No sleep in this morning!
It was: wake up: shower, shave, shampoo; breakfast; extra coffee; catch underground to Kings Cross; cath Eurostar to Paris!

The train ride was done at fair speed and within two hours we were there.  A couple of Metro (Paris version of Underground) rides and we were in the arae of our Hotel.  Our Hotel (The Splendid - their description) is across the road from the Ecole Militaire (Military Academy) and with a view to the Eiffel Tower.  Seriously!! we look out the window and there it is!

There it is!

The Splendid has nice staff and is well situated.  However, it is starting to show its age. 

Looking south we could see a golden dome. I initially assumed it would be a cathedral or abbey.  I was pleasantly wrong!  It was the Musee L.Armee (Army Museum and Napoleon's tomb).  The Musee is only about 300m.  I am looking forward to exploring it and so is Karen (I think!).

Having established a bit of orientation, we decided to venture toward the Tower.  On the way we met a nice gentlemen who offered a ride on a Segway.  Then he offered a deal where we would have an one hour, guide led... Segway tour.  We were in!!  (Even if a little dubious).

We undertook an intensive training package that thoroughly prepared us for striking out into Parisienne traffic.  The training course included how to get on and get off, lean forward to go forward/fast, lean back to slow down or fall off, lean left to go left and lean right to go... you guessed it!  After the training we all had to undertake a rigorous testing regime.  No one fell off or damaged the Segways... we passed!!

On y va!  We were off, I think I had the fastest Segway!!  Our guide was Natalie.  A nice young girl who spoke English well.  The tour lasted an hour+ and we only terrorised a few hundred pedestrians.  I showed great skill and dexterity in avoiding a major collision with a cycle-rickshaw.  He was in the wrong.  Regrdless, we all had a ball... I was surprised how much fun the Segway was!

Fortunately, Paris doesn't have anti-association laws!

Tree lined boulevarde!

After all that work (standing and occassional leaning) we needed sustenance.  We chose a street cafe: some nice sandwiches, red wine... followed by an espresso!

French... french fries!

Then it was back to our room to collect our locks.  Karen and I had brought a lock for us, and a lock for Megan and Stephen.  On our Segway tour we learnt where the bridge d'amour was.  Yes, we added our lock and Megan/Stephen's lock to the bridge over the Seine (you may have heard about it: if you place a lock on the bridge, and throw the key into the Seine your love will be unbreakable/secure).  We placed our locks and threw the keys!

That's where the locka are!

Whilst we were on the bridge, a young fellow proposed to his girlfriend.  She accepted and they went into a Guiness Book of Records smooch-fest. 

We the took a gentle walk along the left ban of the Seine, until we turned off to visit the Eiffel Tower at night.  There were still hundreds of people on the streets (most of the with a bottle of wine/bubbles).  On the hour, they lit the Tower with sparkly lights... ooohh, very pretty!

Don't panic! The Tower has not fallen over, I couldn't work out how to rotate the @#$%!!!! photo!

A big day done!