Saturday, April 27th - We checked in at the Mercure Paris - Montmartre Hotel around 5:00pm ending our trip with enough daylight left for some orientation walking and dinner. We found that we were within walking distance of the Moulin Rouge and caught the 10:00pm show. We did not have reservations but were lucky enough to be seated within about 15 feet of the stage, at the last minute, in a packed house and with a couple from Scotland. It was an excellent show, they served the most expensive champagne that we've tasted, and it stayed with Jo most of the next day!
Sunday, April 28th - The day started with a half-day city sightseeing tour that included the Arc de Triomphe [pretty in daylight, as well], Eiffel Tower, Opera House, Madeleine, Louvre, Champs-Elysées and Notre Dame. The sights were really great, especially from the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower. The local tour guide was quite versed on background but the delivery was less than great. A lot of time was spent at Notre Dame [even after everyone had seen all, stopped taking photos, and just sat down], but the tour is primarily for orientation purposes and to provide an idea of where you may want to explore on your own. The tour ended in front of shops near the Palis Royal, so we walked through the Louvre and on to the Place de L'Opera, where we caught the metro bus back to the Place de Clichy and our hotel. In the evening, we took the elevator up to the Church at Sacre Coeur, which is the highest point in Paris, then had an excellent dinner at a restaurant on top of the hill. The evening was very enjoyable and the comments from some of the men, as we passed through Pigalle [Paris red light district], certainly kept it lively.
Monday, April 29th - After a leisure breakfast, we caught the subway downtown to the Arc de Triomphe for a walking tour on our own. After grabbing a few good photo shots of the Arc, we strolled the length of Avenue des Chanps Elysees to the Place de Concorde at the Seine River and this walk was great. Along the way, we viewed up close the many works of art that line both sides of the avenue. We detoured to see the Grand Palais and other sights just off the avenue. Continuing on the Right Bank (North side of the Seine) we ventured north to Madeleine and then west to the Opera where once again, we took a bus back to the hotel. Jo was not feeling well so we hung around the hotel and had to skip our planned Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise on the Seine.
Tuesday, April 30th - A full breakfast prepares us for our trip to Amsterdam. We depart the hotel around 8:45 am and ride through northern France, across Belgium and into Holland. Although the highways were good throughout the trip, Belgium choose to close 2 of 3 lanes of traffic, in each direction at one point, and traffic came to a halt. We saw nothing but the signs indicating single lane traffic. If we ever see Belgium again, it will be from about 38,000 feet! We arrive in Amsterdam during Holland's Queen Day celebrations and the streets are closed to traffic, so we depart the Bus and carry all our luggage a couple of blocks to the hotel. |
