ooh-la-la Paris

Jared and his mom Karyl by the Eiffel Tower.  She is an awesome Mother in Law and friend.  I lucked out with a really great Mother in Law that I totally get a long with and who is fun to be around.  She is always complimentary to Jared and I and how we are rasing our kids.   I realize what a blessing that is! 

Karyl committed several months in advance to fly over and watch our kids for our 12 day cruise to the Mediterranean that we have been planning for six months.  As incentive we paid her travel over as well as offered to take her to PARIS for a long weekend!  It was a memorable month we were  able to enjoy with her here.  The kids really miss her and were able to bond with her which was the most important thing of all! 
After a few days of sleeping in and trying to adjust to the time change...we hit the road for Paris.  Only 4.5 hours from Schwedelbach! We got there Thursday night late October 6th.  We checked in to our conveniently located apartment (two blocks from the Louvre) and settled in for some sleep.  The apartment was nice, but had some quirks about it.  Only one toilet in a very small closet with no sink or anything to wash your hands.  So you would have to trapse down the hallafter doing your thing in the potty to the other bathroom....oh oops, no toilet in there just a shower/tub with no shower curtain and two sinks.  Odd.  We had several laughs about the place over the days we were there, but really it was mostly comfortable and we only slept there because OH MY we did a lot in 4 days! 

We started our first day at the Arc de Triomphe- Napoleon hadthe magnificent Arc commissioned to commemorate his vcictory at the battle of Austerlitz.  It is the largest Triumphal arch and with 12 converging boulevards, it is also the largest traffic circle!  Many historical events took place here: Napoleon's funeral, the Goose stepping arrival of the Nazi's, and the return of Charles De Gaulle after the Allied liberation. 

We hiked the 284 steps to the top to overlook the city and found the views breathtaking. We could see the busy traffic below as well as the famous Champs Elysees- Paris' most grand Boulevard.   It was a bit windy and cold this day and especially so on top of the Arch. 

Some of the crazy traffic.... traffic laws and rules are loosely follwed in Paris.  Ask Jared he was our driver.

Under the Arch

We next hit the subway for one of many subway rides over the weekend and got off at The Montmartre (Paris' highest hilltop).  This carousel intrigued the little boys so we stayed here while they had a ride or two.  This man was feeding the birds right out of his hands.  Jake and Hanna gave it a try! 

Atop this hill sits Sacre Coeur Basilica (Sacred Heart). 

As you can see.....our weather was moody throughout the weekend.  Mostly gray and rainy here and there with only a bit of sunshine on and off. 

We opted to climb to the top after climbing a bit from the subway, and our legs let us know soon enough that it was the second time we had done this already today.  The staircase was narrow and clausterphobic for most of it, but when you get to the top you are sure glad you did it!  (Thankfully it was not a hot day or we would not be enjoying our non hygienecally minded European friends) 

Karyl had to take a few of this picture because Cole kept getting in to the picture. 

Jake loved Paris and was so nice to pause for several pictures for mom. 

Also on the hill you will find the cutest block of cafes and artists out in the street selling their paintings with set up easels painting.  I loved this city when we came a few years ago and was soooo excited to show my little budding artist daughter.  It started raining right when we got to this part.  I was so dissapointed.  We did see a little of the art and artists painting as we ate our Gelato in the freezing rain wearing shorts and sweatshirts.  Hanna did love the art and atmosphere.  I guess we will have to come back to Paris in the summer Hanna! 

Paris is even quaint when everyone pulls out their umbrellas!!  We stopped and shopped a bit at the stores close to the bottom of MontMartre.  Karyl and I got matching scarves and also got some aprons. 

After giving up on the starving artist scene or the "rained out artist scene", we headed back for another ride on the subway to get to Notre Dame Cathedral.  Which sounds more simple than it actually is.  You have to fold up the stroller or carry it, walk down several flights of stairs, take moving sidewalks, hold little hands or carry little ones, figure out which sortie (exit) you need, get on the right platform headed the right direction...etc.  Our kids were champs for this part.  They have now ridden the subway twice in major cities and are becoming accustomed to the whole process. 

Notre Dame is Paris' most beloved church complete with towers and gargoyles.  It looks so different from every side. 

 I was practicing using a very high ISO to counteract the lack of lighting in the cathedral.  It gave some cool effects to some of my pictures. 

The side and back of the cathedral were more pituresque than the main entrance side. 

If you look closely you can see gargoyles on this side

Jared the awesome activities director for the weekend booked us a sunset reservation for going up into the Eiffel Tower.  It was so fun.  It was raining when we were first walking up.  I was so sad and dissapointed.  So I said a little prayer and the skies parted and blue sky and sunshine came out just for 15 minutes.  Long enough for me to get the pictures I wanted. 

Now everyone knows (and if they don't they will now), that you have to eat a crepe from the stand right across the street from the Eiffel Tower.  Yum!  The little boys also had hotdogs which were huge and came with two hot dogs on the one bun. 

Eating crepes!!!!

 More birds for Hanna and Jake to feed right out of their fingers

This pocket watch was the souvenier that Jake chose.  He was very careful that he chose something really special. He kept telling us what time it was for the next days on the trip and soon Josh and Cole were envious of the watch.  It was a hot item and sometimes caused some contention.  But it was definitely iconic of our weekend! 

Bits and Pieces of the tower. 

We also climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower.....or thankfully rode the elevator!  Our legs were very tired at this point so we were real happy to see the tram/ elevator!!  Now we had to be really closely packed into the elevator so that is always real fun!!

Second floor landing views:

It was really nice to have the sun setting over Paris

Can you spot the Arc de Triomphe in this picture??

One last parting shot.  It was a great first day in Paris!  We were exhausted!