It was very dark in the tunnel
And I wish I could see the sea and fish swimming past.
The train was pretty noisy and very fast.
Purple line 4 to Saint Placide
and Green line 6 to Eiffel Tower.
There is a fence between the tracks
And some trains have an upstairs.
The French word for scooter is couchonette.
It sounds like a nice toy.
“Madame, descendez la couchonette!”
The guard shouted to us, (me the boy).
Room 517 was comfy and very beautiful.
Pumpkins and huge blue hydrangeas in Reception.
The bathroom is big enough for a giant.
Great for water play.
This was the best hotel ever.
I wish I could stay.
I saw him round the corner from Bik Hakeim Station.
He was thinner than I thought.
I was frightened when I thought of going right up to his top.
When I first looked from underneath I was so scared,
Oh, please don’t make me go up there.
So many sellers with gold and brown Eiffel souvenirs.
“Tomorrow” Mama said.
I could not decide if I would go to the top
Or stay down with Mama, as I lay down in my bed.
The day for Eiffel Tower – wower,
I picked a little blue flower.
He was super-tall, bigger than I thought.
He looked like the biggest thing in the world,
Which he was in the past.
His body felt pretty smooth and his legs were so vast.
I stood in long queues for lifts to get up there.
Pickpockets, beware.
I decided straightaway to go to the top
To see if I was higher than the other tall buildings
And if I could see all the way to Spain.
I drew pictures in the mist: of me, Mama, Daddy and Eiffel.
I was in the clouds but did not see any planes.
I was so amazed that there were steps going up
To another level, open and super tall.
The very top – hop off the edge
But if I did that I would fall.
Saturday at the Musee Rodin
I loved the Gates of Hell;
And the story my Mummy told me.
Why did people believe that if you don’t go to church
You would go to Hell?
The Shades with their long, long necks looking down,
Feeling sad before they fell.
There was a row of skulls and under them the Thinker.
Why were babies there as well?
I loved the statues in the buildings and the garden:
Adam, the Thinker and paintings by van Gogh.
I touched the bronze statues outside
Inside women shouted “Ne touchez pas!” – hands off!
I liked the gods – Mercury and Aphrodite.
The spiky pyramid trees in the garden
And giant sticks for a little fightie.
The Chocolate Museum was really cool
The chef had a chocolate scraping tool.
I ate 7 star chocolates that day
But did not get to take the last one on the chef’s plate
Before he tidied it away.
I imagined I would have 8 or 20
So I chose a hot chocolate drink
I stirred it and let it cool for 2 minutes
But could not finish it,
I’d had plenty.
I won a chocolate lolly for the activity sheet.
I bought a chocolate Eiffel toy I call “Cheifel”
And went happily into the street.
My favourite French word is “sortie”.
It reminds me of Sooty playing music in Littlehampton.
I came nearly 8 years ago but could not see out.
I hope I come back to Paris before I am 14 or about.
