Day 18 - Mon 27 Sept - Paris

After a good nights sleep we finished breakfast and were ready to hit the East side of Paris by 10.00am.  We bought a two day L'Opera Tour bus ticket.  First we walked around the smaller of the two islands in the Seine where Paris originally settled in 300BC.  This island is called 'Ile de St.Louis' and its main central street has many small boutiques (Sandra visited them all!).  The whole is more than the sum of the parts here.  The area radiates authenticity and charm and looks very much like the Paris we see in the movies.

Back on the bus for the full tour of Bastille and Berey for many new and and unique contemporary architecture buildings.  One complex with multi-storied towers reflecting four open books around a huge open plaza.  Another a multi-functional sports and events stadium with external sloping 'green' walls.

Back on foot we went the 3km to the hotel passing through the 'Place des Vosges' - a lovely square surrounded by villas of the same construction.  Lastly, the art exhibition centre 'Centre Pompidou' which to maximise internal spaces has all ducts, pipework, escalator and lifts outside the building, all coloured for a very dramatic effect.

Day 17 - Sun 26 Sept - Paris

Enjoyed a sleep-in today as checkout was not until 12 noon from our Pullman Hotel at La Defense.  It was a very modern hotel and we were able to take advantage of their fantastic internet facilities.  We took a taxi to our next hotel - Hotel Molier which is situated right near The Louvre and within handy walking distance to many major attractions.  We didn't have a clue where the taxi driver was taking us and hoped that he was not chosing the scenic route - into the country and then back into the city.  It was another white knuckle ride, close misses to pedestrians and any vehicle that got in his way.  I did feel like crossing myself when we arrived safely at the hotel and did a silent prayer to god for thanks.  We followed a small walking tour of the local area once we had settled in.  The walk included the Palais Royal courtyard and an elegant covered passage lined with many shops and chambers called "Galarie Vivienne".  For dinner at "Chez Clement Opera" (a lovely brassiere) we had a very nice french style dinner (Sandra - spinach ravioli and Stuart - rack of lamb cutlets).

Day 16 - Sat, 25 Sept - Paris

Having survived a packed itinerary yesterday, I wondered how today would transpire.  Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower - the weather was good and we took advantage of the views from the second level.  We preferred the view from the ground rather than looking down from it.  Security at the main attractions has been tightened, similar to that of airports.  The entry to major tourist attractions now takes time.

From the Eiffel Tower we visited Invalides wear Napoleon set up the first hospital and retirement home for his soldiers.  We viewed his tomb which is housed under the golden dome in the chapel.  We had lunch at
The Louvre and then had a guided tour featuring the most famous paintings and sculptures, including; the Mona Lisa and statue of Diana.   The paintings and sculptures all have interesting backgrounds and add to one's appreciation of the piece. 

Dinner was at the Moulin Rouge.  We felt very important as we bypassed the queue of people waiting to enter and were escorted to our table for a very nice dinner prior to the show.  The show was an absolute knock-out!  There were the beautiful ladies and men presented in many varied costumes and sets.  They performed the well known can can.  What we didn't expect were the other acts - a ventriliquist who used a live dog and people from the audience; a juggler; a sincronised swimmer who swam with two pythons in a pool which was raised above the stage!  A circus scene featuring 6 shetland ponies cantering with the dancers; also a strong man and lady who performed their talent of strength and balance.  It was a great culmination to the tour as we say goodbye to our fellow travellers.

Day 15 - Fri, 24 Sept - Omaha - Paris

Day 15 - Fri, 24 Sept - Omaha - Paris

We have been very lucky with the weather and have only experienced rain at the Normandy Beaches.  Today is forecast for showers.  We have a huge couple of days planned.   Being on a tour with a guide and driver who know exactly where to go and provide your tickets, saves a lot of time and effort.  I was excited about the prospect of visiting Monet's garden and house at Giverny.  It was exactly how I imagined - soft flows of water through a romantic garden filled with flowering blooms.  The house was light, bright with colour - an obvious haven and backdrop for artists to gather long ago.

After lunch, we visited Versailles - although we have seen it before, we hoped having a guide would give us a different perspective.  Unfortunately, the weather was inclement and the crowds were massive.  The volcano dust clouds earlier in the year resulted in September being very heavily booked for tourists.  It is always amazing to see such opulence, which a provides a reminder about what brought about the French revolution of the French poor.

We have had our farewell dinner at Chez ? and were served by a Sri Lankan Tamil who was very excited to meet Australians as his favourite cricket team is from Australia.  From the dinner we headed to the Seine River for a night cruise on a river boat.  The buildings are lit softly with golds and whites to enhance the cream stone and age of the city.  An amazing experience!

Day 14 - Thurs 23 Sept - Tours - Omaha Beach

Today we viisted Mont St. Michel which is a huge abbey built on an island called Mont Tombe (Tomb on the Hill).  Construction commencing in 966 with many alterations up until 1895/97.  It is circled by one street and an outer rampart wall.  Shops and cafes predominate here serving the bustling tourist market.  After enjoying crepes and paninis we headed to Liberty Highway to St.Lo and onto the D-Day landing beaches. 

The Americans have opened a new memorial to the soldiers killed during 1944-5.  It is absolutely beautiful and extremely reverent.  The cemetery is laid out in a Latin cross formation and cradles 9000 graves marked by a white stone cross or star of David.  It is on the beach where they stormed ashore on the 6th June 1944 under the command of Dwight Eisenhower.  The new memorial centre illustrates many individual sacrifices and it includes films with actual footage of landing and retreat of the Germans.  It would have been a terrifying sight as 47 divisions, mass aircraft and amphibious vehicles massed over northern France - assisted by overcast weather.  Apparently, the Germans on watch telephoned Hilter's Generals to advise, but they did not believe it and were afraid to awake Hitler to get his permission to move the Panzer tank divisions for reinforcement.  The allies even floated over the English Channel, hollow concrete pontoons to allow vehicles to be offloaded onto the shore.  Much of these pontoons still remain - the planning for D-Day took over a year to organise and its original date of 4 June had to be delayed due to bad weather in the channel.

It was such a sombre moment to view row after row of the stark white crosses and brings to bare the enormous loss of life from war.

Day 13 - Bourdeaux - Tours

From Bourdeaux we headed through the Poutou Charentes region to the Loire Valley.  There are grape vines for as far as the eye can see and for kilometre after kilometre.  The soil is dry and rocky but the vines are lush and green.  Our main stop today was the beautiful fairytale Palace of Chenonceau, set over the Cher river.  It has an amazing history.  It was the royal palace of Henry II in 1533 where his wife Catherine de Medici lived in the first floor and his mistress, Diane de Portiers lived on the ground floor.

Bordeaux

Chenencoux castle and grounds

During the WW2 the castle was occupied by the Germans but was used by the Resistance to smuggle people across the river.  The gardens are in a geometric style with small hedges and scrolling patterns with beautiful petalled pink roses adorning the perimeter.  A huge maze would delight any child and the estate farm was magnificent. 

At night the group had an optional trip to dine in a cave which was typical of how people created their homes by digging into the rock faces.  Stuart and I decided to do all the optionals as didn't want to miss out on anything! 

We drove about 5 kilometres from Tours to the restauant called, Le Cave.  Stuart tried escargo 5small snail pieces) in a sauce of mushrooms and garlic.  Meat seems to make up the major portion of French meals and Stuart is craving his vegetables although taking the opportunity to try any interesting dish.  Tomorrow we are off to Mont St.Michel.