Today, we got an early start and took the Metro to the station closest to the Eiffel Tower. We walked past the bistro where we ate a lunch on our last trip to Paris, and allowed the kids two go-rounds on the carousel. I even got to get reacquainted with my favorite ostrich.
Unlike the last trip, there was no line for the Eiffel Tower. Just step right up, pay your money, and begin the climb. I was planning to go up to the first stage, but made it all the way up to the top of the stairs, which is the second stage. I bid adieu to the kids and Wesley, who went up to the "summit" in the elevator. I enjoyed the amazing view and the intermittent strong gusts of wind, then walked down.
Back on terra firma together, we walked down the Champ du Mars and over to Les Invalides. There we saw Napoleon's tomb. Well, we saw the outside of the building. We were on our way to join our friends for lunch and didn't have time to actually go in. But, we "saw" it, and added it to our list for "next trip."
The trudge to meet our friends near the Musay D'Orsay was much much longer than we had bargained for. (2.5 miles, to be exact.)
Unlike the last trip, there was no line for the Eiffel Tower. Just step right up, pay your money, and begin the climb. I was planning to go up to the first stage, but made it all the way up to the top of the stairs, which is the second stage. I bid adieu to the kids and Wesley, who went up to the "summit" in the elevator. I enjoyed the amazing view and the intermittent strong gusts of wind, then walked down.
Back on terra firma together, we walked down the Champ du Mars and over to Les Invalides. There we saw Napoleon's tomb. Well, we saw the outside of the building. We were on our way to join our friends for lunch and didn't have time to actually go in. But, we "saw" it, and added it to our list for "next trip."
The trudge to meet our friends near the Musay D'Orsay was much much longer than we had bargained for. (2.5 miles, to be exact.)
The brasserie where we planned to eat could not be found, and the nearby ones were all too full to accommodate 8 quickly, so we made the fantastic call to buy takeout (emporter) at the fancy Eric Kayser bakery and then ate it on
the banks of the Seine, staring at the Musay D'Orsay across the river from us, and waving goofily at the bateaux-mouches motoring past. I am certain that no brasserie could have been as tasty or had half the view that we had. I
had bacon (lardon) quiche and Opéra cake, and it was divine. Eric Kayser is a keeper!
We were way too tired for the Orsay, and luckily our friends were too. Like the Invalides, we "saw" the Orsay
and that was enough. (We did go inside on the last trip to Paris!) So, we returned to the bakery to buy dessert for dinner, and then took the crowded Metro back to their apartment.
I think we might have bitten off more than we could chew today. Tomorrow we'll take it easier, I think.
the banks of the Seine, staring at the Musay D'Orsay across the river from us, and waving goofily at the bateaux-mouches motoring past. I am certain that no brasserie could have been as tasty or had half the view that we had. I
had bacon (lardon) quiche and Opéra cake, and it was divine. Eric Kayser is a keeper!
We were way too tired for the Orsay, and luckily our friends were too. Like the Invalides, we "saw" the Orsay
and that was enough. (We did go inside on the last trip to Paris!) So, we returned to the bakery to buy dessert for dinner, and then took the crowded Metro back to their apartment.
I think we might have bitten off more than we could chew today. Tomorrow we'll take it easier, I think.