The day began with a very American touch. We met our American friend Kate Pesey at a place called Breakfast in America, just about a mile from our apartment. Kate organized a small gathering of Republicans Abroad on short notice, and although we just had one attendee, it was great to meet.

On our way back from breakfast we climbed to the top of the Panth√©on for great views of Paris. We hadn’t planned to visit this place, but it turned out to be a nice surprise. We stopped at the Cluny Museum, which wasn’t our favorite but did give us some perspective on early Paris.

After a quick bite to eat, we walked to Notre Dame to check out the archaeological crypt and then climb several hundred stairs for a view of the city from the cathedral’s tower. The best part was the creaky bell tower — supported by wood, not stone. Needless to say, Missy didn’t want to spend much time in there.

We headed a few blocks north to the Pompidou Center, our least favorite museum so far. After a quick tour of the Picasso room, we decided to head back to the Louvre for one last visit before our Museum Pass expired.

Yesterday’s dining experiences were the best so far. We ate dinner at a nice Italian restaurant down the street (with English subtitles on the menu). Unfortunately, by the time we were finished, it had begun to rain, which threated our plans to tour the Eiffel Tower. It was just a quick shower, though, so we rode the Metro for the first time and ended the night with a chilly ride up the 1,063-foot tower for an incredible view.