Asterix, Edith, Oscar and Jim

After spectacularly spilling an entire bowl of crepe mixture on the newly tiled but as yet un-sealed and un-grouted kitchen floor, we finally leave for Paris at 7am in a sombre mood. My amazing partner (who did all the tiling the night before) calmly wipes it up while I have a melt down. The drive is entertaining - french radio and The Doors.

We arrive in the most beautiful city in the world (even surpasses my love of London) by 2pm and have been fortunate to find a hotel with both a family room and parking for a reasonable price. Come 10pm we're exhausted but my son and I are determined to celebrate New Year so we brave the cold and find the nearest metro. It's a bit like the Hajj, something you have to do once in your life - stand under the Eiffel Tower and witness that brilliant light display followed by fire works along the Champs de Mars. What a way to see in the new year - with my 15 year old son and thousands of others all in awe -laughing, singing and dancing amongst a plethora of floating languages.

Asterix Park was ok (should've taken the boys when they were younger, Puy de Fou down south is brilliant), however I never thought a cemetery could be so beautiful. New Year's day is the day to spend in Paris, minimal cars so driving and parking is relatively easy. My partner lived in Paris for 4 years and gives us a guided tour, including another pilgrimage to see the graves of Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.

Montmartre cemetery is somewhat dour and depressing, almost sinister. Père Lachaise with its wide, paved, tree lined walkways is beautiful and ironically, almost uplifting as you inevitably contemplate what it means to live a rewarding life. My 15 year old is delighted to have seen Jim's grave. We decide to stay an extra day in this city of romance, it truly is a remarkable place, but for now the holiday is over, back to work on Radio Aquitaine before I have to return to Australia in only two weeks.