Day 1

Vacations to Go

Home

Leavenworth Snow-2009

Future Trips:

Twilight on the Sound-2010

British-French Invasion 2010

Christmas in Disney World-2010

Cruisin' with Mickey-2011

Yellowstone/ Teton Exploration 2011

Great Short Trips:

#1-Puget Sound Adventure-2009

#2-Olympic National Park

#3-Glacier National Park

#4- Oceans Away

Optional Trips:
Long Trips-

Florida Sights

Great Britain on the Run-2008

Ireland

plus Key West Attractions or Key West Restaurants

Hawaii

Maui and Kauai

Oregon
Coast-a-Thon

Oregon Coast from Rockaway Beach North and South

Oregon Coast Websites for Vacation Rentals

Waterton-Glacier National Park

Short Trips:

Glacier in a Weekend

A Week in Walt Disney World-2008

Yellowstone National
Park-
Short Trip

British Isles Invasion

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Day 1
	Depart:	Spokane
	Do:	Fly to England
		British Heritage Pass 4 day £36.10 7 day £51.30 15 day £68.40

Day 2
9:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Newcastle
	Do:	Rent Car
	Depart:	Newcastle
Option 1:
	Arrive:	Whitburn, Sunderland
		On the A183 Coast Road at Whitburn, 2 miles south of South Shields, 3 miles north of Sunderland.
	See:	Souter Lighthouse (11-5) BHP/£4.40 (Closed Fri.) Coast Road Whitburn, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR6 7NH The world's first electric lighthouse. The lighthouse started operating in 1871 and was, at the time, the most advanced in the world. You can explore the lighthouse, starting in the Engine Room. Learn about how lighthouses work through video, displays and a variety of navigational equipment. See the family living quarters in the Victorian Keepers Cottage and climb the 76 steps to the top of the tower to enjoy wide views of the coastline, from the mouth of the Tyne to the Tees. Or you can enjoy the same view without leaving the ground floor by operating the remote controlled CCTV. Car and coach parking, tea-room with indoor & outdoor facilities
		(Continue on A69 which will become Warwick Rd. It will become A7, so turn right on Lowther/A7. Turn right on Victoria Pl. Go left on Georgian Way. At the roundabout take the 1st left on Castle Way.)
	Arrive:	Carlisle
	See:	Carlisle Castle (9:30-5) BHP/£4.50 Cumbria - CA3 8UR Built by William Rufus in 1092. Control of this city was gained after 200 years in Scottish possession. Although the city was dominated for two hundred years by the Scots, Carlisle remained mostly English since the 12th century. One of the city's oldest and most impressive buildings is the 12th century. Mary, Queen of Scots was once imprisoned.
		(Go back east on Castle Way. At the roundabout take the 4th left on Georgian Way. It will become Spencer. Turn left on Chiswick St. Turn left again on Warwick.
Option 2:
	Arrive:	Alnwick	33
	See:	Sight where Neville fell flying in Harry Potter Alnwick Castle BHP/£11.95 (10-6)
	Depart:	Alnwick
	Arrive:	Carlisle	93

		The Lanes Shopping Centre (9-5:30, Thur 9-9, sun 11-5) Parking Fee
	Lodge:	Courtfield Guest House single £35-00 double or twin £60-00 triple £80-00 per room with breakfast 169 Warwick Rd. Carlisle CA1 1LP 01228 522767 Tea/coffeemaker, hair dryer, alarm clock, parking, TV in lounge

Day 3
9:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Carlisle
	Do:	AD 122 Bus £6.50 Day Pass to hop on and off
	Arrive:	Birdoswald	10
	See:	Birdoswald Roman Fort BHP/ £4.10 (10-5) Cumbria - CA8 7DD Birdoswald Roman Fort has one of the best preserved defences of any wall fort. The east portion of the wall is the longest continuous stretch visible today. Over the past 150 years, archaeologists have discovered a great deal about Roman military life at Birdoswald Roman Fort. The Birdoswald Visitor Centre provides a good introduction to the Hadrian Wall, and tells the intriguing story of
		(Stay on B6318.)
	Arrive:	Gilsland
	Do:	Bus
	Arrive:	Housesteads	7
	Walk:	Hadrian's Wall
	Do:	Housesteads to Once Brewed Walk
	See:	Once Brewed National Park Centre- Food, toilet, parking and bus stop. The Centre features exhibitions, a video theatre, souvenirs, books, maps and a comprehensive information service. Once Brewed is set near some of the best sections of Hadrian's Wall, and is an ideal base for exploring on foot
		Housesteads Roman Fort BHP/£4.10 (10-6) Tea Room, parking, toilet and bus stop. The most complete surviving Roman Fort in Britain built in 124AD. It has 800 men with a thriving civil community. Iincludes granaries, barracks, a hospital and even a multi-seated latrine. There is also a museum, which shows how Housesteads once looked.
		Vindolanda £5.20 (10-6) Bookshop, cafe, picnic, toilet The Roman army appears to have occupied the site of Vindolanda around AD 85, after the Governor, Agricola, had brought the northern tribes to bay at the battle of Mons Graupius. The Romans called the place 'Vindolanda', as many documents and an inscription confirm, perhaps because they were turning into Latin an existing native name, thought to mean 'white lawns' or something similar. The fort guarded the central section of the vital east to west supply route, known now as the Stanegate, and when the Wall was built some 40 year later, Vindolanda took its place between Housesteads and Great Chesters as a Wall fort. The early forts were built in timber, and required replacement every seven to eight years, even if there was no change in garrison, and the fifth such fort was constructed early in Hadrian's reign. The remains of these early forts now lie some two to six metres below the present turf, protected by the later remains of stone structures. The Roman army custom of laying down a clean cover of clay and turf over demolished structures before rebuilding has created anaerobic conditions in many areas, and the lack of oxygen has led to the survival of almost everything that has been lost or discarded at the time. The Museum, in the valley just to the east of the site of the stone fort already holds a vast range of leather goods, textiles, wooden objects, bronze and iron objects. But the most highly prized of all are the slivers of wood, covered in spidery ink writing - the official and private correspondence of the men and women who lived at Vindolanda nearly 2000 years ago. Their accounts, military documents, leave requests and even drawings all date to the year immediately before the construction of Hadrian's Wall, and they form the earliest archive of written material in British history.
7:06 p.m.	Do:	Bus
8:01 p.m.	Arrive:	Carlisle	17
	Lodge:	Courtfield Guest House £75.00 169 Warwick Rd. Carlisle CA1 1LP 01228 522767 2 Singles and 1 double, ensuite, tea/coffeemaker, hair dryer, alarm clock, parking, TV in lounge

