Woke up before everyone else and wandered around the neighborhood. I made an attempt to find the metro stop close to our hotel without success. Breakfast was ok toast, juice and fruit. Various groups were forming at this point to either go shopping, Louvre, Eiffel tower or etc. My group had decided on the Eiffel tower first so we got on the coach and Mike would be dropping us off at major stops. Mike is a really good driver and he showed it to us for the first time as he maneuver a large bus through the narrow and dangerous streets of Paris. I assumed it was the Topdeck training plus years of experience but I would learn otherwise later on :). Like I said my group was going to the Eiffel tower first but as ... read more

Woke up shortly before we arrived in London and I thought this was the first flight that didn't have any turbulence so for a person who is always looking for signs this was a good one. Exiting the plane in Gatwick airport was familiar as I had been in Gatwick more times than any airport besides Pearson. I put down that I was only in the UK for one day on my customs declaration so I was expecting hard questions but no, I was almost waved through so I guess I have been to the UK enough times to be trusted. After that I waited for my luggage and once again the one thing I wanted most in an airport for my luggage to come out first still did not happen, oh well maybe next time. ... read more