Last Day in Paris--Louvre Museum Boat Cruise

We got a new tour Director today, as Alex was still sick.  Michelle took us by Metro to the Louvre where there were long lines.  We got in about 10:15am and got to see The Mona Lisa and many other famous works of art at the Worlds largest art museum.

Next we took a metro to lunch (chicken leg & thigh with french fries, apple pie for desert).  Then more metro back down town where we boarded out boat.

The Boat Cruise was the highlight of the trip, as the sun came out.  We were on the Seine for about 1.5 hours and we went up and around Notre Dame.

After the boat we took the metro back to the hotel to pack for a long 36 hour journey to Venice.  We got another little bus tour on the way to train station.

Day 2 in Paris--Bus tour, Versailles, and Eiffel at Night

This day Alex was sick.  So we did a bus tour, Versailles, and 3 hours to shop.  Unfortunately, most shops were closed but we still were able to buy some chocolates, some Hard Rock Cafe Shirts and get a coffee and free wifi at Starbucks.    The dinner was a ham & cheese crepe and s chocolate one.  Then Anna met us there and took us by metro to the Eiffel Tower to see it lit up at night.  We also got to go UP to the Tower to the 2nd floor to see the City of lights at night.  What a cool experience.  The top floor was closed due to rain and wind.

Paris to VENICE

Our time in Venice was just too short.  We took an overnight train from Paris, leaving at 8pm and we arrived in Venice at 9am.  Then took a bus to a boat to the Morano Glass Factory, where we saw them blow glass.  Then another boat to St. Mark’s square where we got Gondola Rides ($20 EURO/person was a great deal!).  That was a highlight!  

Next we had about 1.5 hours of free time to eat pizza and stroll the shops and look for an ATM.  Some students went to the Hardrock Cafe to buy shirts, while others enjoyed a Gelato (or two) while sitting in the sun in St. Mark's Square.

Lastly, in Venice, we had a local guide take us on the tour of the Royal Palace where the Dukes lived and where the naughty Prisoners were held. We walked over the famous sigh bridge and saw the Golden stair case before ending our tour at the Famous Rialto Bridge.  All very cool!

Today we are off to Florence to see Michael Angelo's David.  We leave the hotel (by the beach) at 9am and we'll have a Auto-Grille (fast food) for lunch.  After a guided tour of the Academia where all the famous painters studied, we'll head to a leather making demonstration followed by a new hotel.

DAY 1--Paris & Notre Dame

In front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.  The new selfie stick was a great purcahse today.  We had a walking tour along the Seinne River, had beef Buguion for an early dinner and then took the RGR and Metro back to the hotel for an early night.

Itinerary

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 Start Tour

Day 2 Bonjour Paris

Meet your Tour Director and check into hotel

Paris city walk

Ile de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral visit, Ile St. Louis, Latin Quarter visit

Dinner in Latin Quarter

Day 3 Paris Landmarks

Paris guided sightseeing tour

Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, École Militaire, Les Invalides, Conciergerie, Tuileries, Place Vendôme, Opera House

Optional  Versailles guided excursion  $80

State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors, Gardens of Versailles

Dinner at a crêperie

Day 4 Paris--Venice

Louvre visit

Lunch

Seine River cruise

Overnight train to Venice

Day 5 Venice Landmarks

Venice guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets

St. Mark’s Square, Basilica di San Marco, Doge's Palace visit, Glass-blowing demonstration

Day 6 Venice--Florence

Travel to Florence

Florence guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets

Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Chiesa di Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo visit, Leather workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante's House

Accademia visit

Day 7 Florence--Rome

Travel to Rome via Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi Basilica visit

Rome city walk

Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona

Day 8 Rome Landmarks

Rome guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit, Colosseum visit, Piazza Venezia, Forum Romanum visit

Dinner at Traditional Trattoria

Day 9 Start Extension to Sorrento

Travel to Sorrento

Cameo workshop

Pompeii guided excursion

Day 10 Sorrento--Rome

Travel to Rome

Capri & Blue Grotto Excursion

Day 11 End tour

18-days before departure