Day 4
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Carlisle
		(Take Warwick/A69 east. Go south on the M6. At Penrith go southeast on A66. When it ends, at the roundabout take the 3rd left on A1/A6136. At the roundabout take the 1st left on A59 east to York.)
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	York	145
	Do:	Lunch-Pasties
	See:	York Minster Abbey (Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5) Ogleforth York YO1 7JN Entry to the Undercroft, Treasury & Crypt (includes free audio tour) £4.00 Entry to the Tower £4.00 Entry to the Minster £6.00 Tower £4.00 Do Everything Ticket £9.50 You have arrived just in time for a short tour of the Minster. Tower: Climbing the 275 steps to the top of the central tower is an exhilarating experience. You will pass the Minster's medieval pinnacles and gargoyles and see over its rooftops. At the top you will have the best view of the city's ancient streets. From the highest point in the city you can see far over the surrounding countryside, from the White Horse at Kilburn to the Yorkshire Wolds. Undercroft: Descending into the Undercroft is like stepping back in time. When the Central Tower was in serious risk of collapse in the late 1960s work was done to shore up its foundations. Workers found the remains of buildings that once existed on this site. You can see the ancient remains discovered beneath the present Minster when archaeologists worked on one of the most important sites in England. Café: Situated within the splendour of St William's College, our 80 seat licensed restaurant offers a wide selection of home-made dishes, prepared daily from fresh ingredients. With pavement and courtyard seating during the summer months, enjoy a freshly ground coffee, light snack or full meal amongst these magnificent surroundings with the Minster towering above. We are open from 10.00am to 5.00pm and in the evening from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. 275 steps up to the top of the tower passing gargoyles and seeing over the treetops. Explore the undercroft where buildings that once existed on the site can be seen. Guided tour 9-4 are free and last l l/2 hours online
	Do:	Walk the York Wall
		Clifford's Tower BHP £3.50 (10-6) York YO1 9 Around 1068 to 1069, William the Conqueror built two motte's and bailey castles in York to strengthen his military hold on the north. Clifford's Tower, an unusual four-lobed keep built in the 13th century atop the mound of William's larger fortress, is now the principal surviving stonework remnant of York's medieval castle. The sweeping views of the city from the tower still show why it played such an important part in controlling northern England. Most of the tower that visitors can see today date from the 13th century, with some 17th century additions. Spiral staircases lead to the walls, and those who make the climb are rewarded by superb views of the city.
	Lodge:

Day 5
	See:	Shops
		Jim Garrahys's Fudge Kitchen (10-6) 58 Low Petergate York, North Yorkshire YO1 7HZ
		The Cornish Pasty Bakery-Pasty Heaven 29 Colliergate Boasting 19 different varieties of Cornish pasty, with various fillings, from the traditional meat and potatoes stuff to the more exotic Beef and Guinness or Balti Chicken varieties
		Monkbar Chocolatiers 7 Shambles York
		York Shambles- The way that fifteenth century buildings lean into the middle of the cobbled street means that the roofs almost touch in the middle. Mentioned in the Domesday book (making it date over 900 years), we know Shambles to be York 's oldest street, and Europe's best preserved Medieval street. It really is a very special place. The word Shambles originates from the Medieval word Shamel, which meant booth or bench. It was once also referred to as Flesshammel, a word with meaning around flesh; this is because Shambles was historically a street of butchers shops and houses. Records state that in1872 there were 26 butchers on the street. The last butcher to trade on Shambles was at number 27 of the name Dewhurst. Livestock was slaughtered on Shambles also, the meat was served over what are now the shop window bottoms, and these were originally the Shamels. It is also interesting to notice the way the pavements on either side of the street are raised up, this was done to create a channel which the butchers would wash away their waste through; offal and blood would gush down Shambles twice weekly.
		Disney Store 15 Parliament St
1:00 p.m.	Depart:	York
		(Take the A65 west. At A1 go south. Take the M1 west, then south. At exit 42 enter the M62 going west. At Warrington take the M6 south. Enter M56 going west. Take M53 to Chester.)
3:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Chester	133
		(Go south on A483. Take exit A539 west.)
4:15 p.m.	Arrive:	Llangollen	35
	See:	Llangollen-Shops on Castell Llangollen Map: 1-Plas Newydd 3-Llangollen Bridge 5-Valle Crucis Abbey 6-Elisegs Pillar 10-Horseshoe Falls 12-Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
		1-Plas Newydd- BHP/£7.50 (12-5 Sat-Wed) Shop & Tea (11-5:30) Built in the 18th century, Plas Newydd was constructed by James Wyatt and is a mixture of Classic and Gothic Styles. The house has the largest collection of Rex Whistler works and also houses a military museum with relics from the Battle of Waterloo
		3-Llangollen Bridge- Built in 1345 by John Trevor I, Bishop of St Asaph. The bridge was rebuilt in Elizabethan times and that structure remains to this day unaltered on the lower side and perfectly copied on the upper side when it was widened in 1873.
	Lodge:

Day 6
9:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Llangollen	25
		(Turn left/west on Abbey Rd/A542.)
		5-Valle Crucis Abbey- BHP (10-5) £2.60 The spectacular remains of Valle Crucis, this once proud Cistercian Abbey were built, probably on the site of earlier buildings, in c.1200 by a local Welshman, Madoc ap Gruffydd, Prince of Powys who lived at Dinas Bran Castle. Dissolved in 1535, Valle Crucis Abbey quickly fell into disrepair and parts even became a farm during the 17th century. A true sign of its once great importance was the discovery of the grave slab of Madog ap Gruffudd Fychan - great grandfather of the last true Welsh prince, Owain Glyndwr. This is now on display at the Abbey.
		6-Elisegs Pillar-Erected by Concenn, ruler of Powys in the 9th century, it was to commemorate his great grand father Eliseg, from whom the whole valley is named, who saved Powys from falling into the hands of the Saxons. They are no longer visible but the antiquerian Elfyn Llwyd thankfully copied them on his tour of the area in the late 17th century. This inscription included many names which today are associated with the Arthurian legends. Its present position is not the original one as it was moved during restoration. It can be found next to the A542 out of Llangollen on the way to the Horseshoe pass not far from Valle Crucis Abbey.
		(Drive back to the town and park the car. Walk along the trail along the canal heading east/right. )
		12-Pontcysyllte Aqueduct-Claimed to be the greatest engineering feat of its type in the world, the Pontcysllte Aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805. It has an entire length of 1,007 feet and spans the entire Dee Valley on 18 mighty stone piers of exceptionally fine construction using local Cefn sandstone. There are a total of 19 arches, each spanning 45 feet and the water is carried in a cast iron trough whose sections were bolted together and sealed using lead and Welsh flannel. The total cost of this magnificent structure was £47,000 18s 0d and thankfully, considering the building techniques of the time, only one man was killed during its whole construction. Today you can either walk over the aqueduct along the path constructed for the working horses or hire a canal barge and take boat trip 126 feet above the fast flowing River Dee.
		(Go back to town to look at the shops.)
		The Old Tailor's Chocolate Shop-Come and choose from a vast selection of continental chocolates either loose or pre-packed.Whatever the occasion we have chocolates to suit. Traditional confectionery, Ice Creams and Jelly Beans all on offer. (Corner of A5/Berwyn and Heoly Castell Rd/A539.)
		Nice Things and Country Kitchen-Home made food and the gift shop (Go north on Castell/A539, then left on the first street Market.)
12:00 p.m.	Depart:	Llangollen
		(Go west on A5.)
12:45 p.m.	Arrive:	Betws-y-Coed	31
	See:	Snowdonia National Park
		Swallow Falls £1.50 (9-5) 5 minute walk. Food at Swallow Falls Hotel nearby
2:00 p.m.	Depart:	Betws-y-Coed
		(Continue on A5. At A4086 continue west.)	23
2:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Caernarfon
	See:	Caernarfon Castle BHP/£4.95 (9-5) - Begun in 1283 as the definitive chapter in his conquest of Wales, Caernarfon was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government and royal palace. It was finished in 1330. Birthplace to the first English Prince of Wales, the tradition continues to this day, with the castle acting as the setting to the Investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales in 1969. Shop and toilet
	Lodge:

