Unprepared for the queues formed outside the Palace in Versailles early on Sunday morning, we took the opportunity to visit the gardens first. A decision which paid off as the beautifully landscaped gardens and the treasures of Marie Antionettes garden provided better shade in the sweltering sunshine. We spent a good two hours wandering around sculpted hedges, overflowing fountains, sweet hidden chateaus and fields of flowers. The queues to enter the palace had thankfully shortened and after a flash of identification (thank you France for letting under 26s in free!) we entered a maze of rooms filled to the brim with opulent and lavish furnishings and artworks. We quickly learned tricks to avoid the numerous bottleneck corridors and masses of small and large tour groups – it was all about the timing!

Having returned to Paris, dinner in a Japanese restaurant brought me right back to Hong Kong. I almost believe I could survive on dumplings alone. Bellies full of miso soup, noodles, kimchee, pork and dumplings we arrived front and center at the eiffel tower just in time for the light show to start.

It was quite nice, but paled in comparison to the show nature decided to provide. Captivated by the lights, no-one paid attention to the gathering storm clouds until the first lightening bolt struck. What followed was a frantic attempt to capture photographs of this mass of energy enveloping the city. It picked up with a gust of wind which sent the spectators into a group exodus, but not before the eiffel tower once again lit up the sky.