What I did on my Paris vacation.

Itinerary: 9:30 AM -11:30 AM Highlights of the Louvre;
11:30- 12:15 visit Tuilieres
12:15 - 2:15 Musee de Orsay
Lunch on the run
2:30 - 3:30 Stroll the Champs Elysee
3:30- 5:00 Climb the Arc de Triomphe
5:00- Head to the Eiffel Tower for the evening.

That is the plan I deviated from. I was at the Louvre early. there were no crowds. I went immediately to the La Joconda (The Mona Lisa). I was there with only about fifteen other people. I was not surpised by how small it is because I had heard often that it is not a large piece. What did surprise me was how close you cannot get to the piece. It's on a free standing wall all by itself. It's got bullet proof glass in front of it and a banister/barrier about five feet away from the wall. Plus they have those crowd control stanchin deals set up going from the ends of the wall to a point mqybe 20 feet or more out in front. That's as close as you can get. My eyes aren't any younger than the rest of me so I did the best looking I could at that then turned my attention to some of the other 35,000 pieces of art. The two hours turned in to 5 and a half and the rest of the itinerary turned into a train ride to the Arc that I did not climb (too pricey) and another train ride to the tower. I did walk up the first half qnd then took the elevator up to the top. I didn't wimp out. You're not allowed to do the steps all the way up. Anyway-great view of the ginormous city that is Paris. I think if I had done the tower first thing, I might have left the city right then!

So, that was my quick visit of Paris. If I could ever go back; I'd plan for many, many more days and I'd spend them all in the Louvre.

I left on a mid morning train to Normandy. I tried to get in to my hostel as soon as I arrived but for the first time, I was shut out so I had to do my scouting with pack on back. Luckily, Bayeux is a small town so I was able to hit all the highlights including lunch within a short walk from the hostel. This meant that I had the entire next day available to visit the beaches of Normandy.

And that'll be next time 'cuz my time is up.