Friday: A day with friends from Florida

Went back to bed after doing yesterday's blog....laid in bed till 6 then got up.. Martha and I were out the door by 7 catching the bus over to Notre Damn to meet Jane, Vi, Jean and Jeanette (all friends from Florida) by 7:30 AM. They were right on time so first thing was morning Mass inside a chapel at Notre Damn after which we toured the church and went around outside to see the gardens and flying buttress on the backside. Lots of pictures were taken. I should say that Violet who is 87 and Aunt to Jane are both good friends and neighbors from Leisure Lake. Jeanette who is 90 is Mother to Jean who is a long time friend to Jane. They have been on a Traflager tour of Europe for the past 14 days...this was their only full day in Paris as they leave for the states in the morning. We had agreed to meet them this morning and spend most of the day with them and what a day we have had.

Leaving Notre Damn we walked over towards our bus stop but first we stopped at a little Bistro for coffee and to use the w/c. Then it was off on the local bus #21 that would take us back over by our apartment. While Martha went to the apartment to check on Bonnie and Jane, who we had left sleeping several hours ago, the rest of us enjoyed strolling in Luxembourg Park. Great place for more photos..meanwhile I was beginning to worry because Martha was not back yet. Soon I spotted her coming in the gate. She had fallen,up the stairs, by trying to hurry and now had one lens out and several cuts around her eye. But not one to let a small mishap slow her down we were off to see the great white church on the hill, Sacre Coeur. To reach our goal we were going to give "our Florida girls" a real taste of Paris. Down the many sets of stairs the led us into the giant Metro System of Paris. After a few changes we were soon ready to leave the Metro system... We were all relived to see a escalator ahead of us that would take us back to street level. We walked very slowly up the very crowded street on our way to the funicular the would take us the rest of the way up the hill. But when we got to the top it was going to be many more steps to get into the church. Jeanette elected to sit this one out and stayed with Martha while the rest of us made it to the church....wonderful church to tour. The nuns were singing a litany that was beautiful to hear as we made out way thru the church.

We all had a reservation at 2:00 for a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower...so a decision was made that we would get 2 taxis to take us back down the hill and across Paris. By 1:30 we arrived on time and found Bonnie and Jane waiting for us. A quick sandwich from one of the street vendors, a trip to the w/c and we were off to joins the crowds waiting to ascend the tower. Our advance tickets gave us the fast line to the second level but from there to the top it was line waiting, like at DisneyLand, Jeanette and Martha just enjoyed the second level, 377' then waited for our return from the top. I was so proud of Violet who overcame her fear of heights to enjoy the beautiful sights of Paris laid out at our feet 899' in the air. Wow what a view !!!! All to soon it was time to get back on the elevator and return to earth, picking up Martha and Jeanette on the way down. It was time to say Au revoir to our Florida friends as they had plans for this evening with their tour group.

As Jane and Bonnie had not been with us at Sacre Coeur.....we decided to hop on the REA train and go back to finish touring this area. After making our way uphill, again...... Martha and I sat outside the church while the the girls Enjoyed the inside of this beautiful church. Then the real fun began as we made our way thru the artist community known as Montmartre. We had Real French Onion soup with wine for an early Dinner. Winding our way downhill for at least an hour we saw many interesting buildings, Jane found a manhole cover with the name of Paris on it for a shoe shot, and soon it was desert time. Jane treated us to wonderful crepes in a darlin little shop. Finish later