March 12

 Day 2

It was a LONG day, especially after travelling all day yesterday, but like most Viking days, it was such an amazing day.  The first half of the day we spent four hours doing a panoramic tour of Paris.  Being here just the one day you CANNOT be here and not see all the stuff you're supposed to see!  And that ended with quite the "sweet surprise!"  Then after a quick return to the hotel for lunch the afternoon was spent with another four hour excursion to a part of Paris most don't see, and it was just so unique, so full of stories.....so thankful for Viking providing this off the main road opportunity and the guide to explain all the stories behind everything.  Here's how the day went.....

Panoramic Paris
After an early breakfast we were split into five groups of about 20 guests, each with our own personal Viking guide and bus.  We spent about two hours driving all over Paris.  The guide would give us a brief overview of all the significant places we drove past, the kinds of places that post cards are made of and the ones people say, "If I ever went to Paris I would want to see....."  Our first photo-op stop was, of course the Eiffel Tower.  It was in the low 50's with a nice cold breeze so it was brisk, but comfortable.  After that we went to the Arc de Triomphe and past the icon obelisk that was gifted to France by Egypt.  It had originally be outside the Temple of Luxor - where we were two years ago and saw it's partner obelisk alongside the massive statutes of Ramses II.  We drove by the Louvre and over the Seine River and ended at the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  Before we left our program director had told us that on our stop at the cathedral, right around the corner was a café where they THE BEST creampuffs.  So after we took our obligatory photos of the newly renovated cathedral we doubled back to this place.  OH MY, to die for.  And it was like out of a movie scene....you couldn't have created a more quaint, iconic café to represent Paris.  And our table was right by a window with a flower bow.  Framed out the window.....the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  Just wow.  And right around the corner I found my pair of souvenir socks for the trip.  Just a complete morning!

Scenes from around Paris

Driving down the Champs Elyse

Two guesses where we are :)

The Eiffel Tower

Group photo op

The Arc de Triomphe

Crossing the Seine River

The Louvre

The Egyptian Obelisk - over 3,300 years old

(NOTE:  It was here that the guillotine executions took place during the French Revolution

The Cathedral of Notre Dame

Odettes Café and the creampuffs

Inside Odettes - 2nd level

The window seats - the view

Montmartre Hill

This was such an amazing afternoon.  So unexpected and so NOT what you usually see in contrast to the morning's activities.  We were told as our bus headed to the other side of the city that Montmartre Hill had been where the artists had lived and at the bottom of the hill was the original "red light district."  As we approached the district we rounded the corner and my breath just stopped - right outside my window....the actual Moulin Rouge.  Might not mean that much to others but this is by far my most favorite movie (and we've seen the musical).  Just so very cool.  Soon we were dropped off and began the long, gradual climb to the top of the hill.  Along the way our guide paced our climb so perfectly as we'd stop and she'd share stories or point out small apartments that go for over $1.5 million because this is such a valued place to be now.  We finally reach the top of the hill and the artists' square.  And there, on the square were several cafés but THE most expensive one was where Viking had made reservations for us to have a coffee (or hot chocolate) and a pastry - as a reward for climbing to the top of the hill :)  We had a little free time to wander around and watch the artists in action and/or shop.  And then we took the funicular down the hill (rather than walking the 225 steps down!  And back to the hotel by 6pm.  We returned to the small café where we'd had a slice of pizza for lunch, just minutes from the hotel and had a pasta dinner with wine.  Just a fabulous day.  

Tomorrow we have bags out by 6am....on the bus by 8am and begin the full day journey to the Viking Longship Idi.  We have two excursions along the way and are expecting to arrive on board around 5pm!

THE Moulin Rouge!

One of the few streets on the hill with small homes, not apartments

The Man Who Could Walk Thru Walls

 Just one story of the many we were told - and had we been exploring on our own we'd have seen this and said "Huh, weird."  But instead we got, as Paul Harvey used to say, "The rest of the story!"  Apparently it's a very well known book / set of stories about a man who discovered he could walk through walls.  He utilized this "talent" to his advantage and in particular to meet with his lover, who was married - oh scandalous!  He'd wait until the abusive husband locked her in his room and then walk right in.  Well at one point he went to a doctor and asked how to make this ability to away and the doctor gave him one pill to take then and the other to take when he was ready to have the power go away.  One night he had been with his lover and afterward he had a terrific headache.  Took what he thought was an aspirin but it was the other pill from the doctor.  The husband came home unexpectedly and just as he was going thru the wall to escape the pill took effect and he was trapped in the wall!

The "Pink House" - quite well known
While we were here several young, attractive girls were taking fashion photo shots

Quite "the thing" in Paris is "the black cat" (see the bag)  This guy plays every day, all day with his black cat on his shoulder!

The café on the hill (interior on the right)

Selfie on the square

A MOST unique café - Mary Poppins, the Tin Man, Roy Disney, Mickey Mouse :)