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Alice and her traveling companions got back into Las Vegas at 11:45pm on Monday May 18, 2009. They were really tired but really enjoyed the trip. Alice is already planing a trip to the Azores Islands for next summer. I just can not keep that lady at home...... We wish everyone a wonderful summer. We will be heading out to the southern California coast the middle of June and I may start another travel Blog when we get on the road again.

The following is an E-mail message that I received from our daughter Cindy on Sunday - May 17, 2009

Hi Don,
We had a great day today, Sunday, May 17th. We started out with Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral. Then we had French cheeses, sandwiches and pastries in the Cathedral plaza. After that we started out on our Historic Paris Tour ala Rick Steves guidebook.

Deportation Memorial
St. Severin
Place St. Michel
Sainte Chapelle

We stopped for cafe a lait and espresso. We shopped the gift store and for the next 6 hours lugged around trinkets.

We caught the Batobus on the River Seine and had a wonderful cruise from Notre-Dame, past the Louvre, Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, Musee D'Orsay and back to the Notre-Dame stop. After that, we went back into the Latin Quarter for a dinner that included French Onion Soup and Creme Broulee.

We're back at the Villa Saint Martin for the night. We were out and about for 12 hours exactly!

We couldn't give you an update nor call you yesterday, Saturday, as the internet wasn't working in our room.

Saturday, we started out by taking the RER train to Versailles. When we got back we took a three hour nap. Mom stayed in while Rusty and I walked a few blocks over to the canal where they have locks, walkover foot bridges and lots of charm. We brought back a Parisian pizza.

We leave to come back home tomorrow when the airport shuttle picks us up at 1:30. We will be back in Las Vegas at midnight Monday. We have had a super visit with only a few things undone. But as we have done all the top tier sights and quite a few second tier with some serendipity, we are very pleased. Oh, and all the French have been friendly and helpful. I'm not sure how they got such a reputation; probably an urban legend.

One disappointment is that Dianne got sick on Friday night, so she, Liza and Denise then began a different schedule than the three of us. We expected to be in Versailles together and Notre-Dame. We hope to see them in the morning, downstairs for included breakfast; their flight leaves a little earlier than ours.

Both Mom and Rusty are already sleeping. I'll join them.

Goodnight.
Cindy

GETTING TIRED

Saturday May 16, 2009 - I talked to Alice this morning (Pahrump time - late afternoon in Paris) and she said she is getting tired. She said they were riding the bus and tram and went to see the Basilique du Sacre Coeur. Click here to see pictures of the "Basilique" It was late afternoon in Paris when she called and she said the other were going back out but she was going to stay in and rest.

REPORT FROM PARIS - Friday 5/15/2009

Another full day today riding buses and the Metro with lots of walking in between. Started with the included city tour this morning followed by shopping at Monoprix (shopping mall) for trinkets and vittles. Took the food back to the hotel and they let us use the breakfast room to have a little picnic. All were impressed with the hospitality of the hotel. After lunch we went to the Arch de Triump on the Avenue of the Champs-ElysÈes. After that we went to Louvre Museum. Finally we took bus route 69 that has a route that passes many of Paris' main attractions and its last stop was at the Eiffel Tower where we got off. Needless to say we are tired once again. Here is a pic of all of us. Cindy, Lisa, Rusty, Dianne, Denise and Alice left to right.
Ok cya, Rusty

HAPPY ALICE

The caption on the e-mail I received said Bolongerie. The best I can figure out is that means a French bread or bakery.

THEY HAVE ARRIVED IN PARIS

At about 7am Pahrump time, I received a call from Alice & Rusty from Paris. They were using Skype Internet phone. It was costing 3 cents per min. It was about 4pm there. They said the weather was rainy but nice and warm. They had been out all day sight seeing. They traveled on the Metro (picture at left)and buses . Some of the places they visited today included:
Musee d'orsay museum
Basilique du Sacre
Basilique Saint-Denis

Paris Weather Report

Alice left Pahrump about 4pm today and will spend the night with her daughter in Las Vegas tonight for the early flight in the morning. It looks like they might have a little rain.
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/07157.html

FLIGHT ITINERARY and ROOM ACCOMMODATIONS

A travel group of 6 people includes Alice Norvell, Rusty Shultz, Cindy White, Dianne Collins, Denise Kaplan and Liza ____?___. This group will depart Las Vegas at 7am on Wednesday 13 May 2009 and arrive in Paris France at 6am on 14 May 2009. The travelers will be staying at the Villa Saint Martin Hotel in the heart of Paris.

PARIS TRIP PLANNING

Alice just made reservations to take a trip to Paris in May. She will be traveling with her daughter Cindy and her friend Rusty.

Don will be staying home but he wanted to get a preview of some of the things she will be seeing on her trip and I found these pictures on WebSots.com
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/556324968XcoOPN
and also view some great videos of touring Paris at:
http://www.forbestraveler.com/video/paris/paris.html