After a hearty breakfast we were off on 'a 3-hour tour' of Paris with a very knowledgable guide. But since I knew we were opting not to take the bus back to the hotel, I did not bring my iPad with me to jot down all the places we went and all the interesting facts she imparted to us. (In fact by now I've forgotten her name!)

I took lots of pix out the bus window, and despite not being able to frame my shots the way I would have liked I think ingot some reasonable ones. We made a 'technical stop' at the Concorde Parc, and the bathroom had a reproduction of the Mona Lisa. Our only other stop was at the covered passages. Mom stayed on the bus, thinking they would be like the secret tunnels in Lyon, but it turned out to be a shopping 'mall' of sorts; they were built a couple of centuries ago so the Parisiennes could shop despite the iffy weather, which we have certainly been experiencing. Just this morning we had to wait for the bus a couple of minutes after our 'technical stop' (the buses are not allowed to park there and wait) and with the wind blowing it was quite blustery. Despite being bundled up in a turtleneck and short-sleeved sweatshirt it was a tad uncomfortable.

We got dropped off at the Musee d'Orsay to view the impressionistic paintings; Monet is a particular favorite of Mom's. We queued up at the end of the (long) line (although it did seem to be moving steadily) with Bessie & Hardy. I had just noticed an armed guard in the plaza (with a very serious-looking weapon) and was getting out my camera to snap a picture when one of the museum employees opened up the rope and took us through a special entrance so we wouldn't have to stand in line. It was a pleasant surprise... especially for the two young men from Connecticut behind us who had struck up a conversation with us, and were assumed to 'belong' with the oldsters.

Fun Fact: the museum used to be a train station. Maybe you've seen the movie 'Hugo', with the clock? That's the station that has been turned into the museum, and people rendezvous under The clock.

First stop was lunch. We ate in the museum restaurant, which was quite ornate and definitely not cheap - but the four of us enjoyed it. Mom had a duck burger with a French fry tower, and Bessie and I had the crabmeat and mango 'thing' that was wrapped in something (and everyone agreed that it looked rather peculiar) - but was delicious. Hardy got the special that included a brownie for dessert - and he shared. :)

We saw lots of Monets (we are now all geared up for Giverny tomorrow) and Sisleys and Renoirs and Degas, and then took a pedicab over to Concorde Parc and relaxed by the fountain. It was a short taxi ride back to the hotel where we asked the concierge for a dinner recommendation: we want escargot. And there's a bistro within walking distance (although we'll probably take a cab.)