Runaway Bus!

We got up very early today...which doesn't happen very often. Couple that with the French standard of coffee being that 2 ounces is enough and you know how tired we were. We actually saw our 2nd and 3rd Starbucks today, and that took a lot of walking. Then, they only filled our Grande cups half full of coffee. I don't know why they are against being caffeinated around here. Anyway, I digress. Our tour guides were adorable today. So French and speaking so much English for us...almost like being on tour with Julia Childs.
They told us more about the French in 10 minutes today than our whole tour last night. First stop was Giverny where Monet did much of his painting. Learned quite a lot about the Impressionist movement on the way there which made the visit that much more interesting. For instance, prior to this movement, it was forbidden to paint landscape. Painting had to be specific and had to have a subject that was of noble class. Who knew these guys were rebels.
Next we had lunch at a darling French cottage. Tay tried the red wine (that they gave us for lunch even though I still have only had a teaspoon of coffee). She didn't like it.
We return to our bus and are given permission to nap. They are very nice here. I tried to stay awake to watch the countryside but that stinking wine...night,night.
We pull in to what is the biggest mess of tourism I've seen to date, the Palace of Versailles, get off our bus and wait further instruction from our ladies. All of a sudden I hear this man screaming like someone was running around with a weapon or something. Me, in my mom mode, can't understand a word of what he is screaming but know that it is bad. I grab Taylor's arm and drag/throw her back into the bus to get her out of harms way. I'm sure it was a site...anyway, bad idea because what the guy is screaming is get out of the way because his empty tour bus is careening down the hill headed straight at ours. Good thing we caught him With our bus because the lot was full of people and things could have gone very badly. Luckily all but one man was off our bus (well, and Tay when i tried to throw her back in)and the other bus had been locked from the outside,presumably by the driver, with nobody in it. After we all got over the shock of the whole thing...we laughed and moved on to our tour. We got a new bus for the ride home as ours had a giant hole in the side. Ok, not giant, but still a hole. See photo :)
Versailles was fine but so crowded and poorly managed now that is a little ridiculous. We came home and walked the rest of the evening. Walked around the Louvre and the Georges Pompidou Center with an escalator ride to the top of the city.
Dined in a nice cafe (which had smoking section which we forgot to ask to be seated away from) and got home to our happy home. Good day, good memories!
Good evening all!!