As expected, our friends were already in the Hotel, each couple in their room, when Anna and I arrived from the Airport. Transferred some clothes from the suitcases to a closet, and after refreshing up a bit, started walking down he small Hotel's corridor, looking for the right room number
At my knock, the door opened and there he was...Fito.- a very dear friend of ours, we hadn't seen in several years.  I wasn't surprised to see both his hands
occupied, one holding a glass and the other a bottle of Chivas Regal (18). He put the glass and bottle on a table; Alicia, his wife running to join us...and the
inevitable greetings ceremony began, with warm embraces and cheek kissing;, everybody talking at the same time.
Fito suggested we sit down for a welcoming drink, and then we would go greet the rest the group - three couples - all of them part of Fito's family.- Ana and I had
met and liked them many years ago when visiting El Salvador in Central America, so everybody felt comfortable with everybody else. Perfect! Soooo,...,finished
the drinks, and just as I knew he would, Fito poured another drink,  saying: "One more for he road", then we go looking for the others.  I certainly wasn't going to argue. We had the time, and the Chivas was 18 years old.
Fito called the other three couples, and agreed on meeting downstairs and going on a walk to Champs Elysee's and Arch of Triumph; find a sidewalk Cafe and have a beer while watching the Parisians go by, now immune to the beauty of their city.

And we did just that. More hugs and cheek kissing - everybody talking - and off we went into the streets of Paris, with two camcorders besides mine, to record the event for posterity.
It was a very pleasant walk, and we found the Arch to be very impressive. I don't know why, it made me think of the Second World War, and in my imagination
I could see German soldiers marching through it. We found the kind of table we were looking for and ordered a round of beer.- Francis, an attorney married to Fito's sister Silvia said that in our Hotel they had told him they could get us a small Bus with a good guide o take us n a tour of the city, dinner at a Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, and finally, admire the beautiful bridges that span the Seine, while taking a two hour river tour on a comfortable large boat.
Everybody liked the plan, so the following day schedule was set with one addition: Mass at Notre Dame.
Everybody was jet-lagged and tired, so we turned in early to get some rest, and be prepared for a busy day.- That was our first day in Paris, and we were looking forward to continue the next day.

Next morning we all met at the Hotel's Dining Room, had a very good breakfast and after getting the camcorders and everything we needed, climbed into the small Bus that waited by the sidewalk. Our guide - Anton - spoke French, English and Spanish. and turned out to be a very charismatic fellow.Our driver had his full attention on the traffic around us, and limited himself to following Anton's instructions.- After Mass in Notre Dame, took us all over the city, explaining and commenting on buildings, monuments and places of interest passed. I guess it must have been well over 12 noon when at Anton;s suggestion we stopped in a small but very charming restaurant. Our guide translated the French Menus making comments and suggestions on the specialties of the house.
Remember that Anna and I had the same thing:Escargot, Shrimp in a special sauce, a Fillet Mignon - rare - with champignons, with a bottle of: "House Wine".
Coffee and a small Courvasier Cognac, was the end of the meal.
While cruising, we passed a plaza like place, and Anton informed us, that the Guillotine had stood there during he French Revolution; Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette being executed there. Somebody mentioned the phrase alleged to the Queen,  "Let them eat cake".
Anton said that it was just a myth; and that Marie Antoinette's real last words had been: "I beg your Pardon Sir. I didn't do it on purpose", after inadvertently stepping on the executioner's foot.

We had a terrific time in Paris, but the time to go our different ways and say our farewells finally came-. Fito and family were going to tour Italy, and Anna and I to Spain.Just one day before leaving Paris, Anna and I decided that instead of flying we were going to make the trip on the train. We though it would be more fun, and would get to see the French countryside.
On parting day, we found ourselves in the Train Station, a bit late, and not knowing what to do with an enormous language barrier. Lady Luck was kind to us, and we
found a Hindu Gentleman that spoke English, and more than willing to help us; and it was with his help we secured the train tickets with good seats assigned, showing us on the run, the car where are seats were located. We profusely thanked the Gentleman, and almost as soon as we sat down, the train started rolling.
Good bye, Paris!  Hello Spain!  My next mission: Find the Club Car; where the Bar is almost always located. Past experiences had taught me that the Bar is the ideal place to make a long trip feel shorter. Usually, you meet some interesting people and conversation develops, springkled by some wine or a Martini.
Before we knew it, we were crossing the Pyrenee's; the mountains that separate France and Spain. The train we were on was going to Barcelona,. so we had to change to one going to Madrid. No problem.

In Madrid, a Taxi took us to our Hotel, in time for a late dinner.- Our Spanish adventure was about to beguin.