Day 13 - Touring Paris

Imagine trying to tour Paris in 4 hours - well that's what we tried to do. We started on the bus at 9:00 AM with a Paris guide that joined us for the morning and literally drove past the highlights of Paris. We stepped off the bus a few times - one of which was to climb what seemed like one thousand steps to Montmartre - the highest point in Paris. We arrived at the Sacred Heart at the top via a round about route (and after a few rest stops on the way up)through the artist's square.

We were allowed 15 minutes to explore the area and walk through the Sacred Heart before we started back down to our coach at the bottom. Along the way, most of us are accosted by one of the many men trying to sell us braided friendship bracelets. We quickly learned to keep walking on not make eye contact or you were trapped. They would physically block the way forcing us to dodge around them - very uncomfortable.

Next we drove around the Arch de Triomphe and the Eiffle Tower. We allowed 5 minutes to jump off the coach a snap a quick pictured of the Tower. We continued driving through the streets of Paris, past the Opera House, the Louvre (we'll be back there tomorrow), and numerous other sites until we finally settled near Notre Dame where we left the coach for the afternoon. It is now 1:45 and we are free until 5:00 PM for lunch and independent site seeing. Once again, we break off into several small groups, all going toward their own interests. Some stay to tour Notre Dame interior, some take a cruise on the Seine, others head for the shops or a walk along the river, and others visit the Musee d'Orsay - a museum featuring art of the latter half of the 19th century including a wonderful collection of impressionist and post-impressionist works of art.

At 5:00 PM we head back to the hotel for a short rest before a 7:00 PM dinner and free evening. Tomorrow we visit the Louvre in the morning and then head to the American Church in Paris to set up and rehearse for our final concert. We are all looking forward to seeing Fred Gramann and this last concert on our tour.

Only one day left....