We landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport at 10: something in the morning. It was very difficult to sleep on the A/C > nothing new there. Accordingly we were a tired group as we began a guided bus tour of Paris, about noon. We toured for about 2 hours, had lunch, and toured another 2 hours. We then were dropped off as our hotel. The hotel was very clean and very small, and that included the rooms!! ((Oh to be back in Sochi!!!)) I have to say that breakfast this a.m. (now 08:00 local) was totally satisfactory.

NOW TO OUR TOUR OF PARIS: We moved quickly, got off the Bus only once, that being our stop at the Eiffel Tower. (Pic on extreme left taken in 2014.  Other pic is of me on the top of the Eiffel Tour taken in 1957 or 1958.)  The Guide was knowledgeable, and gave a great deal of historical information with regard to various construction phases of Paris. Unfortunately, most of us were tired!! We had never slept since rising on the a.m. of June 1^st > and our tour took place on June 03^rd in the afternoon. It is hard to believe but I took almost no pix!!! Lois did get some with her phone. We drove by many of Paris’s more famous buildings. On the Champs de lysee (sp?) British and French Flags were everywhere. Given that America, Australia, Canada and others, had liberated France, I asked why only the British Flags. Guide believed it was because the Queen was, as we spoke, in Paris. President Obama was visiting Poland, and will visit Omaha Beach on June 6^th.

All Readers do of course remember the names of the various Beaches. Sword, British; Juno, Canadian; Gold, British; Omaha, USA; and Utah, USA.

Rather than dwell on any description of central Paris, I am going to insert a pic I took from the top of the Eiffel Tower in 1957 or 58. The streets are well shown, and by design. You can also see the Seine River. I visited Paris on July 14^th which is Bastille Day, which is also the day of my birth. Paris is host to a grand military parade every July 14^th and our timing was perfect. (Click on pic to explode)

We will be leaving our Hotel in about 15 minute > time now 2014 06 04 08:10 (Paris time)

Internet access:  This was a constant problem while touring Europe.  Only in our last Hotel, the Harlem in Amsterdam, was I able to get internet access in my room!! 

Stan McCormack.