Our first full day in Paris! We got up this morning and got ready for the day and went down to the little restaurant in the hotel for some breakfast. We had our fill of crepes, pain au chocolat (my fave), and other yummy french pastries and food. It was delicious. We left the hotel and tried to find a bank to grab some Euros.
Here are the boys looking in their Paris guidebooks and scavenger hunt books we got for the trip, while Todd was inside getting some cash...
We grabbed a taxi and took off towards our first stop of the day, the Eiffel Tower!!...or Tour Eiffel, as they say in French. As we were driving and taking in all the sights I couldn't believe we were in Paris! Paris is gorgeous. I mean absolutely gorgeous. I love the balconies and rod iron, the flowers and all the very feminine touches. Paris is very frilly, girly, ornate and feminine. Paris is a girl and she is very high maintenance, in case you didn't know.
We got out of the taxi and looked up to this!
I know it sound cliche but Todd and I were completely blown away. I mean c'mon you see the Eiffel tower on movies and TV and in pictures, but there really is something to be said of seeing these incredible things with your own eyes. They are so much more fantastic! And the Eiffel Tower was just that. Amazing. It was beautiful!
The kids were very disappointed that we couldn't go up the Eiffel Tower. I had tried to make reservations a few weeks before we left, but because we were going to Paris over Easter weekend everything was completely sold out. Dang. Oh well, it was still awesome to be there and see it in person!
We walked along in the Champs de Mars and took it all in! It is a popular place to be!
All of us in front of Mr. Eiffel as Tagg kept calling it...
Tate totally zonked out while we were walking around admiring the Eiffel Tower. Poor baby. He is such a good little traveler, just rolling with the punches.
Thatcher really wanted to get a picture of Todd and I by ourselves in front of the tower, and I am glad he did. I love this pic. We're so romantical!
The two big boys in front of the tower...
After getting our fill of the Eiffel Tower we headed across the street to the Jardins du Trocadero. They had these cool fountains that had cannons that shoot out water. The boys were pretty into this, and so we went over and looked at them for a while.
Just across from the cannon fountains at the Trocadero there was this carousel. It was so cute and pretty and french so we decided to let the boys ride for a while and let Tate keep napping.
I mean who wouldn't want a picture of themselves on a carousel in front of the Eiffel Tower?
SO cool!
Tagg probably liked it a little more than Thatch. Thatcher is a little too cool for such childish things now. He is growing up so much. STOP NOW! I mean it! I want to freeze time.
Here is Tagg loving his carousel ride...
After letting the kids ride a few times look who woke up and decided to join the party?
We had to get Tate his own pictures with the Eiffel Tower in the background so he can someday know he really WAS there.
Tate's first carousel ride! Pretty fancy one at that! I know I'll always remember it.
After leaving the carousel we headed over to the Arc de Triomphe. Here it is in all its Arc glory!
Napoleon wanted the Arc built to welcome his armies back from all their many triumphs. Hence the name. It also honors all those who died in the Napoleonic and Revolutionary wars of France. It was so cool to see it in person.
Me and the boys in front of the arc...
The whole family and the arc.
It was so cool to see all the engravings up close, it was even cooler to go inside! I actually had no idea you could go inside it, so that was fun treat.
We took the elevator to the top, since Tate was in the stroller. The view is incredible. I am so glad the sun was out today and we got a great view of Paris.
This is Champs-Élysées, which is a large tree lined street that has shopping, cafes, etc. that starts at the Arch and leads all the way down to the Jardin Tuileries.
We sat and admired this view for a good long time. It was absolutely amazing. Doesn't it look like a postcard? Todd and I kept saying, "I cannot believe we are actually here, in Paris, as a family."
The boys LOVED the Arc de Triomphe. They loved being on top and looking out. It was a very cool memory made.
After we were done gazing at Paris we headed back down. There was a cute little gift shop and I wanted to make sure and pick up my tradition of getting a Christmas ornament at the major places we go. We stopped in and looked around and picked up a few trinkets as souvenirs. The boys each picked something small, one a iron Eiffel tower and one a Arc de Triomphe.
Todd grabbed the items from Thatcher and Tagg and went and put it on the counter. The Arc was solid and pretty heavy and kinda made a slamming sound as Todd put it down on the counter and the sales girl ringing people up stopped and looked at us and said, "Ummm EXCUSE ME?!" Thinking that she might be closed, I said,"oh are you not open?" And she said back, "Yes I am open, but did you mean to be SO RUDE?" I was totally lost and then she proceeded to tell us that you should never slam things down, and that we were so rude. Then she asked us if we were intending to be so rude. She was making quite a scene, so I asked her back if she was intending to be so rude right now with the way she was talking to us? I think it kinda went over her head, but in that instance we learned that a lot of stereo types about the French are true. They aren't super friendly, nor super nice. We bought our stuff and left kinda laughing. Ahhhh the joys of international travel!
