Best Western Apollonia Fontainebleau

... light rain, but still). I had a hood on my jacket, but left my umbrella at home, since weather.com did say it was supposed to be partly cloudy. Even with the rain, our resident director gave us an outside tour of the chateau. I didn't really listen, because I was too concerned about being wet. I think someone muttered something under their breath about the rain, and the RD said "a little rain never hurt anyone".... Two minutes ...

... thought they were creepy, especially the one that had a projector superimpose a face on it that looked like it was talking. Weird.

We spent a good amount of time inside since it was overcast outside and like I mentioned, we got to visit nearly every room, including the kitchens. We exited at the back of the house onto a terrace that looked over the garden which was completely deceiving. Le Notre designed this garden to entertain and even without shows ...

... had would be enough to see the Louvre, but I reckon it was enough. There were more things to see, but I didn't know what anything was except for the Mona Lisa and the Venus De Milo. Even for those I had to read the information to work out their significance. If I'd had more time I would've nabbed one of those audio guides, but I was happy to wander around and soak it all in.

We came back home, but at the Val D' Europe there was a serious brawl. On the train ...

... but these were of little help if you wanted to explore a local area on foot. In recent years, however, the French have really taken to rambling and today you can visit a Tourist Information centre in almost any area and leave with armfuls of free leaflets detailing walks around the vicinity. What's more, these are usually really well way-marked, come in a ...

... the first two floors and saved a lot of time in a line up (you can take the elevator from the bottom) then took the lift up to the top! It was everything we thought it would be, it is a little scary too because everything is so open and it is very windy up there! We did some more shopping with a little more luck this time and then called it a day. Thursday we went to the Louvre! It was actually very well organized, very little line ups (like 10 min to buy tickets ...

... own speakers, dj, and lights to a space in a park. But most of all, and most freauently of all of our sites, were the couples that were definitely living up the "french kiss" and then some under all the lights on the walkways right next to the river. So many we couldn't even keep count. And some were DEFINITELY less descreet than others, as in we all now think France could have different exposure laws than the US? Who knows...

... I have never seen or been close to so many bones, 6 million to be exact, in my entire life. The gaurds also frisk you on your way back into sunlight to make sure no one takes little "treasures" with them on their way out. There are also some great Photography exhibits, and the Louvre is bigger than I expected. I did see the Mona Lisa, but definitely managed to get myself lost in the Egyptian wing... so I have had my fill of Egyptian stonework for the next few years!

... n*vig*tion skills went out the window th*t time.] When she le*rned we were Americ*n tourists, she ch*nged her tune from "m*d, wet hen" to "I will do *nything if you t*ke me to Americ* with you." We turned the c*r *round *nd followed her to * bed *nd bre*kf*st c*lled Auberge Le Ch*telet loc*ted *t Bd. de l* Pétrusse 2, Luxembourg City 2320, Luxembourg. Its rooms *re divided between two lovely old Luxembourg homes with comfort*ble furnishings *nd * rustic rest*ur*nt. T*mmy's ...

Today Mary and I took a stroll down the Champs Elysee Boulv. in Paris, right up to the Notorious Arch de Triomphe. For all those who don't know the main Paris sites, this is one of the top 5 places to go. The arch itself was built by Napolean B. after the success of Paris over some historical battle or something--I don't really know, still doing that research. The arch is nice and BIG ...

... near a farming town, but had been turned out at 12:00, as the place closed for lunch! We were looking for a Carrefour, a modern French palace, one of the most famous and largest of French Hypermarkets. We think there may be one at Melun, just a few miles from Fontainebleau. In Melun, we intersect a number of confusing roundabouts with signs to towns that don't seem to be on my map. Up to now we have used the Michelin Atlas Routier successfully, with only one small hiccup ...