It is Friday night midnight on the continent - and we are having an afterglow. We just spent 18 hours - Lulu's class - Marylou - Jean - and me.
It all started by catching the Eurostar train thru the Chunnel to Paris at 5 AM. The train was fantastic - quiet - smooth - on time. When we got to Paris - we took the Metro and a bus to the Louvre. From 9:30 -11:30 - it was finding Venus - David - and Mona Lisa. While the students were in the museum - I was scalping extra tickets and Lulu and I were having coffee with Marilyn Kaye.
Marilyn and Lulu were professor buddies at St. Johns University - now Marilyn lives in Paris and writes teenage books.
From noon to two - we went on a dinner cruise up and down the Seine. The weather was great and the wine flowed easily.
While we were getting ready for our river cruise - a bus rolled into the river right behind our boat.
Next it was up the Eiffel Tower - for pictures - pictures - pictures - followed by a cab to the Arch of Triumph and the Champs Elysse for major league shopping.
Most of the students decided to stay for the weekend and after checking into their hotels - we all met for a sun setting on the Notre Dame Cathedral.
At 9 PM - our train left the Gard du Nord (North Station) - the busiest train station in Europe - and we were back in our London flat by 11 PM. Note that Paris is one hour ahead of London.
Lulu's experiment was a huge success. Everyone enjoyed themselves - no one got lost - and we did everything as planned. Next year - it might be improved by hiring a van instead of buses - subways - and taxis. That would save time - shoe leather - and the students could leave their bags in the van instead of lugging them around. The time saved could be spent at other attractions.
The Golden Girls do Paris
Clear skies made pictures of the Eiffel Tower easy
Harry shows the French how to do a montage
The Seine River from the Eiffel Tower looking downstream west to the Atlantic
The Eiffel Tower from our river boat
Mary Lou in front of Public Assistance Hospital next to Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cathedral in setting sun
We left students here and came home - they stayed for weekend
The girls buying real designer purses - sure
Statue of Liberty replica on island in river
Parked bus rolled into water - no one inside
French urinal in cafe where I paid 4.70 euros (about $5) for a 12 ounce coke.
Marilyn Kaye - Lulu's buddy from NYC - now lives in Paris and writes full time
Entrance to Louve where I scalped 2 extra tickets
