Paris Impressions from the Seine: Paris to Normandy May 23rd to May 30th, 2024 Part TWO
Hotel du Napoleon this was the Tauck hotel for the pre night. Some came in several days earlier on their own, however, we came in one day just in case there were problems with the flights. What an absolute joy of a staff who could easily switch from French to English. The hotel was beautiful, and we found the room comfortable and quiet. You need to bring two converters to keep your phones charged as there are no 110 outlets available. The food service for the hotel is from 7am till 2:30PM therefore we had planned to catch an early dinner across the street at Le Café de Paris. We had kept some crackers and cheese from the plane, and they had really fed us! We nibbled on the crackers and just were not hungry. Due to jetlag we went to bed at 8:30pm and woke up early in plenty of time for a 7 to 10am American buffet. The mattress is firm, but we slept fine. I had asked for a handicapped room. The assist bar was moved too far from the toilet because the hair dryer was in the way. There was a handlebar in the shower, however the floor curved in to accommodate the drain. It was frightening as I was trying not to lose my balance and not up to ADA standards. We received a letter from Tauck when we checked in that our luggage would be picked up by 10:30am and a bus would pick us up by 2:30 for arrival to the ship at 3:30pm. Some of us went out for a walk (watch out for pickpockets) others just sat and chatted in the lobby or read a book. The Paris traffic was building up as we traveled, and we were happy to finally arrive at our destination.
May 23rd Thursday night. On the ship we were given two sheets of paper for the next two days. There was a daily activity discussion at 6pm. They have a QR code in your cabin that you can download on your phone. It was very easy to do and far better for reading updates without have to print daily agendas and wasting all that paper. This was an evening where you arrive, go to your cabin and enjoy cocktails, get a welcome update for Friday’s activities, go to dinner and settle in. The showers all have an extra bar to hold on, but not for the toilet area. There were people using canes but no walkers or wheelchairs. On every tour we went on that was a walking tour, you were expected to walk long passages over uneven surfaces. The guides were very good at accommodating you if you needed an elevator or needed to leave a tour early. Do not expect anybody to push you in a Wheelchair or lag. If you cannot keep up with the pace then this is not the tour for you.
Paris and their museums, even the sites you will see on your River cruise are VERY popular. So, expect tours to depart at 7:45am to 8:30am. Paris traffic between 8 and 9am is legendary coming into the city and equally so between 5 and 6pm. You will see the sites and not experience long lines to get in.
May 24th, we chose the Paris Orientation tour and then there was a tour of Les Invalides where we would see Napoleon’s tomb. A stop was scheduled in front of the Sorbonne, and we were each given 30 Euros for lunch and told to meet back at the Shiny Shoe at 2pm. Some elected to go down side streets and lost their orientation. We chose to go to a Brassiere just a block away on the same street and enjoyed a good lunch and we were well back on our way to the meeting spot by the 2pm deadline. We then went to the LOUVRE where the buses could park underground, and our guide met us. The only line we experienced was going through security. Our guides were all wonderful and informed. If you do have a Handi cap placard, bring it and you will be 6 feet from the Mona Lisa in your own little space.
The louvre with our own guide and Tauck’s watchful guides was so amazing and very hot inside with all the thousands of people. Dress in layers and yes strip down to that sleeveless tank top! One guest said he had recorded 10,000 steps on her fitbit. We all felt safe knowing our travel documents were secure back in our cabins. Back at the ship we had dinner and a show with a fabulous Paris jazz singer.
May 25th, we set sail during the night and in the morning, we were ready for our tour of Versailles. Another 8 am departure for a 15-minute ride and there was Versailles and her marvelous gold painted gates. I had been asked about being able to walk up a 10-degree incline and high cobblestone steps. I appreciated them letting me know what to expect. I did everything my group did and they divided us up into 5 groups with our own guides. Again, no waiting in line and off we went. Versailles is “not to be missed” and the palace is outstanding. Pictures do not do it justice and the crowds built up as the day went on. Right before we were to descend down the grand marble steps the guide asked me if I needed an elevator and I gladly accepted. After resting, the rest of the group caught up and we toured the gardens. On the way back we were each treated to a Macaroon. I love how Tauck gives you little gifts and they truly think of everything.
May 26th, we arrive in Rouen, and I elect not to take this tour and just enjoy my morning and have lunch at Arthurs. I am enjoying passing under Paris Bridges and enjoying the banks of the Seine. This evening, we sail to Duclair for a Tauck Exclusive gala reception and dinner with music at the16th-century Château du Taillis. Everything is lovely and perfect. Tomorrow is our long-awaited trip to the Normandy beaches and an early morning start!
May 27th 7:45am start and a promise after one hour restroom break at a Convenience store. We are allowed 15 minutes and there are so many other coaches, we press on to Omaha beach after picking up local guide Flo. They give us 15 minutes at the beach and words cannot describe standing there on Memorial Day and envisioning the vast Allied fleet and all the casualties below. We then traveled to Point du Hoc where we finally got to the restroom with the Women’s forming a LONG line. To avoid accidents, I personally arose at 5am every day and took advantage of Taucks 24-hour Cappuccino machine in Arthurs where they also served a light continental breakfast of fresh fruit, cheeses, croissants. I finished eating and any café by 6:00am and I was always good to go.
Pointe du hoc was very windy and cold. It is best to bring a rain jacket with a hood as you are likely to experience some rain. It is also a long hike full of German bunkers and huge holes created by bombs. The surfaces were gravel and uneven and we had our Voxes, although the blowing wind made it difficult to hear. I would suggest you do your research on this site to really understand what the Army rangers went through and how important command of this site was. Afterwards we drove to our fabulous lunch site passing thru the villages waiving the American, Canadian, British and French Flags all in appreciation of the Allies War efforts. We had a FABULOUS 3 course lunch at a local hotel and then a tour of the American Cemetery which is beautifully maintained. All stops had a Disability Restroom available too. I believe everyone was all aboard the the bus by 2:45 and back on the ship by 4:45pm. We were each given a Madelyne to enjoy on the way back. For tomorrow Les Andelys you will be offered a choice of 3 times to sign up for a tour. 8:30, 9:15, 9:30