We arrived in Paris at midnight.
After breakfast, each group embarked on a guided bus tour that: showcased most of the traditions landmarks one associates with Paris; provided an arrêt de toilette; and finished with a little walk-about in a charming Left Bank neighborhood. Then we were left to our own devices.
Below are some of images of Paris. Most are iconic enough to not require any commentary. The Tower…the Arch…the Louvre…the Opera House…the obelisk. The anonymous apartment buildings along the Seine were taken from our boat.
We have been asked frequently about Notre-Dame Cathedral. We rode past the edifice on both bus and boat but we did not actually set foot on the Île de la Cité. In fact, access to the island as well as the cathedral area was restricted.
In the picture I’ve posted, you can just discern a bit of white near the scaffolding. This is part of the covering that has been put in place over the ceiling to protect the interior from the elements while decisions are made on the restoration. From the crowds in the area, it remains one of the top attractions in Paris albeit for different reasons.
[I am going to digress for a couple of sentences. I don’t know if it’s just me or poor design on the part of WordPress, but I am so frustrated! I keep losing my commentary after I’ve written it while editing this page. Several whole paragraphs have disappeared without the ability to restore. Argh!]
We took a lot of pictures at the Eiffel Tower..in two different stops and from several vantage points throughout the city. [Paragraph lost. Can’t remember what I wrote. Again: Argh!]
Here are pictures of our dining group.
The gentleman on the phone carrying the red Grand Circle flag is our Program Director, Edward. To his left is our first Parisian tour guide, Jean-Louis.
After our morning bus tour of Parisian landmarks, Rob & I opted for two afternoons of Impressionist art. Fortunately, the two major Impressionist art museums alternate their days of closure so we were able to go to the Musée de l’Orangerie today and will visit the Musée d’Orsay tomorrow using a combination ticket.
Among the many works of art, l’Orangerie has two large oval gallery rooms designed specifically for Claude Monet’s huge Water Lilies paintings.
After the art museum, we opted to walk back to the ship from central Paris by way of the Eiffel Tower–our second visit today. We were able to get as close as one can without paying admission. Close enough, in fact, to see the rust on the iron framework.
After dinner, there was a bonus. Because we have an experienced, licensed captain and a low-profile ship that can maneuver under the bridges of Paris, we were treated to a small cruise party on the Sun Deck as the M/S Bizet sailed past the Eiffel Tower and continued up the Seine through the heart of Paris and beyond before turning around and heading back to our dock.
The Eiffel Tower from the Seine. That’s our “baby” Captain. (His words–not mine.)
France: Normandy to Paris 