Day 7
9:00 p.m.	Depart:	Caernarfon
		(Continue south on A487. At Gellilydan go south on A470. Just past Dogelleu go south on A487 again. Just past Fishguard go south on A40. At Haverfordwest go south on A4076.)
12:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Pembroke	165
Option 1:
	See:	Megaphobia Oakwood Theme Park £17.95 (10-5 July, 10-6 Aug)

Option 2:		(If two cars, we will consider exploring the countryside.)
	Lodge:

Day 8
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Pembroke
		(Take A477 east. At St. Clears enter A40 going east, which becomes the M4. Exit onto the A46 towards Bath. Enter the A4 going east/left. Go left/south on A363.)
Optional:
12:00 p.m.		Bath	160
	Do:	Bath Roman ruins
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Bradford-upon-Avon	153
	Do:	Lunch- The Bunch of Grapes
1:00 p.m.	Depart:	Bradford-upon-Avon
		(Continue southeast on A363. Go left/west on A366. At A36 go left/south. At Salisbury go left/east on A303.)
1:45 p.m.	Arrive:	Stourhead	35
	See:	Stourhead BHP/£12.30 Garden 9-6, House 11-5, Tower 11-5, Restaurant 10-5:30, Farm Shop 10-6
3:00 p.m.	Depart:	Stourhead
3:30 p.m.	Do:	Stonehenge BHP/£6.60 (9-7) Stonehenge is known for its infamous stone circle exhibiting endurance and power. The first stone circle was created around 2,000 BC. The Stones used in this circle are believed to be from the mountain Prescelly which is approximately 240 miles away. This distance made it difficult to transport stones weighing up to four tons each. Although difficult to transport, the remains of these stones can still be seen today.	27
4:15 p.m.	Depart:	Stonehenge
		(Continue east on A303.
6:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Windsor	85
	Lodge:

Day 9
10:00 a.m.		Legoland Windsor £37 (10-7) July 18-Aug 31 Winkfield Road Windsor Berkshire SL4 4AY Jungle Coaster-fastest, coolest ride in the park with 400 meters of track, sharp twists and turns, with top speeds reaching 60km/h and a thrilling 16 metre drop! Fried Chicken Co.-delicious fried chicken, breaded in our secret recipe coating! The Great British Carvery-- choice of two roast meats plus specials throughout the season, choice of at least five vegetables, new range of salads Knights Kingdom-home of roast chicken - rotisserie, sandwiches and salads Pitstop Diner-new sausage & mash or steak & ale pie

1:00 p.m.		Windsor Castle (9:45-5:15) £15.50 Windsor, SL4 1NJ The largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. The Castle's dramatic site encapsulates 900 years of British history. It covers an area of 26 acres and contains, as well as a royal palace, a magnificent chapel and the homes and workplaces of a large number of people.
	Arrive:	London Heathrow Airport	70
	Do:	Return the car
		Take train to Victoria Station
	Lodge:	Cherry Court Hotel 23 Hugh Street London, UK SW1V 1QJ www.cherrycourthotel.co.uk FTea/coffee making, TV, digital phone, garden patio, fruit basket (4 pieces of fruit, packet of biscuits, cereal bar, and carton of orange juice), basement room with air conditioning, check in 2 p.m., checkout 10 a.m. Reserved 3/24/07 Family Room 08/03 to 08/05, 2 Doubles 08/06 (44) 20 7828 2840	(256)

Day 10-12
	See:	London
		Broadway Play
		Buckingham Palace (9:45-6) £29.50 includes the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace Book online or telephone (+44) (0)20 7766 7300. A booking fee of £1.25 per ticket applies. All major credit cards accepted.
		Changing of the Guard
		Harrod's Department Store - Monument to Princess Diane's boyfriend
		Jewel Tower BHP or £3.00 (10-5) Was built c.1365 to house Edward III's treasures. One of only two buildings from the medieval Palace of Westminster to survive the fire of 1834, the tower features a 14th-century ribbed vault. Displaying Parliament Past and Present, a fascinating exhibition about the history of Parliament, it is also the permanent home of the English Heritage Book of Remembrance.
		St. Paul's Cathedral BHP/£9.50 (8:30-4 last ticket)
		Tower of London £16.00 online Sun,Mon 10-5:30, Tues-Sat 9-5:30 Your ticket includes access to the Tower, plus Yeoman Warder guided tour and talk, live historical re-enactments, White Tower tour, children's activity trails, entry to the Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill exhibition and Prisoners of the Tower exhibition and much more! Yeoman Warder Tour-Free-Every 30 minutes for an hour. Find out what it’s like to be a Yeoman Warder, as our world famous ‘Beefeaters’ share their personal stories with you at the Lanthorn Tower. New Armouries Restaurant-(10.00-5:00) provides a wide range of refreshments from morning coffee, salads, sandwiches and hot meals to afternoon tea. A children's menu is also available. All food is home-made daily on site. Drinks from £1.25, hot food from £6.80, sandwiches from £2.85, salads from £4.25. Tower Cafe and Kiosk-(9.00-17.00) provides hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and pastries. Drinks from £1.25, hot food from £2.95, sandwiches from £2.75, salads from £2.95. Paul' Kiosk-(8.00-6:00) Situated on the Wharf, outside the grounds of the Tower, Paul is a traditional French company providing sandwiches, savory and sweet tarts as well as drinks to take away. Cakes from £2.25, drinks from £1.30, hot food from £2.95, sandwiches from £3.50. The Tower Shop-The shop at the entrance to the Tower showcases an extensive range of souvenirs as well as gifts, jewelry and a large collection of books on the first floor. The Jewel House Shop-is located in the Lower Martin Tower where the Crown Jewels were displayed for 200 years from the mid-17th to the mid-19th century. It has a wide selection of costume jewellery as well as sterling silver and 9, 14 and 18 carat gold. All the jewellery is inspired by the Crown Jewels, including the Armills range (left), and is exclusive to the Jewel House Shop at the Tower of London. The White Tower Shop-As visitors leave the White Tower they will discover this atmospheric shop located in the basement of the building. As the White Tower is the historical home of the Royal Armouries' collection of arms and armour, the shop takes up the theme with a wide selection of replica armour as well as other special treats for kids of all ages. The Medieval Palace Shop-offers a range of medieval-style gifts including tapestries, cushions and stone gargoyles. The Beefeater Shop-The best-known members of the Tower of London's community are the Yeoman Warders, more popularly known as 'Beefeaters'. It has a delightful assortment of gifts all centered around the Yeoman Warder theme. There is something for everyone, from an exclusive range of china to soft toys including a cuddly raven! You are free to take photographs within most of the Tower of London but we regret that photography and filming is not permitted inside the Jewel House, White Tower or in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.
		Westminster Abbey- £15.00 (9:30-4:30) The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.
		Your Choice
	Lodge:	Cherry Court Hotel £120- 3 T & 1 D; £48 Single Bed 23 Hugh Street, LONDON SW1V 1QJ. Three Single & One Double Bed in basement, All the rooms have heating and tea/coffee-making facilities, colour televisions and Digital telephone system with facility of wake up call and voice mail. We provide a fruit basket for breakfast consisting of three or four pieces of fresh fruit, a small packet of biscuits, a cereal bar and a carton of orange juice.

