European Escapade Page 11 of 12

	This is the interesting and spectacular view from the balcony of the restaurant high above the French Riviera where we had one of the best meals of our trip. We had just visited the PERFUME factory in this photo before lunch.		We returned to NICE and took a late-afternoon walk along the Riviera near our hotel.
	Lena had already learned when she went swimming in the ocean that this section of the beach was NOT SANDY. In fact, unless one is wearing shoes, walking on the beach can be quite painful since there is NO sand!		We stopped to watch two people preparing themselves for their tandem PARA SAILING launch.
	This shot was taken immediately after lift-off...		...and this shows their splash-down at the end of their adventure.
	Continuing our early-evening walk, we wandered through a huge open-air market/food area one block off the beach. There was everything one could possibly want to eat or drink being sold in the many little shops & restaurants in this area.		We were quite impressed with THIS 'menu board' that certainly attracted our attention!
	To say that the surrounding atmosphere was relaxed and laid back is a mild understatement.		Continuing our walk, we passed through the colorful and narrow streets of Nice to see some of the 'older' section of the city.
	It was almost dark when we passed this huge advertisement as to what was coming in NICE. Without a doubt, we would BOTH enjoy going back to this city sometime.		From Nice, we proceeded Northward to AVIGNON [SEE MAP], France to see the PAPAL PALACE and ST. BENEZET BRIDGE.
	Until we visited this place, we had not known the center of the Catholic Church had at one time been moved from the VATICAN in ROME to this PAPAL PALACE in AVIGNON, France. In fact, there had been 9 different POPES...		.. who led the Church from AVIGNON for more than 100 years during the 1300's (from 1305 to 1423 AD). The cobblestone streets of this walled and fortified city are very narrow; NO VEHICLES (except for business purposes) are allowed.
	Lena briefly considered this doll, but decided we really did not need it!		While there, we saw this couple who were touring Europe on this 'bicycle-for-two.' Steve was more than happy to be traveling on our tour in a comfortable Mercedes BUS!
	The ST. BENEZET BRIDGE was originally built in the 12th century, but was continually washed away by the strong currents of the Rhone river.		This is a commercial photo of AVIGNON that was taken from the other side of the river from where we toured. It much more clearly shows the huge size and the fortified walls of the Papal Palace.
	A daily view of what we had on the Trafalgar tour (as seen from the rear of the bus this particular day) was our Tour Director, John, briefing us on whatever we were going to do next.		Continuing Northward in France toward Paris, we made an early-morning stop in this medieval French town, BEAUNE [SEE MAP]. We were told that many of these ancient buildings had been destroyed during WWII, but they had been rebuilt to the original designs.
	Steve thought this was a clever little MENU sign...		...for this wonderful little BAKERY.
	We had arrived so early in BEAUNE that about the only people wandering around these cobblestone streets were members of our own tour!		One of the many art shops which catered to the bus loads of tourists who flocked to the town every day.
	Finally, we arrived in PARIS [SEE MAP]...and almost immediately encountered the overcast skies and rain which we had hoped were finally behind us. Unfortunately, we began our RIVER CRUISE with ominously dark clouds hanging behind the EIFFEL TOWER.		In fact, the miserable weather and dark, overcast skies during most of the SEINE RIVER CRUISE keep us from taking many photos. Of course, Steve had to get NOTRE DAME as we passed it...
	...and then again as the cruise boat moved further down-river.		About the only 'bright and colorful' things to see along the Seine were Lena's yellow outfit and the red seats on the tour boat.
	At the end of the river cruise as we drove to see the EIFFEL TOWER, the sun finally partially broke through and provided us a very LITTLE blue sky for our visit to the second level of the tower.		A view from the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower of the Seine River and several of its bridges below.