New Year's Day 1 January 2009

Everyone slept in today. We didn’t leave till 10am. Andrew had promised to take the kids ice skating. So they headed off to the makeshift rink next to the Chateau while Irene and I did a little walking tour around the old city looking for the main points on the tourist map. Later we met up with Andrew and the kids and had hot chocolates and crepes from a street stall and wandered over to the Jardin des Plantes which is a most beautifully designed botanical garden. There was a small playground/sandpit for the kids to play in which kept them amused for ages.

Slim pickings for dinner this night. There didn't seem to be many places open. We ended up at Buffalo Grill, very ordinary! The Etap Hotels are good value for a bed for the night but they are definitely no frills so happy days when we found a coffee vending machine in the foyer.