Day 13
	Do:	Fly or Chunnel to Paris
	Lodge:

Day 14
	See:	Paris
		Buy the Paris Museum Pass 2 Days- €32, 4 Days- €48 Sold at museums and T1
	Do:	Historic Walk
		(Ride the Metro to Cite, Hotel deVille, or St. Michel and walk to the big square facing toward the cathedral. View it from the bronze plaque on the ground (30 yds from the central doorway) marked "point Zero". You are standing on the center of France, the point from which all distances are measured. Looking two-thirds of the way up to the left tower, you can find Paris' most photographed gargoyle. Propped on his elbows on the balcony rail, he watches all the tourist in line. Look for the following 100 yds from cathedral.)
		Crypte Archéologique du Parvis de Notre-Dame- MP/€3.30 The archaeological crypt under Notre-Dame Cathedral Square has been converted into a shelter for relics found in the course of 1965 and later excavations run by the city’s archaeological and architectural history office. These rooms opened in 1980 to show the remainders of the buildings that had stood on that spot from ancient times to the 19th century. Musée Carnavalet operates this site.
	See:	Notre Dame Cathedral- Free (7:45-7)- 700 year old cathedral Archaelogical Crypt- Free MP/€3.50 (10-6) Roman ruins Tower - Free MP/€8 (10-6:30, Sat & Sun 10-11) - 400 steps to the top of the facade for a grand view
		(Behind the cathedral squeeze through the tourist buses, cross the street and enter the iron gate into the park at the tip of the island. Look for the stairs and head down to reach the....)
		Deportation Memorial - Free (10-12 and 2-7)Memorial to the 200,000 French victims of the Nazi concentration camps.
		(Back on street level, look across the river (north) to the island.)
		Ile St. Louis - Paris' most exclusive neighborhoods
		Berthillon Ice Cream Parlor- famous
		(From the Deportation Memorial, cross over to the Left Bank and turn right (west). Walk along the river, toward the front end of Notre-Dame. Stairs detour down to the riverbank. This side view of the church from across the river is one of Europe's great sights and is best from river level.)
		Left Bank-window shop among the green book stalls and browse through used books, vintage posters and souvenirs.
		(When you reach the bridge (pont au Double) that crosses over in front of Notre-Dame, veer to the left across the street to a small park (square Viviani-fill your water bottle from the fountain on left) Angle across the square and pass Paris' oldest inhabitant-an acacia tree nicknamed Robinier after the guy who planted it in 1602. Just beyond the tree you'll find the small church.)
		St. Julien-le-Pauvre Church- 1250 Look to the right at the half timbered house. Glance down rue Galande for other old houses built at different angles.
		(Return to the river and turn left on rue de la Bucherie. Go to #37.
		Shakespeare and Company Bookstore-Sylvia Beach, an American with a passion for free thinking, opened the store for the post WWI Lost Generation who came to Paris to find themselves. American writers flocked here for the cheap rents, fleeing the Prohibition era in the U.S. Ernest Hemingway borrowed books here regularly. James Joyce had his books published here. Struggling writers get free accommodations upstairs in tiny rooms with a view of Notre Dame.
		(Go outside the store.)
		Green water fountains- built in 1900 by an English philanthopist Sir Richard Wallace. The books below the carytids once held metal mugs for drinking the water.
		(Continue to the rue du Petit-Pont (which becomes rue St. Jacques). This was the Romans' busiest boulevard 2,000 years ago, which chariots racing in and out of the city. Walk away from the river for one block, turn right at the Gothic church and walk into the Latin Quarter.)
		St. Severin-This church took a century longer to build. This is a flame like gothic church. Gargoyles can be seen close up. In a thunderstorm they vomit rain.
		(At #22 St. Severin is the skinniest house in Paris, two windows wide. Continue on rue St. Severin.)
	See:	Latin Quarter - This was Europe's leading university district in the Middle Ages. Walking along St Severin the street slopes into a central channel of bricks left from the medieval sewer system. The main boulevards (St Michel and St Germain) are lined with far-out bookshops, street singers and jazz clubs.
		(From place St. Michel, look across the river and find the spire of Sainte-Chapelle church and its weathervane angel. Cross the river on pont St. Michel and continue along boulevard du Palaid. On your left, you'll see the high-security doorway.)
	See:	Sainte-Chapelle - Free MP/€8 (9:30-6) Gothic church built between 1242 and 1248 for Louis IX to house the supposed Crown of Thorns. Climb the spiral staircase to the Chapelle Haute. Fill the place with choral music, crank up the sunshine, face the top of the altar, and really believe that the Crown of Thorns is there, and this will become an awesome place. 15 separate panels of stained glass with 2/3 original and 1100 scenes mostly from the Bible.
		(Exit the church and walk around the exterior. Look down at the foundation to take note of how much Paris has risen in 750 years since it was built. Go next door.)
	See:	Palais de Justice - Built in 1776 as the home of France's supreme court.
		(Pass through the big iron gate to the noisy boulevard du Palais. Cross the street to the wide pedestrian-only rue de Lutece and walk about halfway down.)
	See:	Cite "Metropolitain" Stop and Flower Market - Of the original 141 original early 20th century subway entrances, this one is one of the only few survivors-now preserved as a national art treasure. It is art nouveau. The flower and plant market on place Louis Lepine is a pleasant detour. Across the way is the Prefecture de Police, where Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther fame used to work and where the local resistance fighters took the 1st building from the Nazis in Aug. 1944, leading to teh allied liberation of Paris a week later.
		(Pause here to admire the view. Sainte-Cahpelle is a pearl in an ugly architectural oyster. Double back to the Palais de Justice and turn right. Entrance is on the boulevard du Palais.)
		Conciergerie - Free MP/€7.50 (9:30-6) Former prison where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned. Her cell, which houses a collection of her mementos, is open.
		(Back outside, turn left on boulevard du Palais and head toward the river-north. On the corner is the city's oldest public clock. The mechanism of the present clock is from 1334. Turn left onto quai de l'Horloge and walk west along the river, past the round medieval tower called "the babbler." The bridge up ahead is the pont Neuf, where you end the walk. At the first corner, veer left into a sleepy triangular square called place Dauphine. Marvel at how such quaintness could be lodged in the midst of such greatness as you walk through the park to the end of the island. At the equestrian statue of Henry IV, turn right on to the old bridge and take refuge in one of the nooks on the Eiffel Tower side.)
		Pont Neuf - The "new" bridge is now Paris' oldest. Built during Henry IV's reign in about 1600. Its 12 arches span the widest part of the river.
		Pomme Frites and American Sauce in Paris, France Letterbox
		Dinner
		(Take the subway.
	Do:	Eiffel Tower - €4.50/1st level, €7.80/2nd level and €11.50/3rd level. (9-11:45 p.m.) Or climb the stairs for €4.50 to levels one and two. Built in 1889 for the Centennial World's Fair. Walk up to the 2nd floor for the best views. Cafeteria and WC. 1st level has exhibits and a post office. The cancellation stamp reads Eiffel Tower. Snack cafe. (Ride the lift to the 2nd level and immediately line up for the lift to the top. Enjoy the views on top, then ride back down to the 2nd. level. Enjoy the view. Then hike down the stairs to the1st level. Eat and explore shops here.
	Lodge:

Day 15
	See:	Louvre (Musee du Louvre)- Free MP/€9 (9-6 Wed-Mon, closed Tues.) Europe's oldest and biggest museum. Home of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 (paintings, sculptures, objets d’art and graphic arts) and ancient civilisations (Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities); Islamic, African, Asian, Oceanic and North and South American arts.
		The Architects Series #2 Ducks at the Louvre Letterbox
		(Go north on Rue de Rivoli)
		Palais Royal Courtyards- Across from the Louvre on rue de Rivolia re pleasant courtyards of the stately Palais Royal. Only the courtyard is open. Take a quiet break.
		(Go west/right on Rue de Rivoli)
	See:	Tuileries Garden - Public WC
Option 1:	Do:	Orangerie Museum (Musee de l'Orangerie) - Free MP/€7.50 (Wed-Mon 12:30-7, Fri until 9, closed Tues) Impressionist museum with Claude Monet's water lilies plus Cezanne, Renoir, Matisse and Picasso
		(From the center of the Tuileries take the Pont Solferino Bridge across the Seine. Turn left on Quai Anatole France.)
Option 2:	OR	Musee d'Orsay- Houses French art from 1848-1914 picking up where the Louvre's art collection left off. It includes Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Gauguin.
		(Option 1: This is across the street still on Rue de Rivoli.)
		(Option 2: Go back down Quai Anatole France. Take a right on the Pont Solferino Bridge over the Seine. Turn left on Quai Des Tuileries.)
	See:	Place de la Concorde - Cities largest square, which was opened in 1667 by Louis XIV. Many cinemas. Look for v.o. (version originale) for English speaking movies. Fouquet's cafe is where the French stars go, Laduree #75 has a bakery with macaroons
		Champs Elysee- In 1667 Louis XIV opened the 1st section of the street as a short extension of the Tuileries Garden. This year is considered the birth of Paris. It became the place to cruise in your carriage. In the 1700's cafes came. It was pure elegance from 1920-1960.
		(From the center of the square continue on Ave Des Champs-Elysees. Stop at the corner of Winston Churchill Blvd on the left.)
		Charles de Gaulle statue- standing ramrod straight and striding out as he did the day Paris was liberated in 1944.
		Grand and Petit Palais- On the left at Winston Churchill Blvd. The Grand and Petit Palais exhibition halls were from the 1900 World's Fair. The Grand Palais is pricey houses temporary exhibits. The Petit Palais house a permanent collection of lesser paintings by Courbet, Monet etc. (Free) The Alexander III Bridge has golden statues and ironwork lamps built to celebrate a turn of the 20th century treaty between France and Russia.
		Rond-Point-where the shopping begins. It is always lined with flower and season dcorations.
		(Continue past Colisee.
		Disney, Virgin Music Gap and Quiksilver Stores- on the right
		(Across the street.)
		Renault- Car buffs and Star Trek fans should check out the space-age bar in the store.
		(On the other side of the street on R. Boetie.)
		Arcades des Champs-Elysees Mall at #76. Has fancy lamps, mosaic floors, glass skylight and classical columns, which capture the roaring 20's.
		(Continue down the street. On the right.)
		Thomas Jefferson Plaque- Jefferson lived and worked at this site in a mansion called Langeac from 1785 until he left Paris to return to America in 1789. The mansion has been replaced by a commercial and apartment building. "In this place resided Thomas Jefferson Minister of the United States to France 1785–1789 President of the United States 1801–1809 Author of the American Declaration of Independence Founder of the University of Virginia This plaque was affixed on the 13th of April 1919, by the care of former students of the University of Virginia, soldiers of the World War, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the university"
		(Across the street.)
		Laduree- At #75 with the green and purple awning is a classic 19th century tea salon/restaurant/patisserie. It is 1860's. A coffee is only €3.50. The bakery sells traditional macaroons, cakes and finger sandwiches.
		(Still on the left side.)
		Fouquet's Cafe- #99 under the red awning is a popular spot among French celebrities, but expensive. It opened in 1899 as a coachman's bistro. The golden plaque at the entrance honors winners of France's oscar-like awards, including Gerard Depardieu as well as some Americans.
		(Still on the left past George V.)
		Louis Vuitton- #101-The flagship store for the famous producer of leather bags. It has 101 vintage suitcase/trunks hanging on the wall from 1854.
		(Back across the street.)
		Lido- #118 - You can walk inside Lido, Paris' largest cabaret, until 6 p.m. without a ticket. Check the films. V.O. means the film will be shown in it's original language.
		(Just down the road still on the left.)
		McDonald's - #140- It offers cafe-quality chairs and flower boxes It's a good place to people watch. WC
		(Still on the left past Arsene on the rue de Tilsitt.)
		Qatar Embassy- One of the few survivors of a dozen uniformly U-shaped buildings from Haussmann's original 1853 grand design. Peek into the foyer for a glimpse of 19th century classiness.
	Do:	Arc de Triomphe - Free MP/€9 Free on 1st Sun. (10-11) - Commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his victory at the battle of Austerlitz. 284 steps lead to a cute museum about the arch with sweeping panoramas and mesmerizing views of the traffic.
		(Take the metro from Charles de Gaulle Etoille station to Opera on the red line.)
	View:	Opera Garnier €12 English Tour (10-4:30) - Built for Napoleon III and finished in 1875. Seats 2,000. Inspired The Phantom of the Opera as it has an underground lake. The Paris Story and Fragonard Perfume Museum (Free) are nearby.
		(Catch the Opera RER back to Ecole Militaire RER.)
	Lodge:

