Curious Man's Last Hurrah in Dubai

Part 25

Curious Man's

Last

Hurrah

in 

Dubai

Days 60,61

Just when you thought the Curious Man Tour was over, we'll deposit you in Dubai for a couple of days.

It's a great place for a stop-over and has all the comforts of home..

swimming pools,

good coffee,

and dairy products.

Waterfalls,

Dubai Mall

wild life,

conveniently located health services,

Bento boxes,

air-conditioning,

and all the latest news.

Nice Wife reads about a new Prime Minister on page 24 of the Gulf News

You can take a private boat trip down the creek

and if, like the Curious Man, you have a head for heights, you can finish off with a night at the top of the world's tallest building-the Burj Kalifa.

Then it'll be back to the everyday life of home

Curious Man looks forward to catching up with all his friends

Nice Wife dreams of a peaceful life back home

Curious Man tip number 15: 

Yes, it is possible to put in a bid on E-Bay while actually boarding the plane...

What will the Curious Man get up to next????

Curious Man Ditches the Car for Paris

Part 24

Curious Man

Ditches the Car 
for

Paris

Days 51-59

Enjoy your week in Paris, sans car, sans Nancy GPS Airhead, sans flat tyres, sans petrol pumps.
It's the Metro all the way as you explore some of Paris' hidden nooks and crannies.
Your home (alas,more shabby than chic)  is on the edge of the Marais district. You'll experience real Parisian cat-box living and get fit climbing four flights of stairs to your little hideaway.

Go to sleep with John, Paul, George and Ringo and the sounds of Paris ringing in your ears. 

And, every time you emerge from the Metro, relish the sights and sounds of Place Republique, .

School's out!

Go to Notre Dame 

but forget about the inside, chock-a-block with tourists. 

You'll have much more fun spotting headless saints and sinister snakes on the outside..

St Denis who, after being decapitated, washed his head and carried it to Montmartre to meet his maker.

Stroll down to the Canal

Canal  St.Martin  (but of course!)

take in a couple of concerts

This guy was really good

cha

Vivaldi in Sainte Chappelle

get friendly with the locals

"Nice threads!"
"Ah Curious Man! You are so funny!"

Curious Parisian eyes Curious Man

try out the local cuisine

and spend your last euros on some "cook-at-home" duck with fois gras.

For the umpteenth time, Curious Man laboriously counts out the money.
(Note sagging fingers and wavering hand of sales lady on the right)

You can take a train to Giverny and 'bike it' to Monet's garden

Or just soak up the idiosyncrasies of Paris...

Green man,  Red man, Nice car,  Purple girl...Champs Elysee

How to confuse train travellers near the Gare de-l'Est

Curious Man tip number 13: It pays to look up...

Climb the stairs

and wander round the artworks at the Petit Palais

This is the Petit palace-the BIG one's over the road

It's free!

    

Secret garden 

Near the Petit Palais

Witness a stand-off..

The bus won

and for 3 euros, partake of a caramel crepe in a canal boat on the Seine

Enjoy your last meal in Paris at Chartiers 

where the waiter writes on the table 

and the food is cheap and delicious. 

Mmmm, lentils...

Then Paris will be "putting up the chairs" and "turning off the lights" for the Curious Man and his Nice Wife, 

time to head towards home.. 

On the way to the airport, catch a performance in the Metro..

This performance has legs!!

But...

Living on the Edge AND Curious Man tip number 14..

Don't linger too long watching concerts in the Metro, especially if you have a plane to catch!!

Next time-

Curious Man's Last Hurrah in Dubai..