Let's begin - we boarded the bus and left on time making GREAT time on our way to Detroit (Thanks to Frank our lovely bus driver). We had a Surprisingly easy time getting through the security to wait for our flight to board. We had lunch and did some people watching - the kids were super well behaved and many of them were very nice to Sam.
We had an uneventful, yet somewhat LONG flight to Amsterdam... Annette has a story about that one, since I wasn't there I won't spoil it, you'll have to wait for her to find a few minutes... from Amsterdam we RUSHED to get our next flight. I say RUSHED because since the Dutch Bomber the Dutch decided they better do something about their security and they implemented a major security review in the weeks just prior to our flight. what would have taken only minutes too much longer - we only had 45 minutes between flights as it was so we were rushing to begin with. They had ONE security entrance person working for the non- EU folks (not european passports) and they did call someone in to assist so that we wouldn't miss our plan... Also I believe that the one lady working at the start of the security line actually let the flight know about us so that was good that they were a bit late anyway.
We rushed... wait, did you understand that we RUSHED??? I mean, I was sweating! seriously sweating and i was so worried we'd miss our flight! Anyway, you get how tense it was and how quick we had to move so I'll continue on.
Our flight from Amsterdam to Paris was really quick... we were only 45 minutes but door to door I think we were about an hour so it was all good.
Again, the kids were really well behaved on the plane so it was a piece of cake for the adults.
Once we arrived in Paris we gathered our luggage and went off to find our tour bus. We were to catch a bus to take us to our hotel - right in the heart of paris. It's a wonderful place, more active than when we stayed in Glaciers but very hip and trendy. Our hotel is the Citadines right beside a Novotel - and looking down on a fantastic looking cafe - "les Innocents" on rue des innocents...
Our driver was a very smelly and typical Parisien. He had a hard time fitting all the luggage in the bus, they aren't as big as the buses we have in North America, and he wasn't pleased with me and Matt since ours was the last luggage to be loaded...but I didn't much care.
Once at our hotel (hmm... I should tell you about that! so let me back up.) On our way to our hotel Sam said she was worried about his anger issues as he was verbally mean and loud to other drivers... typically French really. Annette said "I'm more worried about his smell then his driving," he was the most ripe man EVER and thank goodness he kept putting the air on in the bus because it kept his smell down! but the bus was freezing!
After the stuff was all dropped off we went back on the bus with smelly dude and we were joined by a guide for a driving tour of Paris. I have to say, having had experience with this we'd have been better off with NO tour... yes, the kids were tired from no sleep, but we were better off not being bored to tears...seriously. We had a better explanation of many of the major sites from the Hop-On-Hop-Off tour , but now we know.....
We stopped for a quick photo opportunity. As I'd been there already I waited outside for them and Eric and Sam walked around the gardens (yup lots of daffodils). Anyway, I saw the two kids coming towards me and i waved. they waved back and they were laughing... so i waved again... and they waved back again and laughed harder, when they were about 10 feet from me sam was laughing and so was Eric and I thought - wow I must have something on my face... or on my shirt. I didn't know why they were laughing. Well something grabbed my arm and I screamed. When I looked around there was a HUNCH BACK... I was apparently the afternoon entertainment. there was a crowd who'd been entertained with his miming me waving to the kids... and they saw it and thought i knew and it was funny... but wow did he scare the pants off me! :)
here is Notre Dame...
We had a late lunch and then were joined by one of the owners for a walking tour of part of paris. It was WONDERFUL - so much better. we retired for the night and ...
thats where this blog entry ends... and the next begins. (I'll leave that story for Annette as well because she can always tell stories SO much better than me!!! everything from glasses to security guards. we've got it covered!)
good night!!
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