Monday June 7, 2010 Our final Post for this Adventure!

This morning started with bright blue skies which remained with us the entire day. As we left the hotel we met our Paris City Guide Valerie. She proved to be a very knowledgeable guide who gave us a complete and informative tour of the city and its most remarkable landmarks. We drove around the Place de La Bastille marking the democratization of Francewith the destruction of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. We also drove by the city hall, and the building where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before being executed.

Our first major stop was at the Notre Dame Cathedral. The purpose of many of the windows and sculptures was to provide an educational tool for the people in the Middle ages to teach them the biblical stories. To us – the windows not only told a story, but were beautiful to observe. This is a magnificent gothic structure with many more features that can be appreciated in an hour visit.

We then drove through the Left Bank which houses the Sourborne and many other educational institutions. We drove around the square in front of the Louvre which was visited by most of our guests later in the afternoon. We then took a drive down the Champs Elyseesto and around the Arc De Triomphe marveling at both the traffic and the architecture of the structures on either side of the road. The circle that contains the Arc De Triomphe has twelve roads leading into it, and Manfred told us that if anyone has an accident in the circle – that both drivers are charged 50%. From here we drove to the Museum of Man and the Palace of Chaillot where we looked across the river towards the Eiffel tower. From there we drove to the Military Ministry and tomb of Napolean which was built by the Sun King Louis XIV.

Then we went directly to the Eiffel tower where we all went to either the second level or all the way to the top. We were told that the wait for the top was an hour, so only about half the group went, the rest of us choosing to stay on the second level to take pictures and have a lunch. In fact the group went up and down in less than an hour, but all had a great time and wouldn’t have missed the trip.

After visiting the tower, we split up with a large group choosing to visit the Louvre, a smaller group deciding to go shopping and the rest returned for an early afternoon back at the hotel. The two groups were picked up on time and taken back to the hotel. Unfortunately a crazy Paris driver decided to make a dent and take some paint of our bus before rushing off into traffic.

Back at the hotel we all got ready for our final dinner together, and a chance to reveal our secret pals and to give thanks to everyone who has contributed to a fabulous trip. We also selebrated Elsie's birthday -with a specially decorated dessert. Our special thanks to Lidia Brun our wonderful Tour Manager, and to Manfred Helbig our fabulous driver who kept things on track and helped to provide for a very memorable time. And now as we head back to our homes we say good bye to Europe and the wonderful time we had here, and delight in the new friends we have made along the way.