Hop on Hop Off

At about 5 PM we boarded the Hop on Hop off bus knowing we would also have the next day to use the ticket. It was a great way to relax and see the city after walking around most of the day. We designed the route to end at the Arc de Triomphe so we could go to the top and view the city. There are security ckecks at every monument and at this one there was a metal detector. I told the security man that I had a knee replacement and then went to the ticket counter to show my pass. The security fellow came after me motioning me to come back. Of course I didn't understand what he was saying but complied feeling a little harassed. But he was offering me a ride to the top in an elevator just for handicapped. Tom and I jumped at the offer! That knee comes in handy sometimes.
The evening was lovely and we enjoyed the views from the top. The Eiffel Tower looks so good from that vantage point. We then came down in the elevator! We then had a leisurely walk back to our apartment stopping at Haagen-Dazs for dinner. I had a salted caramel sundae and Tom had a concoction that he really didn't end up enjoying. Not our best meal choice.
We got up early on Tuesday to use our hop on Hop off pass that worked so well the evening before. We took a circuitous route to visit the Musee d'Orsay. I had read that it was due to open on Tuesday after having been closed during the flooding. There was a lot of traffic along the route; the driver took a break for awhile and finally after 2 and a half hours we arrived at the Musee. The last time I was in Paris (almost 30 years ago) the Musee d'Orsay was closed for renovations. I was really looking forward to seeing the impressionists' art at last. The sign at the entrance read that it was still closed due to flooding issues.
We walked to the next bus route to see the Pantheon. We enjoyed it especially seeing Foucault's pendulum suspended from the dome. The oil paintings on the walls were so well done. But the one at the entrance was gross. It depicted a saint having been beheaded and catching his own head! There were frescoes too but they looked so flat in comparison. ...to be continued!