France, Continued

We found a great parking spot for the nanny SUV, right at the entrance to Versailles. We walked over the vast gravel lot to the front gate, and then read the instructions for meeting our tour guide: "Whatever you do, DON'T go to front gate --meet in tourism office across from the train station." We laughed, and followed directions, and got our tickets. We waited in the McDonalds, which was packed, and had a separate counter for pasty and coffee.

The thing that stuck out about the Versailles tour was Chinese people -- TONS of them. When I visited the palace with the Ds 9 years ago, there were few, if any. Now they seem to be on a mission to see France -- huge busloads of Chinese people were everywhere, except in Normandy. I guess they don't care much about D Day...

We toured the palace and lunched in the amazing garden.  And then we got back to the car, to drive to Paris. I've driven in NYC, and LA, and of course Miami each day with our infamous scofflaws. They ain't nothing compared to Paris. My hands sweated as busses cut me off while speeding motorcycles missed us by inches. Mike and I dropped Wifey and Loni at the hotel, and returned the nanny SUV to the Hertz spot right under the Louvre. We walked back to the hotel and I immediately had a martini -- to calm the nerves.

The hotel was Le Saint, and it was lovely, right in St. Germain. We walked to the Musee D'Orsay, and the Louvre, and the lovely shops and cafes on the Rive Gauche. We met my friend Joelle at a place called L'Escudella, and then decamped to a hotel jazz bar. We felt like Hemingway, and Stein, and all the Lost Generation folks.

We had a private guide for the Louvre, Christina, and she was terrific -- skipping lines for us, and telling us a great history of that greatest of world's museums. We of course saw the Mona Lisa -- got as close to her as the hordes of Chinese would allow.

After three nights, we switched 'hoods and hotels -- to the Montemarte and La Maison Souquet -- a five star place that was once a "house of pleasure." Mike and I asked for discounts since we brought our own "ladies of pleasure" but none was offered.  We were right down the street from the Moulin Rouge, and we had tickets. The acrobatics were cool, and the big production numbers tolerable given the topless dancers.

We visited the Marrais, the traditional Jewish quarter, and ate fine pastrami sandwiches at Schwartz's after we toured the good but confusing Jewish Museum.

We walked to the cathedral Sacre Cour, and marveled at the view of the city. We went to the Eiffel Tower, which Wifey and I had previously seen, but waited while Mike and Loni ascended. We had fine meals -- our favorite was Phillipe's -- all souffles.

The final evening we took a Seine cruise, and I took a photo of Pont D'Arts, a bridge that was my late friend Karen's favorite. I posted the photo on her FB page -- her husband Rich appreciated it.

After the cruise, we found an Italian place next to the Crazy Horse.  One of the dancers was outside -- dressed fully as a Royal Canadian Mountie.  I had no idea that was an erotic icon for women. We watched as he moved a Ferrari, and nearly crashed it. Mike and I laughed greatly at this...

The next am we had a van take us to DeGaulle, and a fine breakfast at the Admiral's Club. The flight home on AA was awesome -- we slept a lot, watched movies, and ate our final pre diet meals.

So Wifey and my 25th anniversary trip, postponed when Wifey's bad back reared its head, finally took place, nearly 7 years later.  It was a grand time, and wonderful to come home, even to the tropical heat and humidity of Miami summer.