I have had the most extraordinary Sunday. The weather has been perfect, there is joy in the air and everyone is out and about celebrating Paris in the springtime – and I mean everybody! Meandering around le Marais and through the islands today I found mile-long queues at Berthillon icecream outlets and there were literally thousands of cyclists and rollerbladers.

Place des Vosges was full of locals revelling in the beautiful spring sunshine;

Roses perfumed the air along the footpaths,

And spring bulbs made an appearance.

Jazz floated through city streets and over the bridges and there were buskers everywhere,

Even outside the famous English bookshop, Shakespeare & Co.

Cafes flung open their doors, and terraces were jam-packed with diners enjoying a leisurely glass of wine, a coffee…

Or a lofty salad.

Boats glided gracefully down the Seine, crammed with sightseers,

And fromagerie windows everywhere were stocked with new-season’s goat cheese.

Just the thing to take back to the apartment to devour with a fresh, crusty baguette and a glass of Sancerre before an early night. After all, I’ve been up since 3 am.

Bonne Nuit!