Paris
I made it through the airport with an excessively heavy bag and suffered the indignity of being "randomly selected for further scrutiny" which in this case meant either 3 x-rays or a body search. It was really degrading! The poor guys that get called out all the time! Once having arrived the Paris airport was instantly less easy to navigate. Contrary to the cliche, everyone does NOT speak English and the signage is not easy to understand. Which baggage to queue for is a coin toss. The cab driver took me to the wrong Marriott, for 40 euro but cab #2 was a success. Though at check in I was advised that 6-10pm it would be unlikely that I would be able to get a cab to come (L'Defense) ... so I concluded i had best get back into the city. I found the ATM machine to get more Euros, and then the Metro, and on the way saw some interesting pieces. The Chaplin-esque tourist was cute-- but I really liked the collosal face, pitted, aging, noble, and surrounded by the mirrored building. Stopped and ordered cheese and wine for lunch. Cheese sure tastes different here.

I bought a round trip ticket ( she wanted to sell me 2 one-ways) and hopped on.... girl reading was on the metro.. looked like a young version of me I thought. I walked to La Louvre.. and a charming older gentleman recommended an Open Air tour. These next pictures are all from the bus. It was an exquisitately beautiful day. 72 degrees and bright blue skies.