Day 16
		(Take the RER Ecole Militaire south to the green line. Get off at the Charles de Gaulle Etoile. Take the blue line to Anvers.)
		Elysees Montmartre- Oldest cancan dance hall in Paris.
		(Walk two blocks up rue de Steinkerque, the street to the right of Elysees Montmartre.)
		Funiculaire de Montmartre- Use your RER card. It opened for business in 1900. It originally relied on hydraulic power for the ascent and gravity for the trip downhill; the hydraulic system was replaced by an electric motor in 1930, and the funicular was completely rebuilt in 1991. The current funicular has two 60-passenger cars, which run on parallel tracks that ascend 36 meters or 118 feet between the lower and upper stations. Each car operates independently, like an elevator (and unlike the many funiculars where each car is a counterweight to the other).
		(Find a good viewing spot on the steps.)
		Sacre-Coeur Basilica- Free- Built from 1875-1919 with 83 pillars sunk 130 feet deep.
		(Public WC to your left down 50 steps. Go right to the church's dome and crypt.)
		Dome and Crypt €5 -Unobstructed view of Paris up 260 ft. up tight and claustrophobic spiral stairs to the dome. Crypt is empty.
		(Leaving the church, turn right and walk west along the ridge, following tre-lined rue Azais. At rue St. Eleuthere turn right and walk uphill a block.)
		Church of St. Pierre-de-Montmartre- (8:30-7) One of Paris' oldest churches at 1147 and founded by Louis VI and his wife Adelaide. Find her tombstone midway down on the left wall. The four gray columns may be from the Roman days as a temple of Mercury.
		(Enter du Tertre square and stand on its cusp for the best perspective.)
		Place due Tertre-Bohemian Montmartre-Lined with cafes, acacia trees, artists, hucksters and tourists.
		(Continue west on Norvins and a dozen steps to the intersection with rue des Saules.)
		Boulangerie with a View-Dates from 1900 and is one of the last surviving bits of the old-time community.
		(From here look back up rue Norvins, then backpedal a few steps to catch the classic view of the dome of Sacre-Coeur rising above the rooftops. Follow the rue des Saules downhill/north onto the back side of Montmartre. A block downhill turn right on rue Cortot.)
		Montmartre Museum and Satie's House (Tues-Sun 10-6) £5.50-The museum at 12 rue Cortot was once Pierre-Auguste Renoir's house while painting his best know work, Bal du Moulin de la Galette. Everyday he lugged the 4 by 6 ft. canvas from here to the other side of the butte to paint in the open air, the famous windmill ballroom. The museum re-creates the traditional cancan and cabaret Montmartre scene.
		(Return to the rue des Saules and walk downhill.)
		Le Maison Rose Restaurant-made famous in a Utrillo painting was once frequented by Utrillo, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein. Lousy food.
		(Just downhill is Paris' last remaining vineyard.)
		Clos Montmartre Vineyard- Ever since the 12th century the monks and nuns of the large abbey produced wine here. Closed.
		(Continue downhill to the intersection with rue St. Vincent.)
		Au Laqpin Agile Cabaret- Picassso, Renoir etc. would gather for "performances" here, poetry, sing-alongs, parodies etc.
		(Walk up rue des Saules and turn right at La Maison Rose, heading west one block on rue de l'Abreuvoir. At the bust of singer Dalida continue straight west along the small walkway called allee des Brouillards. You'll pass another of Renoir's homes. Walk down the steps at the walkway's end, then stroll up through the small, fenced, multilevel park.)
		Square Suzanne Buisson- Stone statue of headless St. Denis. He was sentenced to death by the Romans for spreading Christianity. As they marched him up to the top of Montmartre to be executed, the Roman soldiers got tired and just beheaded him near here. Denis popped right up, picked up his head and carried on another 3 miles north before he finally died.
		(At the top of the park, turn left onto avenue Junot, which turns into rue Norvins. At the boulangerie go downhill/south. Don't curve right on the car-filled rue Lepic; instead go straight down the pedestrian only place J.B. Clement, hugging the buildings on the left. Turn right on rue Ravignan and folliw it down to the leafy square with the TIM Hotel. Go to the right of the hotel at 13 place Emile Goudeau.)
		Le Bateau-Lavoir (Picasso's Studio)- It was destroyed and rebuilt in 1970. Picasso moved into it in 1904.
		(Walk back half a block uphill and turn left on rue d'Orchampt. Walk the length of this short street and into a tiny alley, which squirts you out of the other end at the intersection with rue Lepic.)
		Moulin de la Galette- Ony two windmills (moulins) remain on the hill that was once dotted with 30 of them. Originally they pressed monk's grapes and farmer's grain or crused gypsum rocks into a powdery plaster of Paris. In the 1850's the mines closed, so they became ceremonial centerpieces of a popular outdoor dance hall. Renoir's Bal du Moulin de la Galette (in Orsay) shows it in it's heyday.
		(Follow rue Lepic as it winds down the hill. The green-latticed building on the right side was also part of the Moulin de la Galette -the second surviving windmill is just above, through the trees Rounding the bend, look to the right down rue Tourlaque. Go one block.)
		Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's House- Find the building on the SW corner with the tall, brick-framed art studio windows under the heavy mansard roof. Every night, Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) nobleman turned painter, whose legs were deformed in a horse-riding accident during his teen years, would dress up here and then journey down rue Lepic to the Moulin Rouge.
		(Continue down rue Lepic to #54.)
		Vincent van Gogh's House- He lived here with his brother from 1886-1888. During those years he transformed from a gloomy Dyutch painter of brown and gray peasant scenes into an inspired visionary with wild ideas and Impressionist colors.
		(Follow rue Lepic downhill as it makes a hard right at #36 and becomes a lively market street. Enjoy the small shops and neighborhood ambience. Go two blocks down to your right at #15.)
		Cafe des Deaux Moulins-(7-12 p.m.) This is the site of pilgrimage for movie buffs worldwide since it was featured in Amelie.
		(Now continue downhill on rue Lepic to place Blanche.)
		Moulin Rouge- Opened in 1889. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec sketched here. Ginger Rogers, Dalida, Tony Curtis, Jerry Lewis etc. came here. Walk into the open-air entryway or step into the lobby to mull over the photos, show options and prices.
		(Turn left out of the building. The Blanche Metro stop is here in place Blanche. Take the blue line and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile. Transfer to the gold line and get off at Concorde. Continue on the purple line to Ecole Militaire.)

Option 2:
		(Start at the west end of the Bastille. From the Bastille Metro, exit following signs to rue St. Antoine (not rue du Faubourg St. Antoine) Ascend onto a noisy square dominated by the bronze Colonne de Juillet (July Column). The bronze god on the top is headed west.)
	See:	Place de la Bastille - Only a brick outline of the fortress' round turrets survives under the traffic where St. Antoine hits the square. On July 14, 1789 the people of Paris stormed the Bastille/prison, releasing it's seven prisoners. They demolished the stone fortress and decorated the pikes with heads. Ever since July 14th has become independence day. The gilded statue of liberty is a symbol of France's long struggle to establish democracy, commemorating the revolutions of 1830 and 1848.
		(Passing the Banque de France, head west down rue St. Antoine about four blocks into Marais. At the intersection with rue de Birague, old hippies may wish to make a 100 yd. detour to the left, down rue Beautrellis to #17, the nondescript apt. where rock star Jim Morrison died. Otherwise, continue down rue St. Antoine, and at 62 enter the courtyard. If it is closed, backtrack one block to rue de Birague to reach the next stop.)
		Hotel de Sully-In the 17th century the French aristocracy built private mansions/hotels like this one. The first of two courtyards is carriage-friendly and elegant, separating the mansion from the public street. Look up at the statues of Autumn and Winter and the four elements. Continue into a passageway with a bookstore with a carved and painted ceiling. Exit into the back courtyard, where the noise disappears. Use the bit of Gothic window tracery on the right for a fun framed photo of your travel partner as Madonna. At the far end the French doors are part of a former orangerie or greenhouse for homegrown fruits and vegetables.
		Place des Vosges-Walk to the center where Louis XIII gestures. Study the architecture with the with 9 pavilions per side. The highest at front and back were fro the king and queen, but never used. Louis XIII statue. Henry IV built this centerpiece in 1605.
		Victor Hugo's house- #6 Free (Tues-Sun 10-6)
		(Walk west one block on Rue des Francs Bourgeois, then turn right on rue Sevigne to reach the entrance at #23.)
		Carnavalet Museum (10-5:40) Free Housed in a Marais mansion, this museum focuses on the history of Paris. Good way to look at the style.
		(From her continue west one block down rue des Francs Bourgeois to the post office.)
		Rue Pavee - 16the century Paris Historical Library (Bibliotheque Historique de la Ville de Paris). Step into the courtyard of this rare Renaissance mansion to see the clear windows, clean classical motifs and settling stones. The area is built on a swamp, so the area has foundation problems.
		(Continue on rue Pavee to rue des Rosiers. Turn here.)
		Jewish Quarter- Once the largest in Western Europe. It goes for 3 blocks. Notice the sign above #4, which says Hamam (Turkish Bath). It is now a furniture showroom. Net door the Ecole de Travail has a plaque on the wall remembering the headmaster, staff and students arrested here during WWII and killed at Auschwitz.
		Lunch- Best falafel at L'As due Falafel #34 Polish & Russian cuisine at Finkelsztajn Yiddish bakery #27 Or wait for later
		(Rue des Rosiers dead-ends at rue Vielle due Temple. Turn left on rue Vielle du Temple. Take your first right onto rue Ste. Croix de la Bretonnerie. You will go through the gay district. Continue wet as the road becomes rue St. Merri.)
	See:	Pompidou Center- Free MP/€12/1st Sun. free and closed Tues.- Europe's greatest collection of far-out modern art is housed in the Musee National d'Art Moderne on the 4th and 5th floors with Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and great views of Paris.
	Do:	Lunch-Many places lining the Stravinsky Fountain outside
		Luxembourg Garden- Paris' most beautiful, interesting and enjoyable park.
		American in Paris Letterbox
		Pantheon- Free MP/€7.50 (10-6:30) - Neoclassical monument celebrates France's illustrious history and people. Foucault pendulum. Stairs in back lead down to the crypt where Victor Hugo and Marie Curie are buried. 260 step climb in dome gallery for city views. King Louis XV vowed in 1744 that if he recovered from an illness he would replace the ruined church of Sainte-Geneviève with an edifice worthy of the patron saint of Paris. The foundations were laid in 1758, but due to financial difficulties, it was only completed after Soufflot's death by his pupil, Jean-Baptiste Rondelet, in 1789. As it was completed at the start of the French Revolution, the new Revolutionary government ordered it to be changed from a church to a mausoleum for the interment of great Frenchmen.
		Catacombs- €7-Underground tunnels contain the anonymous bones of 6 million permanent Parisians. 1786 decided to improve congestion and sanitation by emptying cemeteries. Bones are stacked 5 feet high and 80 feet deep.
	Lodge:
		Musee d'Orsay MP/ Housed in the train station building, constructed by Victor Laloux for the 1900 World Fair, the Orsay is a national museum devoted to all the arts between 1848-1914. Among the featured artists are Bonnard, Carpeaux, Cézanne, Courbet, Daumier, Degas, Gallé, Gauguin, Guimard, Lalique, Maillol, Manet, Millet, Monet, Pissarro, Redon, Renoir, Rodin, Seurat, Sisley, van Gogh, Vuillard…

