So our trip continues and while it is slowly improving it is far from good. Yes our luggage has arrived - after 6 (yes count take them) six days. So we had to waste 300 euros or so on extra clothes and supplies only some of which will be reimbursed. Since the US Embassy is closed on the weekend I planned on getting my emergency passport at the Marseille consulate. It was all set up until they said that the head of the Consulate was going to be out of town that week. Huh?????? So now My only option is to Leave the tour a day early, take the train to Paris and get my passport there. It also means I get to pay for a room for an extra night. Oh by the way we also discovered that since France is so slow in processing the covid vaccination forms I now need to get an extra covid test just to get on the train. Then I find out that you can not take any bags into the embassy so I have to make an extra stop at my $175 per night hotel which is probably a flea bag since it is across the street from the Louvre. The only good news is that I wanted to go to see the Louvre again anyway and if I can get out of the embassy early enough (it is within walking distance) I may have most of the day there.

So far it has rained almost every day although we have been pretty lucky in that as soon as we leave the bus the rain stops or at least slows down. The news on the casino visits is also horrible. The first two that I went to would not let me in because I did not have the electronic version of the covid QR code (that is the thing that we are waiting for). Tonight i could have gotten in with my US paper certificate but they would not let me in without my passport. This is all despite info online that the paper version and any form of ID (drivers license) is acceptable.

They are really paranoid about covid here. You must wear a mask inside any building and the best way to get everyone vaccinated is by making everyone show proof of vaccination to enter most buildings including restaurants and hotels. Since many here eat out or visit a brasserie daily almost everyone is vaccinated.