We met our group this morning in the hotel.   It was off to the Cathedral of Notre Dame where we spent some time in this Gothic icon, home of the hunchback.   We then went off the St. Chapelle, where we were whisked through the security line with our Museum Passes while those other travelers not with our group seethed with jealousy.   The stained glass here is beyond compare and impresses all of us. 

We then took off to the Arc de Triomphe.   It was a stunning view from the top.  It was the clearest day in Paris that I can ever remember and one could see miles and miles into the distance.  The Champs Elysees was covered in green today, in a promotion for clean living.  President Sarkozy  even showed up (with this lovely wife) along with a few cows!   It is an amazing sight, that I am sure I will never see again.

After a lunch of Croque Madames and baguette sandwiches, the group split in two.  One went shopping on rue St Honore and I took the others over to l’Orangerie.   The water lilies are nothing short of spectacular.   The Klee exhibit downstairs shows some of his best work.

We had our welcome dinner at Au Beauolais.   All 14 travelers and 3 guides got together for some good French food, some wine, and jovial conversation.   I had to drag them out of there to catch the 10:30 pm cruise down the Seine.   It is almost a full moon and the Eiffel Tower sparkled like it has never sparkled before.   When we go back to the dock at 11:30, we were completely bushed, but anticipating our next day in Paris.