Riding on the Metro (in Paris, not Berlin)

15 July 2009

We have been in Paris since the 12^th July. Since we arrived we have visited Notre Dame and showed the kids the flying buttresses, the gargoyle statues that sit on the exterior architecture, the beautiful stained glass windows inside, the small chapels inside. Of course their favorite part of this visit was getting to feed the birds out front, which is my fondest memory too of that day. Ani giggling as the birds landed on her hands to eat the bread and the three kids side by side, holding still, waiting for the little birds to land and trying to keep the pigeons from bullying their way in to steal the bread.

Grocery shopping at the Monoprix and cooking dinners in our apartment helps to keep expenses down. Playing at the little park at the Tuileries and eating chocolate crepes,or in Sam’s case he prefers le crepe avec le beurre et sucre. It is very crowded here and at times exhausting trying to walk amongst the crowds, but we have time and are not in a hurry. The lines for le Tour Eiffel were intense, we attempted to go back earlier in the day finding it was quicker for Matt and the boys to climb the stairs.

We were treated to Bastille Day festivities on the 14^th July. The area all around the Tuileries and the Place de Concorde were closed down for their military parade and an exciting exhibit of the air force flying over the Louvre. Night time was capped with all of us sitting on the grass near the Louvre with a bottle of wine and a couple of beers with a spectacular firework display around the Eiffel Tour.

The boys had a visit to the Catacombs and Ani and I are chilling in the apartment, a nice day off for us. Took the Batobus to the Jardin des Plantes to see the Natural History Museum.

We traveled to Mont St. Michel which took a day as our time in Paris is narrowing. It was blustery with a rare hail storm for this time of year. I was hoping to have as magnificent a visit as Peggy did but alas it was a more medieval experience.

Pilgrimages to finish up before we leave are to visit the Louvre, Roan wants to see the Mona Lisa; Les Puces market and a visit to Sacre Coeur.

With the expertise of our friends Amy and Henk we will be traveling from Paris to Amsterdam on Monday to stay with them for a week. We are so appreciative of all the help we have received from strangers and friends especially.