We had some free time in Paris and some members came before to Paris the tour began and some stayed after the tour ended. While in Paris, many took advantage of the evening boat rides on the Seine or went to Montmarte.
Since the tour began on a Friday evening, Don and Elizabeth spent the better part of the day riding the Batobus line on the Seine. These boats ran all day and you could get off at any of the 8 stops and get back on another boat later.
One of the stops was at the Eiffel tower.
From there they walked to the Rue Cler area to buy sandwiches to take back to the park.
Rob and Anne rode up the Eiffel tower for these views. This is in the direction of Les Invalides.
This view is of the Palais de Chaillot.
From the Seine there was a great view of the rear of the Notre Dame Cathedral and its flying buttresses.
Some members also visited the Rodin Museum. There they saw "The Thinker" and "The Kiss."
Also on display were "John the Baptist" and "The Walking Man."
This is the famous "Burghers of Calais" which shows the emotions of the burghers who are condemned to die in an attempt to save the city of Calais during a seige by King Edward III of England. Thanks to Edward's wife, they were spared, but Rodin caught the different reactions of the burghers as they contemplated death.
"The Gates of Hell" is Rodin's work inpired by Dante's Divine Comedy.
Don and Elizabeth stayed a day after the tour ended to see the archaeological crypt with its Roman ruins below the plaza in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Some tour members went to see the Arc de Triomphe.
Some even went to the top to see the traffic on the Etoile.
Some went to Montmartre to see the Sacre Coeur.
Some went there to see the Moulin Rouge.
On their last evening in Paris Don and Elizabeth walked to the Notre Dame and got this great evening shot.
The shadows also showed the rose window and the flying buttresses to good advantage.
There was also an opportunity to look at the central entrance in more detail.
Even more detail shows Christ in a judgment scene with the saved being sent to His right and the damned to His left.
A shot a bit later in the evening as the lights were coming on.
A shot when it was getting dark.
A night view of one the bridges on the Seine.
The Eiffel tower at night.
All of these activities, in addition to the tour itself, made for a wonderful trip. We close with a photo of the Seine at sunset.
Au Revoir