Day 17
		(From Paris's Peripherique ring rode follow A-13 toward Roen. Get off at Vernon and follow the Centre-Ville signs, then signs to Giverny.)
	Arrive:	Giverny
	Do:	Claude Monet's Garden 5.50 € house & garden, 4.00 € garden only (9?30-6)
	Depart:	Giverny
	Arrive:	Arromanches
		Normandie Pass 1.00 € includes 26 museum and
		Port Winston and the D-Day Landing Museum 6.50 € (9:30-5:30) (Musee du Debarquement)- The world's first prefab harbor was created by the British in Arromanches. Since it was Churchill's brainchild, it was named Port Winston. The museum provides an hour long visit. 8 min. video recalls D-Day. Through models, maps, mementos and two short videos tell the story of the port's creation.
	See:	Artificial Harbor-Start at the cliffs above the town. (Drive 2 minutes toward Courseulles-sur-Mer and pay €2 to park, hike 10 minutes uphill from Arromaches; or take the free white train from the museum to the top of the bluff on weekend and summers. To the left is the American sector, with Omaha Beach and then Utah Beach (notice the cliffs); below and to the right lie the British, French, and Canadian sectors (with the more level terrain). Look and ponder how, from makeshift harbor below, the liberation of Europe commenced. On June 7, 1944, 17 old ships crossed the English Channel under their own steam, and were sunk by their crews from bow to stern, forming the first shelter. Then 115 football-field size cement blocks, called Mullberries, were towed across the channel and sunk, creating a four-mile-long breakwater located about a mile and a half off shore. Finally, seven floating steel "pierheads" with extendable legs were set up; they were linked to shore by four mile-long floating roads made of concrete pontoons. Anti-aircraft guns were set up on the pontoons. With-in 6 days of operation, 54,000 vehicles, 326,000 troops, and 110,000 tons of goods had been delivered. An Allied toehold on Normandy was secure.
		(Drive 10-minutes west of Arromanches. Follow the signs reading Port en Bessin; once in Longues-sur-Mer, follow Batterie signs.
		Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery- 1,00 € discount/free- 4 German bunkers with guns intact. The guns, 300 yds inland, were arranged in a semicircle to maximize the firing range east and west, and are the only original guns remaining in place in the D-Day region. The guns could fire 13 miles at great accuracy and were a major obstacle to the landings at Omaha and Gold beaches. American and British forces were pounded from this site. The lone observation bunker on the cliffs directed the firing. From here you can drive down to the water, by continuing on the small road past the parking lot to see the remains of Port Winston at Arromanches.
		(Drive to Colleville.
		WWII Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial- Crowning a bluff just above Omaha Beach and the eye of the D-Day storm, 9,387 brilliant white-marble crosses and Stars of David glow in memory of Americans who gave their lives to free Europe on the beaches below. First, stop at the VC to pick up an English information sheet. Read the 1956 letter from the French president (on the wall above the FP), which eloquently expresses the feeling of gratitude the French still have for the US. Walk past the memorial and the cemetery to the bluff that overlooks the piece of Normandy called "that embittered shore-portal of freedom." Steps lead down to the beautiful beach below. Walk back to the memorial, where you'll see giant reliefs of the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of Europe etched on the walls. Behind that is the semicircular Garden of the missing, with 1,5567 names. Finally wonder among the tombstones.
		(Drive west on D-514 into St. Laurent, then follow Vierville par la Cote signs to the beach. A right turn leads to Le Ruquet (where the road ends), a good place to appreciate the Allied soldiers challenge on D-Day.)
		Vierville-sur-Mer - Allows access to Omaha Beach. The small bunker and gun above the parking area protected this easiest access point inland from Omaha Beach. It was from here that the Americans established their first road inland. Find your way out to the beach and stroll to the right below the American Cemetery, to better understand the overwhelming assignment that American forces were handed on June 6. 1200 soldier died on the beach on the first day. As you walk, notice the scattered remains of rusted metal objects, and try to imagine their purpose. 150,000 tons of metal was already removed.
		(Take a left turn where the road from St. Laurent meets the beach, and head along the beach toward the Pointe de la Perce cliff, which from here looks very Pointe du Hoc-like. American Army Rangers mistook this cliff for Pointe du Hoc, costing them time and live. Park near the Casino.)
	Do:	Dinner- Casino cafe-It was here that the Americans tried to assemble a floating bridge and their own artificial harbor, but the weather and tides did not cooperate. Stroll along the beach toward the jutting Pointe de la Perce (best a low tides). You may see tractors doing double duty pulling boats into and out of the sea.
		(As you leave Vierville-sur-Mer to the west, you'll pass the very pontoon bridge that was to be assembled at the beach. During the fighting, it was moved to Arromanches and used as a second off-loading ramp. It was discovered a few years ago in the junkyard.)
		Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument - Free (9-5) This was the Germans' most heavily fortified position along the coast, thanks to its strategic location. The Allie determined to take out this cliffside German battery, which could punish American forces attempting to land at Utah and Omaha beaches. 300 US Army Rangers attempted a castle style assault of the German-occupied cliffs using grappling hooks and ladders borrowed from the London fire dept. 2/3 of the Rangers died. The German bunkers and the bombed-out landscape remain just as they were found. This was the most heavily bombarded of all on D-Day, receiving more than 10,000 tons of bombs. This is considered a gravesite, so no picnics allowed.
	Lodge:	Hotel de La Digue- Db-€68, Tb-€90, Qb-€102, good breakfast, As for a room with a private terrace. 20 min. walk to the Mont. www.ladique.fr
		Hotel Vert- Db-€64, Tb-€78, Qb-€90-112 rooms clean and close in a stone farmhouse, internet access, 24 hour launderette, grocery store, bikes for rent.
		La Jacotiere- Db-€46 studio with great views of the island from side yard, Db private patio- €48, extra bed €12 www.bedbreak.com/lajacotiere
		Vent des Greves- Db-€42, Tb-€52, Qb-€62 Stone farmhouse a mile away down D-275. l/2 modern facilities with deck to soak up the view, includes breakfast

