AB Tour Diary; Catch up Days 12-14 November 2014

Wednesday 12th November 2014

Another exciting day for the tour groups; but this time we woke up in Paris. Each of us had been issued with hop-on hop-off bus passes so off we all went in different directions. For eleven of us we had a most memorable day together.

We climbed aboard a busy Metro train and zoomed out into the suburbs. The visit which followed was to the Palais de Versailles, the great sprawling edifice which is France's great example of 17th century art, culture and decadence.

To my untrained eye the it was beyond impressive and beyond description. There was gold everywhere, it weighed down the glinting chandeliers and massive mirrors, and the huge drapes and statues of philosophers, writers, soldiers and politicians and wall to ceiling paintings in hall after hall. There were so many one's feet tired from the hours we spent indoors trying to understand it and take it all in - or we were outdoors blinking in amazement at the grandeur of the gardens.

It was a great day - completely different in its reaction we had to the horrors of what we had seen yesterday at gthe World War One sites in the north.

Thursday November 13 2014

A second full day to explore Paris. This time we took in a leisurely afternon walk up the slopes of Montmartre to the Church of Sacre Coeur at the top. We joined thousands of tourists in the many colourful shops and boutiques there and marveled at the street musicians, actors, mime artists and painters. To have a sidewalk coffee there was an exercise in watching the colourful people of the world go by, Magnifique!

Friday November 14 2014

The transfer day from Paris back to Edinburgh was different from the glories of France. The crossing back to the UK was certainly not without its high and low points today. Whereas last week I noted a smooth entry into UK via a different looking Heathrow Airport, today it was vastly different. At one point I had all of my carry-on baggage spread out in front of a very stroppy looking customs guard who barked at me to 'stand back!' when I went to touch something for him in my shoulder bag!

I was taken aback I must admit. He then went through every tiny item I had; computer nick-knacks, phone chargers, toilet bag gear, books, papers - you name it - I stood in front of this man (I will mention it here that he had so much poetry tattooed down those arms - I almost had time to commit it to memory) for fully ten minutes.

That meant I had to then run at a low shuffle to get to the gate for my transfer flight to Scotland. Once on board my wife tried to count the heads of our tour group, scattered as they were among other travellers. When we found we were missing two of 'ours,' and the plane doors had shut there was much muttering about 'bloody Pom security systems.' But what could we do?

When the two stragglers came in on a later flight they told of going through exactly the same examination as I had; one bloke of quite senior years was visibly distressed; 'Keith,' he said, ' I think they had decided to make an example of me.' I tried to console him with my experience but I doubt it worked.

He was upset. I was angry.

Still, we all got here in one piece for the Scotland game tomorrow.