Sat. May 12th
We arrived in Paris on a bright, sunny morning, a day before the tour began so we could celebrate Bill's Birthday. The Hotel Londres Eiffel had our room ready when we arrived at 9am, so we checked in, then headed out to explore Paris.
Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower. We did not join the long lines of people waiting to ascend the Tower (we had gone up on a previous visit), but proceeded on across the Seine River, past the Place du Trocadero through the streets to our next destination. . .
Leaving the Musee Rodin and Gardens, we skirted Les Invalides museum complex and made our way to Rue Cler. After strolling through the busy market along the avenue, we made our way to the Champs de Mars. We relaxed on a bench from where we viewed the Eiffel Tower and watched people enjoying a day in the park. Finally, we returned to Rue Cler for dinner in celebration of Bill's Birthday.
Sun. May 13th
Mothers' Day - The day began clear, cool and windy. We set out early to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, arriving a good half-hour before the Cathedral opened to the public. When the gates opened, we entered with fewer than a dozen other early visitors, the result being that we were virtually alone inside Notre Dame. This was a "Wow" moment of our trip. For a short while, we had the rare experience of enjoying the calm and grandeur of a magnificent cathedral before the murmurs and shuffles of crowds of parishioners and tourists broke the spell.
Mothers' Day - The day began clear, cool and windy. We set out early to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, arriving a good half-hour before the Cathedral opened to the public. When the gates opened, we entered with fewer than a dozen other early visitors, the result being that we were virtually alone inside Notre Dame. This was a "Wow" moment of our trip. For a short while, we had the rare experience of enjoying the calm and grandeur of a magnificent cathedral before the murmurs and shuffles of crowds of parishioners and tourists broke the spell.
From Notre Dame, we moved on to the Left Bank where our first stop was a visit to the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. Following that experience, we explored the nearby neighborhood. We had lunch at Maoz, a small cafe, for a welcome meal of falafel.
After lunch we set out to return to our hotel. Our route took us through the Luxembourg Gardens, into St. Sulpice Church (where we were treated to some magnificant organ music), once again past Les Invalides, and to the hotel for a rendezvous with the tour.
After lunch we set out to return to our hotel. Our route took us through the Luxembourg Gardens, into St. Sulpice Church (where we were treated to some magnificant organ music), once again past Les Invalides, and to the hotel for a rendezvous with the tour.
We met our Guide, Elizabeth van Hest, and the rest of the group. After a brief talk by Elizabeth, we boarded a bus for a tour of Paris. This outing ended at a restaurant near our hotel where the group enjoyed an excellent get acquainted dinner. The meal ended just in time for some of us to walk to the Champ de Mars where we watched the Eiffel Tower "twinkle" at 10:00 pm --- what an exciting and colorful way to kick off our tour!
Mon. May 14th
We left early to visit Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame in sequence. The bright sunlight intensified the color and beauty of the stained glass windows in both chapels. We were really glad that we had visited Notre Dame on our own the day before as the plaza fronting Notre Dame had been vacant. Today, it was covered with a jumble of platform and scaffolding materials. Our early visit the day before had given us the only opportunity for good photos of the front of the great cathedral. Following lunch on our own, the group met for a walking tour of the Latin Quarter that finished with a visit to the Cluny, the National Museum of the Middle Ages. Our tour of the Cluny was open-ended, the day closing with dinner on our own and a free evening for all. This was the warmest day of the Tour that made our walking return to the hotel along the banks of the Seine a most pleasant experience. We had dinner in a small restaurant near the hotel that served possibly the best Eggplant Parmesan meal that we ever had.
We left early to visit Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame in sequence. The bright sunlight intensified the color and beauty of the stained glass windows in both chapels. We were really glad that we had visited Notre Dame on our own the day before as the plaza fronting Notre Dame had been vacant. Today, it was covered with a jumble of platform and scaffolding materials. Our early visit the day before had given us the only opportunity for good photos of the front of the great cathedral. Following lunch on our own, the group met for a walking tour of the Latin Quarter that finished with a visit to the Cluny, the National Museum of the Middle Ages. Our tour of the Cluny was open-ended, the day closing with dinner on our own and a free evening for all. This was the warmest day of the Tour that made our walking return to the hotel along the banks of the Seine a most pleasant experience. We had dinner in a small restaurant near the hotel that served possibly the best Eggplant Parmesan meal that we ever had.
