Jackie is having a rough go of it. Her sinus infection has her suffering through each day. Yesterday she got into the hotel a little afternoon and slept the rest of the day. We had put our packs in their room when we left to get the bikes and return the cars and were not able to retrieve them until late evening when they awoke.
This morning I rose, showered and walked to the palace to be in line by 8:45 am. Andy and Tabitha were to meet me there. I started texting them about 8:00 am, but was getting no response. About 8:20 am they responded, and I had concerns they would not make it on time. I had forgotten they were only. Five minute walk away. They joined me in line about 8:40 am. I had purchased six chocolate filled donut holes at a bakery we passed. We munched on them while we waited for the palace to open. We were in nearly the same position in line today as we were yesterday, although the line behind us grew rapidly and soon was snaking up and down the courtyard.
When the gates opened at 9:00 am, we briskly walked by all the introductory exhibits and wen straight to the chapel, where the Rick Steves audio tour begins. We had the place to ourselves. Well, in truth, we only had to share it with a few tens of people rather than hundreds. Andy and Tabitha really enjoyed the audio tour and the chance to take in the palace once again, as did I.
At 10:10, I headed back to the hotel while Andy and Tabitha continued their tour of the grounds. Sally was up and packed. We moved the bike boxes (remember those-the cause of much consternation) and our panniers to the lobby. I unlocked the bikes from the courtyard, attached the panniers and prepared the bikes for the ride to the station. Jeff and Jackie arrived on time. They graciously lugged our boxes the three blocks to the train station where we boarded the Paris bound train.
In Paris, we exited the trains into the subway tubes, then carried them up a few flights of stairs and through a access gate to reach the surface streets. Not a terrible ordeal, but not convenient either. It was about half a mile to our next AirB&B and we were soon there.
Oliver, the host at this B&B was a little lax in his communication and had us scrambling last night to make connections to get in. His address is not on his information sheet that is given out where your registration is accepted. We were relying on him to get it to us, as well as a description of how to get the key. Late yesterday afternoon we finally received a long text, from Ecuador, where he currently resides, with the details. Everything was in order, and we were able to access the room easily.
This room is on the top floor, 101 steps up, on the island behind the Notre Dame, Isl de St. Louis. It is a single room with a bathroom in the corner. On top of the barroom is a loft with a mattress. It has a nice kitchen area and two large windows looking out over the street. When Andy and Tabitha arrived from Versailles I leaned way out those windows to watch them approach. At street level is a large wooded door that allows small cars to access the inner courtyard. A door within the right hand door is for people access. We were given a code, which worked well and let us in.
Once in the flat, we established territories in the open room, then headed to the out for a quick look around. Jeff and Jackie stayed to rest. Sally and I walked up to the Norte Dame and out to a store for some groceries. When we returned we found Jeff and Jackie in the line for what Rick Steves calls the best ice cream in Paris. The shoppe is directly below our flat. We each had our choice of flavor and agree it was good, but not worth the 30-45 minute wait the line caused.
Andy and Tabitha arrived about 4:00 pm on foot, having just ridden the train from Versailles. We chatted for a few minutes, had a bite to eat and then took the metro across town to Fat Tire Bike Tours near the base of the Eiffel Tower.
The tour lasted for 7:00pm until 11:00 pm. We had a blast. Our guide was 26 year old Alan from Venezuela. He was full of energy and fun. First thing, rode across town back the ice cream shop below our flat, stopping at the Notre Dame on the way for a quick lesson on Disney's history of the cathedral, with a nod to some guy named Victor Hugo. He had a humorous take about each landmark, although mostly we just rode. I spent some time riding with him at the front and found him an interesting kid. He has a masters in communications and is attending school in France. He has only vermin Paris for six months but has built a good circle of friends around the other kids at the bike tour company. The esprit de corps is like that of a summer camp.
Jackie suffered on the ride. Her sinus infection really set her back. We took the metro back to our flat and got to bed about 12:30 am.
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