get some cardio workout. However, if you add up all the time spent at appointments, doing the excercises, preparing herbs etc., I am probably spending on average of 1-2 hours a day working on my injuries and fitness. But it seems to be working so it is all worth it. STOP PRESS (22 January) Would you believe it - this morning I fell when walking down some stairs. I was lucky that the only thing I hurt was my foot, but of course it is my left foot - the sore one. Luckily I had a physio appointment in the afternoon, and he assured me that it looks to be just a sprain and has strapped it. So it may be sore and a bit swollen for a few days or a week.
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