Tues. May 15th
We awoke to an overcast sky that threatened rain. We took the metro to the Marais District for a neightborhood walk. The showers held off until about halfway thru the walk. Part of the rest of the walk was held in a church so it wasn't too bad. The walk ended at the Carnavalet Museum, where we could spend as much time as we wanted as we were free until meeting for dinner and the river cruise. We went to a nearby restaurant for lunch and returned to the Carnavalet for a couple of hours. By then, the sun had come out so we went to The Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned during her trial. Afterwards, we met the group for dinner and the river cruise. After the showery morning, it turned into a beautiful evening.
We awoke to an overcast sky that threatened rain. We took the metro to the Marais District for a neightborhood walk. The showers held off until about halfway thru the walk. Part of the rest of the walk was held in a church so it wasn't too bad. The walk ended at the Carnavalet Museum, where we could spend as much time as we wanted as we were free until meeting for dinner and the river cruise. We went to a nearby restaurant for lunch and returned to the Carnavalet for a couple of hours. By then, the sun had come out so we went to The Conciergerie, where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned during her trial. Afterwards, we met the group for dinner and the river cruise. After the showery morning, it turned into a beautiful evening.
Wed. May 16th
A beautiful morning to head to Sacre Coeur and a walking tour of Montmartre. We took the Metro and got off at one of the oldest Metro Stations in Paris where the original entrance is still preserved. We walked from there to the funicular that took us up to Sacre Coeur. After exploring the church inside and out, we went for a walking tour of the neighborhood. This was one of our favorite neighborhood walks. After the walk we were free until 5:30pm, when we were to meet the group at the Louvre. We decided to go straight to the Louvre, where we ate lunch and then toured the museum until time to meet the tour.
A beautiful morning to head to Sacre Coeur and a walking tour of Montmartre. We took the Metro and got off at one of the oldest Metro Stations in Paris where the original entrance is still preserved. We walked from there to the funicular that took us up to Sacre Coeur. After exploring the church inside and out, we went for a walking tour of the neighborhood. This was one of our favorite neighborhood walks. After the walk we were free until 5:30pm, when we were to meet the group at the Louvre. We decided to go straight to the Louvre, where we ate lunch and then toured the museum until time to meet the tour.
A street musician was playing a lively tune on an accordian, so Elizabeth grabbed Bill and waltzed him around. We all got a big kick out of it.
We met the Tour Group and the local guide at the inverted pyramid for a tour of part of the Louvre. It was nice that we all had listening devices, which made for a great tour.
Thurs. May 17th
A another beautiful morning to head out to Versailles. We boarded a train at a station near our hotel and adjacent to the Seine. Our 30 minute ride ended at a station within walking distance of the Chateau. Elizabeth provided us with headsets which made much easier and enjoyable our experience at the palace. After the tour, we were on our own so we walked through the gardens to Marie Antoinette's hamlet. It is a delightful group of thatched roofed cottages about a half an hour walk from the Chateau.
A another beautiful morning to head out to Versailles. We boarded a train at a station near our hotel and adjacent to the Seine. Our 30 minute ride ended at a station within walking distance of the Chateau. Elizabeth provided us with headsets which made much easier and enjoyable our experience at the palace. After the tour, we were on our own so we walked through the gardens to Marie Antoinette's hamlet. It is a delightful group of thatched roofed cottages about a half an hour walk from the Chateau.
Fri. May 18th
Our last full day of the tour. Our first stop was the Orangerie to see Monet's "Water Lilies" in a setting that was constructed just for these murals. Our next stop was the D'orsay and its wonderful collection of Impressionist paintings. The building itself, which was a train station, is impressive to behold. We were free for the afternoon so we stayed a couple more hours. We met back at the hotel for our farewell dinner. It was over all too soon and it was hard to say goodbye to our wonderful guide, Elizabeth, and the great group of people on the tour.
Our last full day of the tour. Our first stop was the Orangerie to see Monet's "Water Lilies" in a setting that was constructed just for these murals. Our next stop was the D'orsay and its wonderful collection of Impressionist paintings. The building itself, which was a train station, is impressive to behold. We were free for the afternoon so we stayed a couple more hours. We met back at the hotel for our farewell dinner. It was over all too soon and it was hard to say goodbye to our wonderful guide, Elizabeth, and the great group of people on the tour.
Sat. May 19th
The tour ended after breakfast. We traveled the Metro to Gare D'Est to board a train to Trier, Germany, where we would join a Rick Steves' Germany, Austria and Switzerland Tour, beginning that afternoon. Paris was our 5th Rick Steves' Tour and we want to thank Elizabeth and Rick and Company for another great tour.
The tour ended after breakfast. We traveled the Metro to Gare D'Est to board a train to Trier, Germany, where we would join a Rick Steves' Germany, Austria and Switzerland Tour, beginning that afternoon. Paris was our 5th Rick Steves' Tour and we want to thank Elizabeth and Rick and Company for another great tour.