Monday. Started the day with breakfast at the hotel. Buffet style, 30 euros (but, since we're gold Marriott it's 'free'. Woo hoo!). Eggs (very runny scrambled eggs), bacon, sausage, etc. Very good.
Tube-d down Rue de Rivoli and walked to Notre Dame. Very nice; very dark compared to Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's. I climbed (Suzanne passed) to the top and visited the gargoyles.
After Notre Dame, we went to St. Chapelle. Standing in line was introduced to what I was told by the Englishman in front of me was a French art form; line cutting. Just don't understand it, but, made sure my shoulders prohibited the woman from moving in front of me. St. Chapelle was nice, walked in to the 1st floor and Suzanne and I looked at each other and went "so, why did people say we should come here". Walked up to the 2nd floor; saw the enormous and varied stained glass windows and understood. Very nice.
Went from there on Monday to the Arc de Triomphe; one nice thing about the Paris Underground is how often you walk up stairs and are face to face with something Awesome; the Arc 'stop' was one of those events. Again, walked up the stairs to the top (Suzanne came along this time). Very quickly nearing another 1,000 step day.
Walked down the Champs-Elysees; stopped and had lunch at a stand. Walked into a few stores looking for the French-rugby shirt, no luck. Walked down to the Concorde and hopped onto the Metro to go over to the Gallerias Lafayettes for one last look for the elusive rugby shirt. Again, no luck, but, leaving the Metro and walking up in front of the Opera House was well worth it.
Went to Relais de L'Entrecote for dinner. My kind of restaurant, just need to say 'rare', 'medium', or 'well done' and you are good to go.
After dinner we went over to the Eiffel Tower.
Tuesday was Versailles day. Walked across the Tuileries gardens over to the Musee d'Orsay stop and took the RER train out to the Palace. Walked through the Palace (most crowded place we've encountered in France) and then out to the Gardens. Paid to take the electric-car (golf cart) tour; that was the smart move and was very nice.
Took the train back; stopped and went through Musee D'Orsay. Will have another rant about Modern Art shortly. Regrouped at the hotel and went to dinner at Pizza Pino. Finished the evening with a bus tour of the night time 'illuminations' around Paris.
