4/7/18
We landed at CDG at 0823, a few minutes ahead of time. We cleared immigration in a flash and found our luggage. The Viking coordinator was at hand and bundled six of us into a minivan which took us to the hotel arriving around 0930. So far, so good.
Then we waited and waited and waited for a room to be made available to us. We took walks up and dow the street and did things to stay awake. Finally we got into our room at 1457.
Absolutely terrible. Strike one.
Val & Pat & Doug & Joyce went off on a art tour they said later was excellent. We waited. When we did get into the room we both fell into bed for a two-hour nap.
The six of us had hoped to get into restaurant Le Sud next door tonight but the only table for six would have been at 2300. The six of us went instead to a pub called the Canadian Embassy right down the block and had great pub food & beer while chatting and watching Manchester United beat Manchester City 3-2.
Now we're working on tomorrow's schedule and tagging bags and other mundane things. Once those things are done, we'll try to get on a European sleep schedule.
Sunday… Paris
PhotoLink
4/8/18
Bus tour of Paris in the morning. Tour to the palace at Versailles in the afternoon. Website Link.
We had a great buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room, then went outside to check the weather - cool but promising to be a good day. We got ready and leaped into the bus when it came. It took us all over Paris with stops at a viewpoint for taking Eiffel Tower pictures and another to tour Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. The Cathedral is a huge pile of stone.
We toured around the mass in progress by staying outside the service area and close to the side chapels. Very nice painted glass windows and huge tall ceilings. For detail, see D's pictures (link above).
PhotoLink
4/8/18
Bus tour of Paris in the morning. Tour to the palace at Versailles in the afternoon. Website Link.
We had a great buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room, then went outside to check the weather - cool but promising to be a good day. We got ready and leaped into the bus when it came. It took us all over Paris with stops at a viewpoint for taking Eiffel Tower pictures and another to tour Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. The Cathedral is a huge pile of stone.
We toured around the mass in progress by staying outside the service area and close to the side chapels. Very nice painted glass windows and huge tall ceilings. For detail, see D's pictures (link above).
We returned to the hotel for lunch but just had a glass in the hotel bar since we were still stuffed from breakfast. Then it came time for the Versailles trip. Into the bus and out to the west into terrible traffic. Part of the reason for the traffic is that the trains are out on strike.
PhotoLink
But we got there and got our first impression of the place - 600 yards wide across the main part. Here you'll have to look at D's pictures - I only got a few. One of mine is to the right - the hall of mirrors which is located on the west side of the building. Looking out to the west one sees some of the garden including a large pool, then a long reflecting pond. Since Louis XVI was the Sun King, he had the sun reflecting off the pond or pool into the huge windows to the mirrors then to everywhere in the room. It must have been spectacular.
Our Swedish guide was excellent at maneuvering us into the correct spots in the rooms we saw in order for us to get the full effect of the room. He spoke well (he's Swedish), and continuously giving us facts. We got through all the king's rooms but the queen's rooms are closed for work.
D & I also toured the spaces for the two daughters who remained unmarried and stayed here all their lives (Adelaide & Victorie) which were still very nice.
Then we took a toilet break and went into a small shop for hot chocolate. I managed to spill mine all over the tile floor but the attendant took care of it rapidly. We exited through the gift shop (of course) and into the bus. The bus took an hour to get back to the hotel in even worse traffic but we got there.
We rested for an hour then went out to find food. Le Sud, located down the street, was nearly empty so we got a table for two. We had wine and shared bruschetta. Roasted chicken was D's choice and I had Veal Milanese - both very good.
We hiked back to the room where D went to sleep immediately and I stayed up to do these notes.
