This morning the Eiffel Tower, and if we were a tinge disappointed in the Louvre tour we had no reason to complain today. The Eiffel Tower is everything you might imagine and we went right to the top platform for a magnificent view. The day was clear, sunny and virtually no wind even up that high. Huge crowds are everywhere we go and to keep everybody waiting they had absailers dropping down from great heights. The other form of entertainment at ground level are the hundreds of Somalia souvenir sellers who do that illegally – when the police show up there is a really fast exit by these very tall black guys – very funny.
The afternoon was spent at the Palace of Versailles – put it this way, think of Werribee Mansion and multiply by 1000! No joke it is incredible. An hour after we have got back at the hotel and we are still disbelieving. Built before the French Revolution and the home of French kings and queens (until the Revolution where they were all beheaded). Two thousand rooms most covered in artworks and gold, immense gardens and even bigger grounds surrounding it. Fortunately the Palace was not wrecked during the Revolution, recently they have even started restoring the vast amounts of gold on the fences, statues and roof detail, in the sunlight it just is simply amazing.
A drive back into Paris took as past the Arc De Triomphe and along the busy Champs Elysees and around other parts of the city.
Had to say goodbye to our tour friends today after a great dinner of French Onion Soup, Chicken coq au vin and Crème Broulee. Then a cruise down the Seine and like the Foords we got to see the sparkly lights at 11pm. What an impressive sight with the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. I want to know who changes the light bulbs???
Along our travels we have discovered that alcohol can be purchased in food courts. Universally people do not put the empty toilet roll in the bin even when its a flip top lid!! And I thought that only happened at home!! We have learnt that people are rude and push, so we have learnt to be so polite ocs if you are you could easily get lost and split from your family.
I can’t begin to put into words the experiences we have been having it s still quite unbelievable. I guess when we get home and start chatting about it and looking at photos it will be proof enough.
The camera has been getting a major workout, the battery charged quite a few times.
The fun we are having is great but we don’t get away from the mundane things like washing, this has been an experience travelling clothes lines hanging in the bathroom dripping on the floor. Taking 2 days to dry stuff. The next trip will include acquiring many quick dry items that also take up less room in the suitcase (yes we did hear you David Wanstall but were too tight to buy the stuff). In the UK we will stay in some apartments and get totally caught up.
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