It’s time for the Houston crew to head home (although we’re not entirely sure why) and the Ruegs contingent heads off to Paris. Not being certain about conditions at the airport, team Texas, gets to Heathrow while construction of the terminals is still ongoing. Aside from meeting everyone arriving or departing that day they are, needless to say, more than on time for their flight. The typhoid fever that has afflicted the group continues to wreck havoc on the travelers.
The small Ruegs crew heads off for the Chunnel train to Paris. Delays, equipment changes, seat assignment chaos ensue. We’re not sure how much is Brexit and how much is the usual high level of cooperation between the Brits and the French. We eventually make it to Paris about 90 minutes late and find ourselves in a Taxi line rivaling Disney’s Haunted Mansion on Halloween, only with less discipline. We finally check into Hilton’s Madison Astor Paris - walking or short cab rides to almost everywhere we had planned to go. Also, well, yes, lobby bar!
After a few libations and some rest for Jeorgia, we clean up and walk to the Siene for our dinner river cruise. Our mile long walk takes us through the Place de la Concorde where I get to bore my fellow travelers with unwanted information about the route of the final stage of the Tour de France. To say their interest was waning would be to underestimate their disinterest! We finally make it to our boat and are treated to beautiful views and something approaching mediocre food for the next 2 and a half hours - all in all, totally worth it! Oh, and did I mention, Kathy and I celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary in the city of lights!
