Monday 10th Paris.

After a leisurely breakfast of croissants and coffee we headed for the bus stop. Had to wait a while for the bus to arrive so chatted to some English people as well as a family from Texas. The Americans all think their throats have been cut because they had to fly for a whole eight hours to get to Europe. They can't believe it takes us 26 hours and more to get here.
We went to the Louvre and decided to battle the queues, which as it turned out were not as bad as we had expected. Thousands of people there and we got to see the Mona Lisa. Everybody had told me the painting was small so we were surprised to see the actual size. Had a good look at it and then wandered around some of the other exhibits. You would probably need a week to see the whole museum, but we saw what we wanted and were really happy to do that, having spent a few hours there. Met John and ? whom we met on the cruise. ( We've had a mental block here, can't recall her name although we knew it this morning). They had got separated from each other and were each starting to panic. We were able to get them together and they were happy.
After that we walked up to the Opera House and had a good look at that. It is in the Baroque style which is heavily ornamented, with marble, frescoes and mosaics everywhere.
Then it was on the bus to Notre Dame where we queued again to have a look inside. A huge Gothic building with stained glass windows. There was a full orchestra, including the pipe organ, and choir rehearsing there which would have been wonderful to hear if it weren't for those damn tourists, they are everywhere! Trying to be quiet and not succeeding.
By this time our little legs had been worn down to the ankles so it was decided to get the bus back home and find a place for tea. Our hotel is just a few steps from a junction with Boulevard du Montparnasse which is a very lively area so we did some more side-walk sitting and eating along with a nice Bordeaux. It's really lovely sitting with a glass of red, watching the locals wandering past with their little dogs on a lead and carrying their baguettes for dinner. Lots of bikes here too and cars going everywhere. You couldn't call the Parisiennes over weight, they all look slim and terrific, probably have a cigarette instead of a meal, I think.
Tomorrow we go to Giverny and Versailles, so that will be a nice day.