To Paris and Back
So much has happened in one week. We left Avery for a week, and Nathan & I dashed off to the City of Lights - Paris! It was fantastic. Our early days in Paris were filled with tons of walking and activities. Near the end of our trip, we had a hard time even getting out of bed. So here goes (a little detail about the trip).
We arrived in Paris early last Thursday. We took the Metro (subway) to our hotel, and hauled our suitcases through the wet and rainy Paris morning. We quickly found our hotel, dropped off our bags and were on our way. Our room had a terrace with a great view of the eiffel tower. You'll have to tilt your head to see the video.
Day 1 (Thursday, May 14th) - Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Elysee - We started at the Arc de Triomphe (climbed the stairs & enjoyed the view), and then walked down the Champs-Elysee (busiest Paris street) enjoying the shops along the way. We walked all the way to the Tuileries Garden (about a 3 hour walk). We went back to the hotel & slept early.
Day 2 (Friday, May 15th) - We started out at the Louvre, where the walls & ceilings were as beautiful as the art that was displayed. We stayed for 7 hours, and could have easily stayed longer. That evening, we went to Notre-Dame, and then ate at a local restaurant. For the most part, we could get a casual meal with two glasses of wine for about 20 euros ($25-30). On most menus, a glass of wine was about 3 euros, and a coke was 4-5 euros.
Day 3 (Saturday, May 16th) - We went to the chateau of Versailles, and toured the immense castle and infinite gardens. We took some wine back to our hotel, while we took our time (3 hours) getting ready for our evening. We met our friends, Micci & John, at a really nice restaurant (four entrees, a bottle of wine, and 2 desserts was about 100 euros - not too bad) and then went to see a cabaret at the Moulin Rouge. It was awesome (sorry guys, no pics were allowed).
Day 4 (Sunday, May 17th) - We slept until 12:30 pm, exhausted from the late night before. Then we headed to the D'Orsay museum to see some of the impressionist artists. Then we went to the Hotel des Invalides to see Napolean's tomb and the World War II museum. After that, we gathered some bread, salami, cheese, chocolate, chips, and coke (about 17 euros) and had a picnic on the Champs de Mars (right in front of the Eiffel Tower). The view was spectacular. Micci & John met us there, and we all headed up the Eiffel Tower to see the view from the top. We got very lucky that there wasn't much of a line, and the sun was just setting as we made our way up.
Day 5 - (Monday, May 18th) - We went to Sacre Coeur on Montmartre (the artistic district), and enjoyed the view from the steps. We walked around the area and did some shopping, and then returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We took a Seine dinner cruise (Bateaux Mouches) along the city, and tried to eat some of the "specialties" (moldy cheese and duck foie gras) without puking.
Day 6 - (Tuesday, May 19th) - We slept in until about 10:30 am, and then took our time getting ready. Around 1 pm, we had a minivan pick us up to take us to Giverny to see Monet's gardens. This allowed us to see the French countryside (which was serene & such a lovely contrast to Paris). We toured Monet's house and gardens, and especially loved his Japanese water garden (you've probably seen his famous lily pad paintings), and then returned to the hotel to pack our belongings.
We checked out and flew back to the US early on the 20th. Now we're soaking up how much Avery has grown (and even her new words "ribbit ribbit") since we were gone. I'll also be doing laundry for what seems like an eternity :)
We're glad to be back in the US, and feel very lucky to call this home. It was great to get a perspective of a different culture, and I really enjoyed the Parisian fashion. The girls could have walked straight from the subway to a runway.
Later, peeps.
Day 1 (Thursday, May 14th) - Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Elysee - We started at the Arc de Triomphe (climbed the stairs & enjoyed the view), and then walked down the Champs-Elysee (busiest Paris street) enjoying the shops along the way. We walked all the way to the Tuileries Garden (about a 3 hour walk). We went back to the hotel & slept early.
Day 2 (Friday, May 15th) - We started out at the Louvre, where the walls & ceilings were as beautiful as the art that was displayed. We stayed for 7 hours, and could have easily stayed longer. That evening, we went to Notre-Dame, and then ate at a local restaurant. For the most part, we could get a casual meal with two glasses of wine for about 20 euros ($25-30). On most menus, a glass of wine was about 3 euros, and a coke was 4-5 euros.
Day 3 (Saturday, May 16th) - We went to the chateau of Versailles, and toured the immense castle and infinite gardens. We took some wine back to our hotel, while we took our time (3 hours) getting ready for our evening. We met our friends, Micci & John, at a really nice restaurant (four entrees, a bottle of wine, and 2 desserts was about 100 euros - not too bad) and then went to see a cabaret at the Moulin Rouge. It was awesome (sorry guys, no pics were allowed).
Day 4 (Sunday, May 17th) - We slept until 12:30 pm, exhausted from the late night before. Then we headed to the D'Orsay museum to see some of the impressionist artists. Then we went to the Hotel des Invalides to see Napolean's tomb and the World War II museum. After that, we gathered some bread, salami, cheese, chocolate, chips, and coke (about 17 euros) and had a picnic on the Champs de Mars (right in front of the Eiffel Tower). The view was spectacular. Micci & John met us there, and we all headed up the Eiffel Tower to see the view from the top. We got very lucky that there wasn't much of a line, and the sun was just setting as we made our way up.
Day 5 - (Monday, May 18th) - We went to Sacre Coeur on Montmartre (the artistic district), and enjoyed the view from the steps. We walked around the area and did some shopping, and then returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner. We took a Seine dinner cruise (Bateaux Mouches) along the city, and tried to eat some of the "specialties" (moldy cheese and duck foie gras) without puking.
Day 6 - (Tuesday, May 19th) - We slept in until about 10:30 am, and then took our time getting ready. Around 1 pm, we had a minivan pick us up to take us to Giverny to see Monet's gardens. This allowed us to see the French countryside (which was serene & such a lovely contrast to Paris). We toured Monet's house and gardens, and especially loved his Japanese water garden (you've probably seen his famous lily pad paintings), and then returned to the hotel to pack our belongings.
We checked out and flew back to the US early on the 20th. Now we're soaking up how much Avery has grown (and even her new words "ribbit ribbit") since we were gone. I'll also be doing laundry for what seems like an eternity :)
We're glad to be back in the US, and feel very lucky to call this home. It was great to get a perspective of a different culture, and I really enjoyed the Parisian fashion. The girls could have walked straight from the subway to a runway.
Later, peeps.
posted by Anjana at
9:15 AM
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