3. Paris

Eiffel Tower
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Flight was delayed by half an hour but made up time and arrived at about 7AM. Flight not too bad considering departure time being way past our bed time....

Train trip from airport to Paris hotel was very interesting if you like public transport. Cheap way to get into Paris if you don't mind lugging bags up and down stairs.

Got to the hotel too early for check in but met up with Gaye and Daryl .

Our first experience with French cuisine over lunch was very educational - bread great - coffee ordinary.

Notre Dame
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Dinner was much better - we all tried a "formula" [set menu] - none of us finnished it because of sleep deprivation.

We conked out big time and revived ready for a big day checking out what goes on in Paris.

We explored Paris in the Hop on Hop off open bus with Gaye and Daryl.A great way to get to know your way around Paris and learn about some of the history.

Very cosy accomodation - especially the shower.

Clare at the laundromat
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Wednesday - another sightseeing day with a lot of walking.

Walked along the Seine to the Notre Dame. Back through the Sorbonne University area. Toured the Notre Dame - magnificant. Walked up to Pompidou Arts Centre - controversial crazy architecture. More Open Bus Tour.

Back to Hotel - dinner with Gaye and Daryl - French, tiny, pretty good.

Thursday.

Guitars owned by Rory Gallagher , Eric Clapton and George Harrison
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Day on the Metro - checked our car pick-up location - Montparnesse.

Visit Grande Opera building - unfortunately main Auditorium closed for rehearsals. Magnificent marble staircase, chandeleirs, and ceiling artwork. These guys must have had too much time on their hands...

Next stop huge shopping Galleries - Laffayette.

Came across amazing Fender guitar exhibition - original guitars used by Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher etc. By co-incidence we had noticed as we were passing the Paris Bercy Centre that Eric Clapton had a gig coming up in Paris on 28th May. Santana was playing the same stadium on 15th May.

Tourists in Paris
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It was great to see all those beautiful guitars and watch a couple of concerts on the big TV screens. Clare was encouraged to continue with her retail therapy for as long as she liked. I would have been quite happy to stay at the guitar show all day but there were places to go to and people to see.

Got lost....then made it back to Hotel on Metro - choc-a-bloc- freak hour. Visit Laundromat.

Evening expedition to tallest building in Paris - 56 floors in 38 seconds. Climbed to open deck with 360 panorama view - Daryl nearly freaked out - height phobia.