Paris!

After a two and a half hour bus drive from the coast to Paris we said goodbye to our fabulous bus drivers, Ron and Aldo.  We left our luggage in the lobby of the hotel situated in the shadow of the Chateau de Maison Lafitte.  Our tour guides, Barry and Kathie, capably led us on a short trip into the  centre of Paris on the RER train.  This was a new a experience for most of us and our tour guides extraordinaire helped to allay our apprehensions.  We took a stroll across the Seine to the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Kathie gave us a brief overview of the architecture of this magnificent structure, in particular, the flying buttresses.  We were then given an opportunity to explore the surrounding area and find a bite to eat for a late lunch.  Several of us found our way to the well known William Shakespeare Bookstore where some students were inspired to purchase classic English literature among other books.  Riding the Paris Metro with 64 people is a sight to behold.  Counting students becomes second nature rather quickly.  So far we have made a smooth transition getting on and off the subway.
We are tired so that's it.  We have a long day tomorrow with a short night, therefore we may not get around to blogging.  Bonne Nuit!