Hi, folks. Sorry I haven't kept up. The seas have been rough and internet is sketchy. Plus I have family in Hurricane Ike and have received good news that they are safe. No electricity, but safe.

After we embarked on the second cruise on the 8th of September, we landed on the 9th (my birthday) at La Havre, France. Brandi and I had a tour booked to Paris and had a blast. We are ready to fly back and stay a week. Maybe in a year or two.

It was a 2 1/2 hour drive through the Norman countryside and Seine River Valley to Paris. We drove onto the Champs Elysies, the principal street through the city. We saw the Arc de Triomphe, planned by Napoleon to celebrate his military successes. However, he never saw it. It wasn't finished until 15 years after his death. It also contains their unknown soldier from WWI. Next we drove by such famous places as the Lourve Museum and Notre Dame. Unfortunately, we were unable to go inside on this tour.

After this, we went to lunch on a barge that took us down the Seine River which seperates Paris in two parts. We again went past Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, as well as the French Statue of Liberty (just like the one in New York Harbor.)

After lunch, the bus took to the Eiffel Tower for photos and more sight seeing. Really fantastic!

On the 10th we were supposed to stop at Plymouth for an Eco Tour and on the 11th we were supposed to go to Holyhead, Wales for a narrow gauge train ride through the country side. However, both were cancelled. These are both what they call "tender ports". This means we leave the cruise ship and go onto a smaller boat and go to shore. (The cruise ship can't dock here). Since we had high seas, the captain decided it was too dangerous. So we had two extra sailing days.

I'll tell you tomorrow about the two days in Ireland, Dublin and Cobh (the port next to Cork, although we didn't go into Cork itself). It is really a beautiful country and met very pleasant people just like we have at each and every port.

TA TA for now.