Early start in Paris this morning as we began with yesterdays failed driving tour. This was something completely new and different for me as I actually had to guide as well as lead. Usually, my job only involved the logistical side of things. We drove down our street trying to do a U-turn, when we finally found a spot, I announced, No, Garry and I are not lost, that was just the first available U turn space. Laughs from the passengers. When we passed by th...

Well this it is, today I start leading a blind tour with 46 people on board for a company I've never heard of, with one days training! I was up at the ungodly hour of 4:45am this morning, it was horrible waking up in a dorm and trying to not wake up the other people. I ended up giving up on that front. I walked down to Baker Street and got the first tube train to Canada Water. When I got there the bus wasn't there yet, so I went up to the office to sort out...

My last day in Paris. Sad Face. I checked out of my hotel early this morning so I could finish seeing a few of the sights. I got on the metro and caught the train to Invalides so I could see the tomb of Napoleon. It was pretty spectacular, he was in his own crypt in a basilica. The tomb itself is more like a sarcophagus, made out of red stone. It was as big as those used by the ancient Egyptians. At the entrance to the crypt stood two huge black statues a...

I made myself have an early start this morning, all the screwing around yesterday on the Versailles excursion had cost me dearly for time. I headed out at about 8am to go and see the Eiffel tower. I got off the metro and walked down the Champ de Mars and there it was, with a Visite Australia sign on the building next to it. The irony. I walked right up to it and stood right under the tower, it was bitterly cold even though I had my big quilt coat on! I sto...

What a fiasco today has turned out to be! I attempted to get the train to Versailles today, only to find that the main commuter line going out that way was out of service. I could still go, but I would have to use a regional train, whose line was not on the metro map, to get out there. Now that sounds easy enough, but when your one of hundreds of tourists who has no idea what to do, asking someone at the information counter, who is alre...