"Do you  think she's okay? I asked Holli of our friend Nicole. I was used to John sleeping late but I can count on one hand the amount of times it's gone past 1pm. Holli - who has traveled with Nicole before assured me she was fine, but just in case, she sent her a text off our Paris Ladies thread. When there was still no word, we covered our concern with more coffee and chocolate tasting (and purchasing). Finally, as soon as Holli decided to join us at the Petit Palais, the sleeping beauty around from her slumber. Jet lag or maybe a break from two children had worked their magic. While John and I continued our original destination, Holli left to join Disney's latest princess on her new surroundings.

There was no question we would take the Metro as the temperatures were not horrible, but they were decidely hotter than they were last summer. I've wanted to visit the Palais for awhile so I was really happy we finally put it on our agenda. The bonus? It is free and air conditioned! What a treat in the middle of Paris in the summer. The works of art are beyond amazing. Really, the amount of art in this city is almost beyond comprehension. While the museum's treasures are less than those in the other major buildings, they are no less impressive and we spent a good deal of the afternoon out of the reach of the Parisian sun until hunger forced us out into the streets. When we were far enough away from the tourist areas, we stopped into a charming cafe in the middle of the designer stores.

Once again, we're disappointed by American travelers. A family of four sat down across the sidewalk from our cafe covered cafe tables.

"Let's just sit here," demanded one of the girls who plopped her bag down, took up the menu and began fanning herself without uttering a Bon Jour to the waiter. They sat without looking at the menu while the waiter walked back inside for no more than then minutes, didn't talk to one another and then abruptly, tossed their menus on the tables and walked down the boulevard. Our waiter emerged, looked at the discarded menus and shook his head before they foursome were replaced with much more polite diners. What a shame, I thought, that people can't have common courtesy in a city that offers them so much

John and I devoured another incredible charcuterie board and frites washed down with our spritzes (and water - after all, staying hydrated is paramount.) Once again, we opted for the metro and were surprised to see the Paris metro police checking everyone's tickets at Bastille.

"TEXAS!!" the large imposing Frenchman exclaimed when he saw my shirt and scanned my ticket. There's something about the Lone Star State that fascinates the people here. Sometimes, I admit I'm from Boston when my still New England pronunciation of French words gives me away. Armed with more purchases and after some incredible iced coffee, we dragged our tired feet to our hotel and collapsed for less than an hour, as all four of us were reunited in time for our champagne river cruise.

No matter how many times we see it, to watch the lights of Paris go up as the sun goes down is truly magical. Here I was, once again, on one of the most magnificent rivers of the world with John, joined by two friends who I never imagined would be joining me on such an incredible adventure. Is it an adventure after so many visits? Or is it just a place whose beauty and people make us realize how wonderful it is to be alive? Watching the groups sitting along the river's edge is something I never tire of watching. They are obviously enjoying life and the slow pace of life here refreshes my soul. Of course, French wine also refreshes more than our souls and after enjoying a bottle following our outing, we headed to bed. We've got a full day visiting Reims ahead of us, and hopefully, sleeping beauty will rise on her own to join us.