Day 18
		(2 mile causeway built in 1878, surrounded by mudflat.)
	See:	Mont St. Michel-€9 (9-11:30) (10-4) Grand Rue road is lined with shops and hotels on the way up. Tour the abbey in a one way route. (Walk to the round lookout at the far end and face the church.) West Terrace- 1776 fire destroyed the west end of the church leaving this grand view terrace. Look at the polder land-famrland reclaimed by Normans in the 19th century with the help of Dutch engineers. (Now head back into the...) Abbey Church-Sit on a pew near the front of the church, under the little statue of the Archangel Michael, with the spear to defeat dragons and evil. Most of the church is Romanesque 11th century, but Gothic apse behind the altar. (Just outside the church, you'll find the...) Cloisters-This was the peaceful zone that connected various rooms where monks could meditate, read the Bible and tend their gardens to grow food and herbs. Look to see what the tide is doing from the view window. Notice the carvings, which feature various plants and heighten the Garden-of-Eden ambience the cloister offered the monks. (Continue on the tour to the....) Refectory- This was the dining hall, where they consumed food in silence. One monk read the Bible in monotone during the meals, pulpit on the right near the far end. The columns are think but very deep, allowing maximum light and solid support. (Stairs lead down to the...) Guests Hall- Guests were wined and dined according to their status. It was once painted like the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The big double fireplace, kept out of sight by hanging tapestries, served as a kitchen. (Hike the stairs to the...) Hall of the Grand Pillars-Perched on the pointy rock, the huge abbey had 4 sturdy crypts like this to prop it up. You're standing under the Gothic portion of the abbey church. This was the crypt that collapsed in 1421. Notice the immensity of the new columns, 15 ft. (To see what kind of crypt collapsed, walk on to the....) Crypt of St. Martin- 11th century Romanesque vault. (Next, you'll find the...) Ossuary- (identifiable by its big treadwheel) Housed the hospital, morgue and ossuary. Because the abbey graveyard was small, it was routinely emptied, and the bones were stacked here. Ruled by an atheistic government from 1793 to 1863, the abbey was used as an Alcatraz-type prison. 300 priests were its first inmates who refused to renounce their vows. Prisoners powered the treadwheel. Scriptorium Hall- Finish your visit by walking through the Promenade of the monks, under more Gothic vaults. Spiral down to the gift shop, turn right and follow signs to Jardin. The room after the shop holds temporary exhibitions about the history and future of the mont. The Merville- 3 level buildings created in 1220, lower level for lower class, middle floor for VIPS and top floor for clergy. (Stairs lead from here back into village. To avoid the crowds on your descent, veer to the right down the small lane past the Musee Historique or, at the same place, follow chemin des Ramparts to the left and hike down via the....) Ramparts- Mont St. Michel is ringed by a fine example of 15th century fortifications. They were built to defend against cannons. The 5 sided Boucle Tower ( 1481) was crafted with no blind angles, so defenders could protect it and the nearby walls in all directions. At dark, the island is magically floodlit. Views from the ramparts are sublime. Stand on the causeway for the best views. www.ot-montsaintmichel.com
	Lodge:

Day 19 Day 20
Option 1:
	See:	Versailles- Free MP/€13.50 (Tues-Sun 9-6:30) Arrive at 9 a.m. to tour the palace first, then the gardens. Enter the palace and take a on-way walk through the State Apartments from the King's Wing, through the Hall of Mirrors, and out via the Queen's Wing. Before going downstairs take a stroll clockwise around the Hall of Battles, filled with murals depicting the great battles of France. Tour the Chapel and Opera House. It's a 50 minute hike from the palace down to the canal past the two Trianon palaces to the Hamlet, the heart of the Domaine de-Marie Antoinette. Rent a bike for €6 for an hour to explore the gardens or take the tram to hop on and off. €6, which leaves from behind the Chateau on the north side. Or rent a golf cart for €28/hr.
	Do:	Ma Chérie Letterbox
	Do:	15 minute walk to the Versailles town center for lunch or at the Chateau.

Option 2:
	See:	Chateau de Fontainebleau - Free MP/ (9:30-5)

Option 3:
		Chateau de Chambord 8,50 € (9-6:15) Voiture/Moto 3 €/jour Built in 1518 with 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces
		Cheverny 7 € (9:15-6:45) This stately hunting palace was built in 1604-1634
		Fougeres-sur-Bievre 5 € (9:30-12:30 & 2-6:30) Constructed for defense, not hunting. Rebuilt in 1500's.
		Chaumont-sur-Loire 6,50 € (9:30-6:30) Built mostly in the 15th and 16th centuries. Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Voltaire and Ben Franklin all spent time here.
		Chateau de Chinon 3 €, free 45 minute tour, (9-7) 12th century crumbling castle where Richard the Lionhearted lived. The chateau was built for the first time in stone in 954. By Theobald I, Comte de Blois, on a steep plateau. The stronghold, which replaced a lighter wooden structure, the passed to the rival Comte d"anjou, Geoffroy Martel in 1044. The Comte d"Anjou was the first to join the walls of the two original defensive structures as well as adding towers and the chapel of St. Melanie. The far east wing was added by Henry II Plantagenet Until 1205 he and his descendants continued construction work, adding the fortress to the east and the internal chapel, the mill tower and the numerous reinforcement towers.
	See:	Chateau de Chenonceau -10 € (9-8) 16th century Renaissance palace arches over the Cher River. Come before 9 or after 3 to see it Walk down the tree-canopied path to the chateau. There is a fun plant maze partway up on the left. Cross 3 moats and 2 bridges and pass an old round tower.
	Depart:	Chenonceau
		(
	Arrive:	Paris
	Lodge:

Day 21
Option 1:
	Do:	Fly Home

Option 2:
	Depart:	Paris
		(
	Arrive:
	See:	Disneyland Paris £206 3 day park hopper pass (10-11)
	Lodge:

Day 22
	See:	Walt Disney Studios Park (10-7)

Day 23
	See:	Disneyland Paris (10-11)

Day 24
	Do:	Fly Home
	Depart:	London
	Arrive:	Spokane

Vacations to Go....