Day 7: Paris

 July 17:  End of the Cruise Itinerary
But NOT The End Of The Adventure!

What a glorious, GLORIOUS day today was!  We were out late again last night and by the time the photos were processed and posted it was nearly 12:30 am but it was rise and shine early again today as we were scheduled for an 8:30 am excursion - our final excursion of the river cruise part of our adventure....as a sidenote, as I went up top on the sundeck to film a video "Bonjour" for Facebook, the temperature outside was in the low 50's.....just wonderful!  We'll have three days in London, full of excursions/adventures, before flying home the morning of the fourth day, Friday July 21.  Today we had opted for the "Highlights of Paris City Tour," and that's important to note for those of you following along.....especially if you have been to Paris before.  With this being our only day of the trip in the City of Lights what we were looking for was exactly what we got - an overview / highlight tour to simply see the sites of Paris.  We are hopeful that on a trip in the not too distant future we'll include a pre/post extension and spend several days in Paris to spend more time at a few of the big places that are "must see" sites in Paris.  From the way the tour was explained I believed that we probably wouldn't get off the bus and I was willing to sacrifice the obligatory photo op in front of one of the signature sites, like the Eiffel Tower.  But lo and behold our exceptional guide, Violet, had already planned for us to go to the Eiffel Tower first.  She had an ideal spot picked out for a photo op.  And as good fortune would have it, today not only were Bob & Pam on our same bus/tour, but Peter & Cathy and Ros & Brian were also on the same bus.  So as we exited the bus I grabbed everyone and suggested we do a group shot which everyone was delighted with - see up close version above :)

We have so very much enjoyed the cruise - everything we had hoped it would be and better.  I will say that we'd sail with Avalon again, and everyone who's never river cruised in Europe has had THE BEST of times.  But as great as this has been, it's clear to Kim and I, and to Pam & Bob as well, that the Viking river cruise product is just a click better and is certainly the standard setter in the industry.  So if you've booked an Avalon trip, you'll have a fabulous time.  But if you've got the same (or nearly the same itinerary) and can choose between Viking and Avalon, we'd recommend Viking!  The B-E-S-T part of traveling for us has been the people we've met, many of whom are now very close friends and people we've traveled with again (and again, and again....).  It this has been no different.  We would have enjoyed this trip so much were it just Kim and I, but knowing we'd be with Pam & Bob made it very special.  Meeting Peter & Cathy, and Ros & Brian was the very thick icing & cherry on top.  It's just been fabulous.  So, the highlights from today......

The Arc de Triomphe

Le Petit Palais (the small palace - one of the many great museums)

Crossing one of the many picturesque bridges in Paris

Le Hotel des Invalids (a hospital & retirement center)
Buried under the dome is Napoleon

In the center of Concord Place is the Luxor Obelisk - this was originally located in front of the Luxor Temple in Thebes and was carved before the time of Moses.

It was a diplomatic gift to King Charles X of France from the Sultan of Egypt in 1830 when a Frenchman deciphered how to read the hieroglyphics on the obelisk.

This site is also famous because there was ORIGINALLY a statue of King Louis XVI - but it was torn down during the French Revolution and the guillotine was located here!

Maxim's - one of the MOST famous (and most expensive) restaurants in Paris

This castle is now a museum, but it was once a prison and home to Marie Antoinette for the last 76 days of her life.

The Cathdreal of Notre Dame - repairs & reconstruction from the great fire scheduled to be completed by next year!

The Louvre (much MUCH bigger than I had thought!)

A quick word about our tour guide today, Violet.  The best.....THE BEST guide of the trip.  If you have watched the Netflix series "Emily in Paris" well Violet was a very close version of Emily.  For three hours and change she chattered non-stop....but not like you'd imagine.  It was like we'd met our very best friend who lives in Paris and she was showing us the city for the first time.  She was so animated, so engaging, and so "conversational" as Cathy put it.  I was filming some of the tour and captured some of the "many looks of Violet" so I've added them here.....cheers to Violet for an exceptional job today, you made it great!

Tomorrow we scheduled to be transferred off the ship at 8:15 am and head to the train station for the trip to London on the Eurostar train.  We should arrive in London in the early afternoon, check into the Park Plaza County Hall hotel right on the Thames River.  We SHOULD have time to refresh ourselves before Pam, Bob, Kim and I will embark on our first excursion:  "A Taste of London" - a full course dinner of traditional English food and then board a cruise ship to sail up and down the Thames after 9pm.  Because of the late night pictures MIGHT be delayed in being posted....we'll see.