Paris 15/10/12

Completing the diary for today was very easy. After an early start of breakfast at 6.45am we were on the coach and on the road by 7.30am. We left Lucerne with a view of green pastures, and attractive chalets with rustic timbering. Our entire day today was travelling to France, so the only stops were either 15minute toilet breaks or a 45 minute lunch break.

The view once we were on the highway in France was not as pretty or as interesting as it has been in the past, and on arrival into Paris at 5.30pm we were amongst peak hour traffic.

The Hotel we are staying in is ‘Kyriad Bercy Village’ and is towards the eastern edge of Paris City. Very clean hotel with the tiniest rooms we have had so far! Not really enough room to put our suitcases without some major planning! All in the experience of travelling around Europe I guess, so much fun. We have called it a new dance called the 'bedroom two step', as you have to dance around each other in order to get anywhere and in two steps you are out the door or in the bathroom!

We headed back down and had a quick wander through an old Village just a street away where there were many restaurants, bars and shops along this street full of charm and history. 

Rather than eating here we decided to head back to the Hotel for a small snack before heading back up to our room.

I had opted to join tonight’s optional tour and we headed to the Champs-Elysees to the Lido! It has been a cabaret venue here since 1946 and the current show ‘Bonheur’ has the legendary Bluebell Girls and the Lido Boy Dancers supporting the Lead Dancer and Singer of the show. It included impressive staging – 23 monumental sets, including a temple rising from the proscenium stage, as well as a water fountain feature and not to mention an ice skating rink, all from the same stage. Costuming was spectacular – feathers, leather, crystals and lycra all made an appearance. Choreography was good, but overall impression of the performers was that they looked quite ho-hum! I had hoped for crisp, clean performances, I wanted to be dazzled. I am sure the general population in the audience were definitely dazzled, however one thing about having a background in dance/theatre etc., it makes it very difficult to watch a show without trying to analyse every part of it! It was a spectacular show, and I am glad I went, but can definitely cross it off the bucket list!

It was very late by the time the show finished, and we were met by our coach who took us back to our hotel showing us Paris as it is at night time, just gorgeous.