Not quite the au revoir planned

Tuesday 19 August

Flight confirmation from Etihad, transfer booked for 8am, bags packed and an early night.   A little off the rails when 6am mistaken for 7am and further off the rails with an overnight email from Etihad advising 5 hour delay - quick arrangement to reschedule transfer.

Make the most of extra time in Paris, so walk via St Germaine thru Sorbonne and university campuses for breakfast on edge of Pantheon (dome under canvas while renovations being undertaken).  On to Luxembourg Palace and gardens on a beautiful cloudless Paris morning. At 10am, in the sunshine and without crowds, this has to be the best and most relaxing spot in Paris.  Back via the surrounding streets and St Sulpice Cathedral.  Everywhere you walk there is something that turns your head - and most don't make the maps.  Returning via Notre Dame,  the queues are as long as yesterday (both close to 100m at 11am).

Just a little on Paris:
Don't go if you are looking for a pristine city, but what you get is something to excite you at every turn - and look up, not down!;
Don't believe that Paris closes down for August, it certainly does not for tourism (95%+ of shops and cafes are open);
The locks on bridges craze has reached its zenith here - no wonder bridges are falling down.  The souvenir sellers on the left bank even sell them - fortunately, the more intellectual right bank has not followed suit;
There are some interesting beggars in Paris - most seem to have mobiles, I saw one who promoted his own facebook page, and the big majority seem to have dogs (having passed through two pet shops yesterday, I can tell you that the cheapest "mutts" in Paris will set you back $1000+, with breeding, the price sky rockets);
Apart from the two "petitioners" when we transferred stations on our way to Rotterdam, we never saw even a hint of annoyance of any sort - but you still need to be "alert but not alarmed".

Sorry,  I digress!!!

12 noon transfer to airport for our delayed flight thinking we would be first to check in.  In fact, it seems, almost last because most did not receive the "delayed" message.  Checked in via the Diamond First Class check in, but alas no good news.  The flight may be delayed even more because the incoming flight had been turned around to Abu Dhabi due to "mechanical problems" - €52 vouchers!!!!

Uh oh, just got the news of a further two hour delay (and the offer of more food vouchers - but how much can you eat and drink).   Stories to tell ............ but the editor in chief has precluded publication!!!!!!

Anyway, there is entertainment here!!!!