We spent the next few hours walking down Champs-Élysées. It was such a beautiful day and the street was bustling with tons of people.
We stopped for lunch at La Brioche Dorée, a great little in and out cafe. I had a quiche which was delicious and Todd, Thatch and Tagg all had sandwiches which were equally as good. For dessert we all shared an eclair. It was to die for. The food in Paris. Is. Amazing.
As we continued our walk after lunch we looked around at all the fancy shops on the avenue.
Cartier...you know what they say about diamonds...
Cartier...you know what they say about diamonds...
Montblanc...
The headquarters of Louis Vuitton...
...we went inside to browse and Todd surprised me and got me an early birthday present!
We did not eat here, but here is Ladurée, a place famous for their delicious macaroons.
Beautiful gate we saw on our walk.
I loved this building with the French flags flying on top...
This is the Grand Palais, it is now like an exhibition hall...beautiful building.
After walking all of the Champs-Élysées, we came to the Place de la Concorde, which is a giant square. It is actually a big part of French history has very bloody past. To distract from all the blood and bad things that happened here they put up this tall Obélisque. I mean, it's a smart idea you know. Let's put up a random Egyptian Obélisque in the middle of this square in Paris! That way everyone who walks into the square forgets that peoples heads were chopped off here! Perfect plan! Just perfect!
It is a huge square with fountains and lots of people walking around eating and talking. I couldn't help but break into song singing, "Do you hear the people sing, singing the songs of angry men!" I don't know how well the Parisians or my boys appreciated it, but how could I not?!
I loved how beautiful everything was. Even this lamppost, I just love it.
Todd then fulfilled a life long dream. A dream that could only be realized in Paris. Do you think it is seeing the Louvre and the Mona Lisa? Do you believe that it is eating a crepe? Think again. It is driving a Ferrari.
I am dead as a door nail serious. There were these guys advertising that they if you payed some Euro they would sit in the passenger seat as you drove the Ferrari around the streets of Paris for 30 minutes. Todd asked me about it and knowing that he has always wanted to drive one, and since he just bought me a Louis ( jk), I said that he should really do it.
So he took the bigger boys and they left. They were all three very excited. I don't get it. Seriously I do not. Cars are cars to me. But it's a guy thing I guess. So they went and had a blast, which makes me happy. Boys. What can ya do?
While they were driving around the streets of Paris, Tate and I decided that we would walk around the Jardin Tuileries. Such a beautiful park!
It was about this time that Tate decided he needed a blow out, so he proceeded to have one and we parked it near this statue so I could change his diaper and get him all cleaned up.
After about 30 minutes of exploring the gardens we headed over to the entrance to meet back up with Todd and the big boys. It was time for us to head back towards the Eiffel Tower for our dinner cruise on the Seine. I was a little bit nervous how the kids would do on a 2 hour dinner cruise, but they actually did great! I gambled and it worked out! Relief!
View from the dinner cruise...
Our old friend Mr. Eiffel through the top of the dinner cruise boat...
This was probably the fanciest dinner the boys have ever been to, which was one reason I wanted to take them on it, to expose them to fancy food and re-enforce using good table manners. For an appetizer Tagg ordered foie gras. I am not a fan. But Todd is. The boys take after Todd in being much more adventurous in their food experimenting, so once Todd ordered it Tagg wanted to as well. We let him and here he is trying it for the first time...
"What the..."
"Okay..."
"Not too bad...I like it!"
And he did. He really liked it and ate the whole thing. Never mind that just the thought of it makes me sick. I prefer my livers inside bodies and also I don't eat duck. Ducks are for feeding bread to at ponds, not digesting, in my book. But to each their own!
Another beautiful scene from the boat...
Here is the Louvre from the water...
Notre Dam from the boat...
Don't remember what this is, the Louvre?
My big boys and me...
And look who we found...
Nope, the dinner cruise boat didn't cross the Atlantic, the French decided that they loved their gift to us so much, they wanted a mini version for themselves. Oh, you French!
We ended up back at the ol' Eiffel Tower and it was a clear beautiful night.
We decided to head back to our hotel because it has been a LONG, but wonderful, fun and productive day! I really don't know how today could have been anymore perfect. It was just so fun and being all together as a family seeing these amazing sights for the first time in Paris. This trip has been so special for us. Having the kids with us has really been great, of course it causes hiccups at times and much more preparation and planning, but they absolutely enhance the experience, not take away from it.
Today was one of those days that I will look back on for the rest of my life as one of those amazing memories for our family. Now I am turning in because I am tired, my feet hurt, and we have a long day planned again tomorrow!
2 Comments »
J.E.A.L.O.U.S.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, these pictures are beautiful! I want to see your new bday present! Serious brownie points, Todd. I love that they wanted to drive the Ferrari. That would be Brody's dream too!
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