The morning started with a major crisis. I could not find my purse. In the purse was my wallet and my cameras. I thought I remembered deciding NOT to take it downstairs when I used the hotel computer. I looked all over the room trying to find it. Jeri looked. I have heard so much about pickpockets and gypsies that I figured if I HAD left it downstairs (where 2 people were waiting to use the machine), it was long gone. But I went downstairs to check.

As I walked into the lobby, my friend who had sold me the very expensive internet card the day before saw me and said "I think I have your bag." Whew! She did. Crisis #2 averted.

We had a lovely breakfast here in the hotel,but the activities of yesterday must have done something to my body. Though there were unlimited chocolate scones, all I craved was fruit. I had peaches, oranges and about a quart of orange juice.

After breakfast Dana told us about a cheap internet cafe which ends up being about 4 doors down from the hotel. The hotel charges 15 euros an hour and this place charges only 2.50 euros an hour!!!!

At 9 we met our BUS...no metro today...and had a beautiful tour of the city, led by a woman named Amahl (that may not be how you spell it) who was funny, extremely knowledgeable and just a delight. We saw all the sights we'd seen yesterday on our Bataan march, but from an air conditioned bus, which was a GREAT improvement!

We got off in a few places, like Des Invalides, which was a military hospital, and is the burial place for Napoleon. Simply gorgeous. We only did the free parts because we were on a tour bus and couldn't take the time to pay the entrance fee to see Napoleon's coffin.

We also stopped at a peace plaza overlooking the Eiffel tower, which was really very cool.

We drove through the tunnel where Diana met her end and up the Champs Elysee, which was also very cool, especially since I didn't have to drive through all that horrible, horrible traffic!

Amahl left us here and Ian took over and we went out to "old Versailles," the old part of town where he was quite eager to have us see the old market. Semi interesting, but we ended up having lunch at a Breton cafe, where we all have savory crepes (galettes). I had crab and it was delicious. We also tried the fermented cider, very "Breton" we were told, which was refreshing (it WAS).

Next was the palace at Versailles, which was so opulent words almost fail me. How can someone be so incredibly self-obsessed as to build such a monument to himself! But it's definitely worth seeing.