Paris In The Springtime (Part Deux)

Almost there!

67 km to go (about 40 miles)

Now, I am not going to lie, traveling with a toddler can be challenging. But we really had a great time--and it rained less than forecasted!  

Deep thoughts one of the crosswalks near the Arc de Triomphe

Arriving in Paris!

Arc de Triomphe via the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, en route to our hotel

We arrived Saturday just after noon and got right to the business of seeing the sights. First up, the Arc de Triomphe and a boat tour on the River Siene. The boat tour was fun for Nate and a great way to get a lay of the land. Then we leisurely perused the Tuileries Garden and the Place de Concorde. We made our way back down the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, turned at the Arc and found a quaint restaurant for dinner. 

Let the sightseeing begin 

Eiffel Tower view from the River Siene

At the garden with the obelsik at the Place de Concorde in the distance

Our Saturday night dinner spot. We loved how all the seating faced "out." So much to see!

Armed with our museum pass, we started our Sunday morning with Musee Louvre. We artfully timed our arrival and didn't have to wait in a single line. A small crowd was gathered in front of the Mona Lisa, but I had read that the crowd becomes so large that viewing the work is next to impossible, so I was thankful that we easily got to view the one of the most famous pieces of art in the whole world up close with our own eyes. 

On the way to Musee Louvre (we had to finish our coffee before they allowed us in the cab)

Panoramic of Musee Louvre

The one and only Mona Lisa

Mommy and Nath selfie 

Preggy taking a little break

My boys at the Venus de Milo

While Kyle and I were fascinated by the many sculptures of Athena as well as the Sphinx at the Louvre (and, yes, the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo), Nath was more interested in ambulances and anything else within earshot that had a siren. He made friends wherever we went and exchanged many, many waves with the open air bus tours that frequent the city. 

Lunch just around the corner from the Eiffel Tower with Natey giving me a fake mustache with my hair 

Natey learning the art of eating escargot. "Snails!" he kept saying.  The food here was delicious. I will be back for their french onion soup!

Showing his dance moves at the Eiffel Tower park

Boogie-Oogie-Oogie

Happy 

Kisses at the Eiffel Tower

Crocketts 

Yay, Paris!

Our next stop was the Trocadèro just across the Siene, but not before we took a ride on the carousel. Nathan sat in no less than five chairs before he settled on one--and that's only because the carousel started moving. 

Let's go!

Here comes the rain

The tower from the Trocadèro

We walked a lot on Sunday, and in the late afternoon the rain really started to fall. We made reservations at our hotel restaurant and stayed in for a quiet dry, evening. Well, mostly dry...

Scrub a dub dub

Monday we spent the morning at the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral.  (Unfortunately, just one day later, someone would come here and commit suicide in protest to recently passed "marriage for all" law in France). 

Good morning, boys! 

A service was just concluding as we visited

Notre Dame

The rain and wind really started after this, so we grabbed a cab back to the hotel and and checked out. Thanks, in part, to the autobahn, we were home in five hours! What a weekend--Merci, paris!

:) sbc

PS---I know this is a long blog, sorry, but one more thing. As some of you know, the television programming in Korea left something to be desired (thank goodness for slingbox). As such, there are many, many movies that I have seen no less than 20 times (not kidding, and that is likely a low estimate)...one of my favorites that the Koreans seem to have stuck on repeat is Bourne Identity (and Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum).  I tried to find you the you tube clip, with no luck. Anyway, in the movie Jason Bourne demands a meeting at Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge crossing the Siene in Paris.  You kinda "had to be there," but imagine my delight as we arrived at Pont Neuf. 

"5PM, Pont Neuf. Come alone. Take off your jacket and face east. I will redial this number."

:)sbc