Monday 18.5.2009
Up early bags out  by 6.,45a.m. and on the road by 8.15, to Luxemberg for a short tour of the city and old town with fortress, the view was just fabulous and then some free time in the Grand Duchy and back on road by 11.00a.m.  Not far to go over French border (Luxemberg is only 900 odd square miles) and see a huge nuclear reactor belching smoke out.  From then on the countryside was lovely undulating, rich green fields and then through the champagne region with loads of vineyards.  Arrived in Paris arounnd 5.00p.m. and after briefing our free time.  We are so close to the Eiffel Tower you can nearly touch it out of our hotel window (no wonder the rack rate is 670 euro a night - insane) very close to loads of things, talk a lovely walk for an hour or so and had a couple of glasses of wine out on the terrace of a restaurant, then went on and had dinner at another restaurant, it was in cheap eats of Lonely Planet, lovely food, two courses each and it was $230.00, we'll have to get on the bagettes I think. Back to hotel around 1030 for an early night, tours tomorrow of paris and a seine cruise so a pretty full day, then we are FREE!!!!