Day 4-London to Paris

Early rise today! meeting up with our tour mates at 6 in the morning, we got on our bus and drove our way to Paris! Just before the Channel crossing, we saw the white cliffs of Dover (bleach white, so cool!) and met our first Frenchies. :) The drive was long, but very pretty. We got to Paris went straight to our campsite, around 5. We ate snails! Also, lamb wraps with all kind of veggies and such...awesome. Then Josh took us on a coach tour of Paris. we saw the Eiffel tower, The Louve, Arc de Triomphe, Mesee D'Orsay, Les Champs-Elysees (street of brand name shops), Notre Dame, and the place where Napoleon was buried. Then we headed back to our new home, took a quick walk around the campground and headed for bed...Paris by day tomorrow!!

Day 5-Paris

Today we took in the Palace of Versailles-absolutely gorgeous, the gardens even more so . Then we got dropepd off at the Louve museum, took a walk around and found the Mona Lisa (among other great sculptures and paintings). Then Kallee and I walked the small streets and found a delicious little cafe with fresh bread and excellent quiche. This evening, we go to the Eiffel tower at night!! :)

...later....

No words describe the Eiffel tower...None!! It's sosososoSO beautiful, 'specially when it's all lit up with blue lights and then the flashing bright globes on the hour everywhere on the tower. We climbed the first two floors of the tower-a workout!!- then took an elevator to the very top. The view was absolutely STUNNING. We even saw someone propose, so cute. then we went back down to reality and had some champagne(only a little illegal on the streets), cheese and crackers and watched the Eiffel's light show. Party time back at the camp, woot!!

Day 6-Paris

The day started off with free time for us to look around and do as we wish again;Kallee and I walked the back streets to the Arc de Triomphe, then walked the main shopping street, Champs-Elysees, to the Louve. We decided we had enough time to go see the Notre Dame cathedral, so booked it over there, took a few pictures, then came back in time to get ready for our fancy night out. We were driven down past Moulin Rouge and the Red light District shops-all very originally named Sex Shop- and then got off and walked up the hill called Montmarte to the Sacre Conceur (Sacred heart Church). Our restaurant was very crowded, very hot, and had very good food and wine. Then back onto the coach to get to Nouvelle Eve, the Cabaret show, much like Moulin Rouge..we stopped in front of MR to get pictures and Josh our tour manager decided to play a trip and got an unknowing Kallee to walk onto a blowing air vent with a grate over top for a 'group photo'...needless to say, her skirt did some dancing...so funny, but I felt embarrased for her too!! Nouvelle Eve was pretty good, hilarious comedy acts, an amazing acrobat gymnast lady, champagne, juggling acts and of course dancing girls. A raving coach party was hilariously fun, and also got put to a quick end when the police pulled us over to check things out. Nothing came of it really, and we continued our party at the campsite until the very early hours...good times.

Day 7-Beaujolais Wine Region

today we said goodbye to Paris and drove about 4 hours to the beaujolais wine region, near Lyon. It was late afternoon by the time we reached our gorgeous Chateau, and we got to explore and chat with the others until wine tasting; we were introduced to all the types of wine this small region produces-mostly red- and got a sample as well. Then we had supper, and got ready for our 'P' party! We had to dress up-with limited resources- as anything that started with 'p', and we dance the night away in the small little club in the chateau basement. Our one roomie got a bit too drunk, so we had to find her-in another room- and then take care of her until she fell asleep..it was quite funny!! It was a late night but as always, a blast.

Day 8 BWR

it was very much a relieft today to have a planned chillout day. The Contiki crew gave us a picnic basket full of fresh baguettes, chesse, ham, chocolate, water and fruit, and sent us to the 'top of the world'. The nearby hill was a fair trek upward, but the view was really worth it, absolutely gorgeous with all the vineyards and green hills. the group of us got a picture and stayed an dtalked a while then headed back down the hill. There's a poo,l here, so a lot of us went for a swim and played games. The night was for organization, eating and enjoying each other's company;we're all getting fairly close for only 5 fdays in which is really great!