Today was our first full day in Paris and we commence the day with a bus tour taking us around most of the major sites and looking out the window at the arch de triumph and Notre Dame. We continued on around the city and got our bearings and the general feel for the areas that we might like to return to later. My first impression was the sheer scope and breadth of Paris. This was one of the largest cities that we have visited to date. My first impression was that it is far more beautiful a place than London and is not given the credit from the Anglo Celtic world that it deserves for its greatness and beauty.
After the tour we were dropped at the Eiffel tower for a skip the line to the second level. This took us one level higher than we had been the previous evening for dinner and the sky was now blue and the views particularly spectacular. We took some time again to wander around the viewing platform and get some nice pictures of Paris..
After this we decided to look at the shops and the weather was now particularly hot and we allowed ourselves to be fleeced by one of the local tuk tuks who drove us to the La Fayette shopping centre which had been recommended to us by the guide as a good place to commence a shopping excursion.
We enjoyed wondering the store, particular looking at the lovely handbags from all over Italy and France. We took the opportunity to buy Ket a particularly nice Dior handbag, the price of which is classified. What happens on tour stays on tour.
On return to our hotel was sought the advice of the concierge as to where would be an appropriate place to be dropped in a taxi in the Latin quarter. After receiving an appropriate recommendation we found ourselves in a vibrant street. We did o not know really where to walk but we wanted along seeing many very interesting restaurants full of life. In particular, we stopped to watch a street troupe from South America doing acrobatic martial arts dancing to a vibrant drumbeat which was very entertaining
We eventually found ourselves in a very nice French restaurant where I was able to participate in enjoying a very nice beef bourguignon and Het had some lovely grilled prawns. After dinner we returned to the hotel happily with our first encounter with Paris.