DAY 17. Wednesday, July 7, 2004

We were up for a 9am departure and we were with the group that got off at the Louvre where thankfully the line wasn’t too long. We saw Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile and walked through the other paintings. Then Kim and I ran into another bunch from our tour and 3 of us went shopping. I was searching for a Paris shirt but didn’t find one I wanted, although sales were on and I did find an 11 Euro pair of pants (which was good. Quite low on laundry at this point. There is a Laundromat very close to the hotel but the tour is almost over.) Also saw the Arc de Triumphe on our walk, and then managed to make the train home with success. The bus took us to the red light district for the people going to the show, and for a group of us who just went out for dinner. Sam, Kim and I went for a lovely French supper, and the fellow working corrected my French but at least he understood what I was trying to say. (Perhaps something in that 8 or 9 years of French class paid off.). Anyway, found it successfully and it was free so that was okay. We also then found an internet café for a few minutes, before heading over next to the Moulin Rouge to meet up with the group and spend our last evening together. Once again the place was full of tours, at least some other Contiki and well as was it EIF? Anyway, at the end of the evening a large group of us took a very large van back to the hotel. They made a mint at 5 Euro a person. But we all got in… This means the tour is basically over and I can’t say how sad I am… I think I may have caught the traveling bug! Also we saw our last of PK as he had to stay in for day 18 and start his next tour so we have a different driver tomorrow.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Ireland Looking back

Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge