Traveling with Ellen

  We’re having a nice easy day today.  Woke without an alarm clock at 8 am and went for a walk to a bakery for a pastry and coffee.  Then on to the outdoor market for a walk around to look at the stalls and shops.   We have cool, gray skies today and glad we were at the Eiffel Tower yesterday because as we passed it today on the way to our ship, the summit was on the clouds.  If you went today, you’d see nothing. We did get our steps in, it seemed uphill both ways, about 1 km each way.     Everywhere you look, beautiful bolangeries and chocolatiers and cheese shops.   Fun to look and take pictures. Easter eggs in the chocolatier’s window  Maybe a ladybug for Easter? Bits and pieces from our hotel Our room key.  You didn’t want to carry it around.  We were asked to return it each time we left the hotel Apropos of our card playing, the picture in our hotel room and someone is cheating! We had lunch on the ship and then a relaxing...

  We should have caught up on our sleep.  I was in bed at 7:30 and with the help of a Benadryl, slept most of the night with just a few awakenings.   Up at 6:45 am and in the taxi at 8 am for the 20 minute ride to the Eiffel Tower.   I booked a tour for us at 9 am and glad I did.   I presumed it would be about an hour there and it turned out to be more like two hours.   Lots of waiting in line and various screening steps made everything take more time. The elevator in orange taking the journey up to the summit  The famous  Hôtel des Invalides houses Napoleon’s timb And a look at the Arc de Triumph from the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower  More views from the summit We rode to the 2nd level for a talk from our guide ans he pointed out landmarks  and then we rode a separate elevator straight to the summit for more viewing.  It was pretty cold when we left the hotel, about 47 degrees.  The 2nd level was open, just some open wire fen...