Paris 15 May

We set off for the station again this morning only to find that the station was closed as they were doing maintenance work on the line.  However we were able to work out that there were replacement buses and sure enough one turned up in a couple of minutes, which took us about four stations along the line where we caught the train again.  We got off in the Champs Elysees and walked up towards the Arc de Triomphe, and encountered some rain so we bought the world's most expensive umbrella which of course guaranteed dry weather for the rest of the day!  We walked up the 278 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe which gives amazing views across the city.  We then caught a tourist open top double decker bus to travel around to see a number of sights and get a better idea of where everything is, then hopped off at the Eiffel Tower. However the queues were long and the weather had turned cold so we hopped back on the bus and went towards the Orsay Museum.  The queue was also a bit long so we had lunch at a nearby restaurant, we both had steaks which were beautiful, probably the best I have ever had.  Then we went into the Orsay which was fascinating with paintings by Van Gogh, Gaugin, Monet etc, we spent many hours there and didn't get home till about 7pm, absolutely exhausted.  These holidays are hard work!  Love Sabine and Sam