Today is disembarkation day on the AmaLegro -- breakfast at 7am -- 8:30am taxi to the Pullman Montparnasse -- our well-located hotel. Neither of our rooms are ready -- however Patte and Dave's desk clerk upgrades them to a very large two-room suite -- three times the size of the riverboat cabin. We all go to the suite -- Patte and Dave to settle in and Phil and I to store our luggage.
By 9:45 am we are walking through Paris to the Musee D'Orsay with a stop at Les Invalides -- the military museum where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. Approaching the entrance to the Musee' D'Orsay we are stunned to see the long line. As we discuss our options a large group of teenage students (at least 100) appear and move toward the end of the line. At that moment the decision is made -- we are off to la Basilique du Sacre' Coeur de Montmartre -- the museum will have to wait.
Montmartre requires a ride on the Paris Metro. We are lucky enough to encounter an agent who speaks perfect English. When I inquire "Parlez vous Anglais?" she responds "Only when I'm drunk". She educates us about the metro giving explicit directions to Montmartre and how to find the funicular which will take us to Sacre' Coeur. The metro is well traveled -- at one stop a young man with a saxophone steps onto the train and starts to play his instrument. He is wonderful and was on the train for 3-4 stops -- just before exiting he passed a cup for donations -- we were happy to throw a Euro in -- I bet he picked up 10-15 Euros in 7 minutes -- not a bad gig.
We exit the Metro into Montmartre which means "mount of martyrs" -- St. Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was martyred here in the late 3rd Century. Montmartre today is a vibrant section of Paris -- a real neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants. Our metro day passes are good on the finicular which takes us up a very steep hill to Sacre' Coeur -- built in the 1870's. This Basilica is magnificent -- it can be seen from all over Paris and the view from its perch, even on this cloudy day, is something to see.
Before we know it -- it is time for lunch. We have many choices but settle on Brasserie le St. Jean -- a good choice for all. I have been on a Croque Monsieur kick -- basically grilled cheese but it tastes so much better in France.
This afternoon Patte and Dave want to see the Arc de Triomphe so Phil and I go along since we are on a search for the hair salon where I had my haircut in 1993 -- it is in the same area. We emerge from the Metro right at the Arc. According to the Concierge at our hotel -- the salon name no longer exists so we are going to the address and "Voila" we find a salon with the name "Jamal Fakih" on it. Luckily Jamal speaks English as I explain that I would like to have my haircut -- I leave with an appointment for tomorrow at 10:00am.
As Phil and I walk back to the hotel I spot a monument which looks like a gold tooth. As we get closer I realize it is a flame. We have come across the Liberty Flame, a replica of the flame from our Statue of Liberty -- given to France in 1989 by the International Herald Tribune commemorating 100 years of publishing an English language daily newspaper in Paris. This monument became an unofficial memorial for Princess Diana after her 1997 death in the tunnel beneath.
The weather is turning much cooler as we continue walking so I suggest we get on the Metro -- which we do. However -- we do more walking underground than if we had just stayed the course above. At the hotel our room is ready -- very nice but cannot compare to the Henry's suite -- where we will have some wine before going to dinner.
A cafe close by and recommended by the Concierge is our dinner choice. We are convinced it is owned by his brother-in-law since it is full of Americans and very expensive with mediocre food.
What a wonderful day in Paris --- life is good.
Thanks for Reading!
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