19th September (Diary according to Daniel Hiles)

First (semi) lie in for a while and we eat provided breakfast (just in time). When ready we head off to see if the weather is suitable to go up the eiffel tower, it's not so we go to the Louvre 1st. Queues to get out of tube station as they are security checking everyone! See a few knives/multitools confiscated and when we get to the surface we are met by another huger queue due to more security checks at the entrance to the Louvre itself! Think that this is slight overkill but more understandable than at American Express yesterday-they didn't even give us a very good rate. Split up in Louvre but I stay with Mike as we want to see similar things. Really enjoy it but don't think anyone could have enjoyed it as much as Liz-by the end we were pretty hungry so we head off to McDonalds for a Royale with cheeses and a beer!! Liz had baguette from nearby shop. We knew it had to be done and now was as good a time as any. After lunch we decided to brave the elements and go up the Eiffel Tower. It's higher than I remember and well worth it, it's blowing a gale at the top but us travellers are a tough breed. The view is not as bad as we had feared as cloud comes and goes, during clear spells it is breathtaking. After a while we go back down using the steps between the 2nd and 1st levels. On the way we saw the tunnel where Princess Di was killed, go over to see memorials and then catch tube from there to Notre Dame. We wander round there and then have nice walk by the Seine and through the gardens of the Palais Royale/Louvre and meet Ben again at 7:30pm at Madeleine. We venture a bit further tonight for a meal and find busy restaurant. As it is our last meal together I treat myself to salmon, Tim has escalope millanaise, Mike ravioli, Liz has pasta and seafood and Ben has escalope. After eating we go to the Louvre to see the glass pyramid when illuminated but looks nowhere near as good as in the postcards! We head back to the hostel and have beer in the bar opposite.