Romantic evening in Paris

I don't usually like organised things which are mainly for tourists, but as my angel wanted to do a trip on a Bateau Parisian - that made it quite different. However the evening started badly, the parking area was full and we were directed to the parking at Musee Quai Branly.

But there was a very posh reception at the Musee (it was probably to celebrate its first anniversary and success in attracting more visitors in its first year than anticipated) and a young guy tried to tell us that all the parking was booked and we'd have to try parking at the Eiffel Tower. But M had been a high-ranking executive and used to getting her own way and told the young guy she had no intention of going to the Eiffel Tower as we'd miss our boat and drove past him down into the parking area. We emerged in the middle of this very elite event, with lots of free food and champagne and thought for a moment of staying - it was the kind of event where one might bump into Sarkozy, or Royal. Those entering, many doubtless rather pleased to have been invited, were rather surprised to see us leaving so early!

Back at the bateau, seeing a long line of Japanese tourists queueing, and some people passing them to another entry point, M followed them, cutting our waiting time (something I hate) considerably. Soon we were at our table at the side of the boat, watching the rain dribbling down the glass.



But it was magical:



There was good food, wine and, thankfully, no boring recital of facts in several languages, but live music:



as beautifully illuminated Paris slipped by:







Then, one of those bits of serendipity, I managed to get the Eiffel Tower and the singer, and the Lumix coped wonderfully with the light: