We didnt have much time left in Amsterdam - basically enough time to do some quick washing, head out for breakfast whilst hitting a laudromat to dry our clothes - met an Aussie guy in the laundrette who looked after our clothes for us whilst we had some breakfast.

Checked out of the hotel and caught the train to the airport - no problems with the train and arrived at the airport to check in - one minor hiccup when the computer terminal did not recognise our booking number, however, after inserting our passports, we were back online again. All going well, until the automated check in for your luggage - they have a machine over here whereby you check in your own luggage - you put your suitcase in a cage, you scan your boarding pass, then a bag label prints out which you attach to your suitcase, then you send your suitcase off on this automatic belt and you get a receipt for your luggage - amazing!!! Anyway, we must have done something right as our luggage arrived in Paris.

The flight was quick and we arrived in Paris. First part successfully negotiated. We decided to be real tourists and catch the train from the airport to the City - we managed to buy a ticket easily enough and found our way to the station - second part negotiated. The train trip into the city was hilarious as there was a busker playing the piano accordian on our carriage and it was like a scene out of Allo, Allo with the french music playing in the background....I told Nadeen that I had organised that welcome for her on the train!!!

We then had to get off at one station and catch another train - a metro train to our station near our hotel - that is when it got a bit interesting....we had to exit the first station to purchase another ticket for the metro line, which we did. Then, when we had to re-enter the station to catch the metro train Nadeen got wedged in the entrance barrier and was stuck!!! Fortunately for her, a kind French woman offered to scan her ticket to allow Nadeen to escape from the clutches of the barricade - this seem to be a good plan until the good samaritan also became wedged and the barricades squashed her in the same position that Nadeen had encountered!!! Upon forcing the barricades open we were able to release the fair maiden and continued our journey to try and find our platform for the metro station. After one false start, we managed to catch the right train and ended up near our hotel.

After navigating the local streets and with the assistance of a local directory, we found our way to our hotel which is located in the Opera District of Paris.

Our hotel room is quite quirky it is a musical theme honouring Ricki Lee Jones - there are picutures of a guitar, a gold record and albums on the wall as well as in the bathroom. The hotel is perfectly situated about 200 metres from the local metro station of Madeline.

After checking in, we ventured out for a walk - we ended up walking to the Champs Elysees to see the Arc De Triomphe. Upon walking up the Champs Elysees it was hard not to think of Cadel Evans and his recent win in the Tour De France - imagine what it would have been like to have been a part of that!

The Champs Elysees seems to go on forever....it is littered with shops of all descriptions and it was great being able to walk up this infamous piece of real estate. After our visit to the Arc De Triomphe, we found a local pub and had dinner and a few drinks before returning to our hotel.

Already Paris is impressing us and I am sure it will be even more impressive tomorrow when we hit the tourist trail.

P.S Happy Father's Day to all concerned - I tried calling Dad a couple of times today but missed him, but I know that he was being looked after and it was great getting a message from Billy and Megan. We managed to skype Nadeen's Dad Neal so that was good.