Springtime in Paris (Part 1)

WE'RE HERE !!!

Well, we know that it has been quite some time since our last entry, but it has definitely been because there has been so much going on….especially in the last two weeks.  In fact, we have so much to blog about that Katie and I agreed to do this in two (maybe three) parts.  So, let’s begin with Paris. 

Two weeks ago Katie’s sister Mary and her step-mom Rhonda came to visit.  Regardless of all of the great traveling that we were all going to do together, the bottom line was that it was SO great to have family here visiting again.  It's always a reminder of how much we miss everyone and reaffirms that Katie and I WILL someday return to the midwest.  

The front door to our apartment - #13

Our trip in Paris began with a big reunion scene in the middle of the airport in Paris…these never get old.  Rhonda and Mary had a bit further to travel than we did but we were all very excited to be in Paris together.  After collecting all of our things, we took the train into the city and made our way to the apartment we had rented.  On a side note, if anyone is planning a trip to Paris, we have a great recommendation for a place to stay.  We stayed in a really great apartment for the four of us so it came with a full kitchen, laundry, etc.  The best part about it was that it was right in the heart of the Bastille neighborhood.  Like most neighborhoods in Paris, it was lively and full of activity right through all hours of the night.  We spent our first night exploring the neighborhood and settled on a nice restaurant for dinner across the street from our apartment.  This is where I tried “steak tartare" for the first time.  It was amazing and even though the ladies were a little grossed out, I was so glad that I tried it!  After dinner, it didn’t take us long to find the gelato shop right down the street from our apartment.  Just like in Italy, after the first bite, we immediately knew that this would be the first of many nights that would end with a pre-bedtime snack of gelato. 

Our first of many great dinners

We basically spent the night catching up, enjoying each other’s company planning out the days ahead.  I was only able to stay until Monday before heading back to work, but the girls were going to stay in Paris until Wednesday before heading over to London for a few days and then eventually making their way to Cornwall.  As a result we quickly agreed that they would save their shopping until the days after I left and that we would spend the first few days doing some of the more “touristy” things.  I definitely dodged a bullet there :)  

Arc De Triomphe

We woke up bright and early Saturday morning and we headed straight for the Eiffel Tower.  Like most developed European cities, the well designed underground Metro system made for easy navigating….and we got to know Paris’ metro system well.  

The Eiffel Tower was everything you expect it to be but even pictures don’t quite prepare you for how big it really is.  After strolling around and under the tower and of course after taking our obligatory 1000 pictures with it in the background, we made our way to the Champs-Élysées, the famous shopping street of Paris.  This is literally over a mile long of luxury shops, cafés and theatres and was certainly something to see.  The week before we were there, I read that rent for 1000 square feet on this street went for over 1-million euro per year.    

After having lunch at one of the outdoor cafés we made our way to Notre Dame and were able to get inside after only a short wait.  Being inside gave you a true appreciation for it’s “Gothic” architecture.  It was dark and old, but still beautiful.  It was huge, but still small enough to walk through quickly and not feel like you are missing anything. 

Notre Dame

After Notre Dame, we made our way along the River Seine, across Pont Neuf bridge (ala Jason Borne) and straight up to the Louvre, one of the largest museums in the world.  It being a very warm day, we enjoyed some time sitting outside and relaxing in the sun before heading through the large gates to the famous glass pyramid.  Again, what a beautiful thing to see.  After this very long day in the sun, we headed back to our apartment to put our feet up and relax before heading out for the evening. 

Saturday night in Paris meant only one thing, watching the sun set over the city and a late night dinner.  As we all do this time of year, we enjoyed the fact that sunset wasn’t until around 9:30-10:00 at night so we had plenty of time to climb our way up to Sacré-Cœur. Sacré-Cœur is a large basilica that sits on top of a hill overlooking the city of Paris.  This being a Saturday night, there were literally hundreds of people who apparently had the same idea that we did.  Like most of them, we spent the evening sitting on the steps, chatting, and looking down on the city as street bands played the soundtrack for the sun setting in the horizon….one of the many “moments” we will take with us from our time spent traveling.   Once the sun was set we headed down the many steps to find place for dinner.  Off in the distance you could see the Eiffel Tower begin to sparkle and light up the sky as it would do every hour for the rest of the night. 

I quickly learned that you could tell how hungry our group was by how quickly we decided on a restaurant for dinner.  On this night, there wasn’t much deliberation : ) We had a fantastic meal at a little Italian restaurant (once again sitting outside) not far from the famous Moulin Rouge neighborhood.   After another stop for gelato, we headed off to bed to prepare for the long day that would be Sunday.

Palace of Versailles with the gardens in the background

Sunday morning came way too early as we were all up by seven in order to catch our train to the Palace of Versailles.  The palace was built by King Louis XIV and is located about 20 kilometers southwest of Paris.  King Louis built this as a country getaway and it eventually became the massive chateau that it is today.  This was also once the home of the famous Marie Antoinette.  The scope of this place was far beyond what any camera could capture and the gardens that stretch out beyond it are too beautiful to describe without sounding like you’re trying too hard.  The inside of the palace was just room after room of marble and granite floors, beautiful art, murals, fireplaces, you name it.  The tour of the house ends with you exiting onto the gardens that reach out so long that you almost can’t see where they end.  The perfectly manicured grounds are filled with fountains and squared off hedges that were clearly designed by and for a king.  The rest of the day was spent strolling through the gardens, eating lunch along one of the pathways and exploring the cottage where Marie Antoinette spent most of her time.  That was of course before the French Revolution resulted in the loss of her head :)

For anyone who has not been, we would highly recommend taking a full day and going to the Palace of Versailles.  It was a long day, but really worth the time and effort to get there. 

After heading back to the city and a short nap, we were ready for what would be MY last night in Paris.  We decided to check out the Eiffel Tower and were so glad that we did.  There is something about seeing the Eiffel Tower during the day and then again at night.  It was literally two completely different experiences.  It’s not difficult to understand why this is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.  The surrounding grounds were filled with people taking pictures, buying food from vendors and some just sitting under the tower looking up at it.  Katie and Mary quickly found the one vendor that made cotton candy….surprise, surprise.  From there we ended up having a great dinner (sitting outside) at a café right down the street from our apartment.

The next day, it was difficult to leave and fly back home, but there was no way I would have been able to keep up with the ladies as they plotted out phase 2 of their time in Paris...shopping, shopping and more shopping.  

Enough said...

As I was sitting in the airport waiting for my flight, I had time to really think about our trip.  We knew that it would be fun, but I don’t think any of us could have known how incredibly well we all traveled together.  I think all four of us did a really good job of taking in every minute.  It’s not everyday you get to spend a beautiful Spring weekend in Paris, but it’s definitely not everyday that you get to do it with family.

Looking back, I don’t think the first few days in Paris could have gone any better.  We saw a lot of things in a short amount of time.  Normally, this would leave you feeling rushed and pressured to take in as much as you can – but in Paris the pace is just slow enough that this feeling is erased the second you sit down at a café for a late-night dinner.  Any day, no matter how busy, that ends with sipping a cappuccino at an outdoor café before savoring some gelato as you head off to bed is a great day…and Paris was filled with them.