Fifi reigns.

Jim decided he did not want to spend $50 round-trip to ride the train and shuttle into Paris, today. So, we fired up Fifi and she was amazing!! I had said we wouldn't use her in the city, but we would have been totaly lost without her. We found an underground car park about 5 blocks from the Champs Elysees. Arrived about 10:00 and left at 4:00 with no major getting lost. Had a great day walking around Paris!! We visited the Arc De Triomphe first. And then walked to the Eifel Tower. That was a long haul. Jim's leg has been hurting him--he pulled a muscle the day before we left Switzerland--so walking was slow. But it was most enjoyable. We visited an open air market and bought nectarines that were to die for!! We went back after the Eifel Tower and bought more. The city was just packed with people--one of the pictures shows that, I believe. On the way back to the car we had a late lunch at a sidewalk cafe on the Champs Elysees--delicious--and the people watching was terrific. Tomorrow, we are driving back into the city and will go to the Louvre and to Notre Dame. Probably eat around there, too. Monday, it's packing our "stuff" and pitching what we don't need anymore, then, Tuesday we head home!!!! This has truly been a trip of a lifetime. There were moments when we wanted to come home, but that would have been silly. We have seen and done so much and have met many amazing people. Awesome trip Sorry pictures wouldn't load--will try again tomorrow.

Chamount, France

Well, we're on our way to Paris. We dropped Ken and Linda off in Basel, Switzerland about 10:30 this morning and then drove back to Bad Sackingen, Germany to pick-up the rest of our luggage and now we are in a small town in France at a McDonald's! We had a delicious meal and are now using the free Internet connection. We had a wonderful week with Ken and Linda. Saw amazing sites, had great food, enjoyed many laughs, and had an overall great time. The pictures I've posted are in reverse order. Sorry about that. The one at the top is of the field of sunflowers--I posted a field of yellow flowers at the beginning of the trip and am doing so at the end. So many sunflowers--beautiful. The second pic is off the back of the boat we took yesterday to tour Lake Neuchatal in Neuchatal, Switzerland. We went on a 3 hour ride--lake was calm, had a great breeze. Awesome. Next pic is of Jim, Linda and Ken on the boat. The third picture is of Linda and I at the Shuh chocolate factory in Interlaken, Switzerland. We did an hour tour of the factory and got to sample their wares. Best chocolate I've ever had. We're holding chocolate statues. I wanted to bring some home, but we just don't have anymore room in our suitcases!!! Last picture is of Linda and I in Thun, Switzerland. We walked the town some and did some shopping. Switzerland was the best, but extremely expensive. Tomorrow, we head to Paris to find a place to stay -- outside the city. No more driving in big cities. Even though Fifi was named in Paris, she can't go back! She gets too confused. We will take a train into the city to explore and then Tuesday we fly from Charles DeGaulle airport to JFK in New York City. We have to overnight and then leave Wednesday afternoon for Tampa. More later from Paris!!!

Unbelievable Switzerland

No pictures today. Sorry. I am in an internet cafe, again. Smoky and smelly. We are in Neuchatel. It is on a huge lake--28 miles long, 5 miles wide. Beautiful. Going to a musem--this afternoon--watch making is big in this area and the museum is about watches and time. Thursday we drop Ken and Linda in Basel, drive back to Bad Sackingen, Germanz to pick up our luggage and then head to Paris. We leave a week from today--Tuesday--from Paris to New york and then Wednesdaz to Tampa. Not long now. More later from Paris+++

Cave Day

Today was cave day. The first picture is actually the last cave we saw. Way up(by funnicular) and inside the mountain was a huge cave with waterfalls everywhere. I'm going to try and post some more pictures after this. The second picture is outside the cave we went into this morning. We took and hour and a half walk inside the mountain through all kinds of tunnels and caves--beautiful. Then we walked down the outside and could see the waterfall from the caves. The third picture was outside the entrance to the caves--just liked the flowers and the view. We are more than tired tonight. It's 7:30 and we are in for the night and close to bedtime. Lots of walking and climbing today.

Tomorrow we pack up and head North about 2 hours to find another place to stay--hopefully, for 3 nights.