Hard to believe that just a week ago, we were in Paris and all of its beauty. We had a huge speed bump initially. The apartment company that we had rented from gave us non-working contact numbers and didn't answer our emails so we ended up staying at a Holiday Inn (which ate a huge amount of our budget) for two nights until we finally got everything straightened out. After that, it was smooth sailing.
We arrived Sunday evening, had the apartment fiasco, and finally checked in about 10pm. It was raining and chilly, but we had expected that. Monday morning the sun was shining and since we had no email from the company yet, we started our first day by going to the Eiffel Tower. First, pictures do not do this landmark justice. It really does watch over the entire city, and apparently on clear days, you can see 50 miles. Secondly, this is one of those things that you really need to put on your "I've done that" list. The views are amazing! One side however, overlooks a 56 story building, Montparsse (I believe) that was described as "the box that the Eiffel came in". And that is exactly what it looks like-all by itself in the middle of the 18th century style architecture. It is very odd.
Afterwards, we found a little "deli", grabbed some lunch and ate in the park in front of the Dome Church, which is covered in gold. This is where Napolean's tomb is located. The man himself is in eight coffins-I guess to make sure he won't go anywhere! We chose not to go in, but to go to the Rodin museum instead-especially since it started raining. Finally found Rodin, closed since it was Monday. Right, gotta read the guide book! Most everything else is closed on Mondays too, it turns out. Oh well, it is a beautiful enough city that just walking is a delight.
Tuesday morning we finally made it into our apartment! Word of warning to all of our tall (meaning over 5'11") family and friends...ceilings in the older buildings are very short. Patrick barely made the clearance! But it was warm, dry, cozy, and paid for! We got going shortly thereafter and got to the Louvre before the crowds do. We got there early enough that there was absolutley no line whatsoever! Because its closed on Tuesdays. Heavy sigh. Decide instead to walk down the Seine and see what is there. Turns out, garden shops and pet stores. We went in to a few of them (the pet stores that is), just so that the kids could see animals that were healthy and taken care of (Naples issues). Not only did the stores have your usual pups and kittens (one had a Persian and a Chihuahua rooming and cuddling together-very cute), but also doves, a variety of chickens (!), and some amazing birds! One store even had chipmunks there. We had to convince the kids that chipmunks were not really made to be pets, but they're not totally convinced. The answer is still "NO". We had a nice, leisurely lunch at a cafe that turned out to be a favorite of locals-it was all delicious. I saw a website for the Museum of Hunting (yeah I know) and Nature. Looked pretty interesting...like a natural museum set in a house, things like stags locked in a fight in an elegant dining room, swan in the parlor, etc. Nope. Well, sort of...but it was all...very French. In the trophy room, there was an albino wart hog head that would periodically start reciting (what we thought) bad French poetry. Its mouth moved, it snorted, and you couldn't understand the soundtrack. Very, very odd. We then stopped by Notre Dame (another must do on the list). Gorgeous! Unfortunately the line for Sainte-Chapelle, famous for its stained glass "walls" was much too long for tired kiddos. Oh, and we finally heard from the apartment people at 9pm that night.
Wednesday morning we all slept in a bit, and I grabbed breakfast for everyone from the bakery across the street. Pure heaven! The apartment is very close to the Pompideau (the modern art museum) so we chose that for the morning activity. Well, modern art IS modern art and some of the exhibits were so modern, we just didn't get it...like the three extra large canvases hanging on the wall that were blank. Not painted with a color, or white, just blank. Another showed a running loop video of a man slowly bringing his hand to his head and groaning three times (as if he had a headache)-this became our running joke. There were some pieces we all liked as well, but by the time that we got to the "old" modern masters (Picasso, Matisse, etc) the kids had had enough-so they just got quick glances unfortunately.
Thursday was the Louvre finally! And, more importantly-it was open. We got there early, made a bee line for the Mona Lisa and were able to see her without to many people. Check! Not really in my top 25 paintings that I've seen, but that's just me. Many of the galleries that I wanted to see were closed, but it was just as well since the kids were tired and Patrick's knee was giving him trouble with all the rain and walking. We went to the Musee d'Orsay after lunch to see the Impressionists...this was my favorite museum. Showed Michael how their technique worked-he liked that. And I was able to see some Rodin sculpture! This museum is a must do, too!
Friday was our last full day in Paris and we took it easy in the morning by going to what we thought was a children's sea museum and turtle orphanage. The orphanage isn't there anymore, but the kids liked the few exhibits that were. Came back for a good rest in the afternoon and in the evening went out to the Arc de Triumph shortly after the rain had stopped, the sun was out, and we stumbled upon a veteran's ceremony at the Arc. We walked the Champs-Elysees and had a marvelous final dinner. Michael was so tired he fell asleep at the table!
All in all, it was marvelous and we want to go back. So if anyone needs a tour guide of Paris, I would be happy to help!
I'll post some pictures later today...I promise!
