Day 6a: Monday: City Tour

On Monday, our group participated in a city tour and boat ride on the Seine. The tour bus was more comfortable than the Air France plane. Each passenger had a set of earphones and could listen to the canned descriptions in any one of several available languages. I  have to confess that after about the third mini-lecture about a famous historic site, I stopped listening. I had a general idea of where we were and what we were seeing, which was sufficient to satisfy my curiousity. When I hit age 70, I decided I really don't need to know all of the details --- enjoying the ambiance of the city sights was more than adequate.

Here are a few of the sights along our route, a mix of Lloyd's photos and mine. I'm sure you'll recognize at least some of the buildings.

Lloyd took this photo what was arguably the most famous street that we toured: the Champs Elysées, with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.

Other features of the city were also interesting. We passed by this shop window several times, and each time it caught my eye. Repetto sells products for ballet. I love those flying ballerinas! (Click the photo to see a larger image; click the link to see one of the loveliest ads on the internet.)

Another detail of the city also caught my eye: the doorways that opened into the private, residential parts of the city buildings. Most of them were closed, but a few offered a glimpse of a gleaming hallway or a lovely courtyard.

Our bus tour ended at the Eiffel Tower. We were issued tickets to ascend, but the four of us declined. It was awesome just standing beneath the mighty tower. Built in 1889, at 1,063 feet tall --- about the height of an 81-story building --- it is the tallest structure in Paris.

There were street vendors all around the tower selling a variety of souvenirs spread on squares of sturdy cloth. Apparently the vendors are neither licensed nor tolerated. When some officials in uniform appeared, it took only a split second for each vendor gather up the corners of the cloth and to take off with his sack slung over his back. Now you see 'em, now you don't! These fellows would do well in Olympic sprint events.

Lloyd is waving in the foreground, but look at the double-decker bus behind him to get some idea of the size of the tower.

From the tower, we crossed the road to the River Seine for our boat trip.