Carol and I ate a petite dejuner at the hotel and then walked to Notre Dame where we savored the peace, quiet and utter spirituality of this ancient cathedral.

Shot into the overcast skies above Paris at 2 p.m. and tried to settle in for the 10 hour ride - we were not able to get business class, so we just smiled and made the best of it as we left Paris behind climbed over London, Dublin, Belfast, Iceland and Greenland - the Great Circle over the Atlantic - until we crossed land again at Gander, sailing down the northeast coast of the continental U.S. at 600 miles per hour. Turned west a bit north of Boston.

The 777 was an hour and a half late leaving Paris, and we have an hour and a half layover in Houston. So it is unlikely that we will make the connection to Tucson . We expect to spend the night in Houston - a replay of the 1999 return trip.

Miraculously, due to rain in Tucson, our connecting flight was delayed by three hours, so 2:30 a.m. Paris time we found ourselves sitting in the Houston airport waiting for the final flight home. We are dead on our feet but happy to be almost home.

After five gate changes (no joke) in Houston, we were onboard a Continental 737 for the two hour flight to Tucson.

Landed home at Tucson International Airport to discover that Continental had lost our luggage, so we made sure that the folks in baggage claim had our phone number, then grabbed a cab. A half hour later we found ourselves home, reunited with Cody and Merlin, jetlagged and wondering if it had all been just a dream. Continental delivered our luggage the next day. Better late than never.

Thus comes to an end another travel chapter in the Magnificent Journey of David and Carol.