Surprisingly MBMell, DD, and B slept pretty good, T not too bad, but did wake up a few times in the night, and didn't have a clock to know what time it was. AA, DD and B went to the bakery down the street for breakfast pastry, while the others tried to wake up... Well Lola was awake, but didn't need to go to the gluten shop.
Once breakfast was done, MBMell and T got dressed, and we headed out the door. We made it a few hundred metres when MBMell realized she left her watch and phone.... so we turned around as we think she needed her phone incase we lost her again.
Once retrieved we headed back to the metro station. Tried to figure out how to buy 5 day tickets, but couldn't figure it out and no one was sitting at the information booth, so we bought only one way tickets to get us to the station where we hoped to get the normal tickets.
Once arrived we found a guy in the booth, and AA and DD got it all squared away to get the tickets, but instead of getting the tourest tickets AA got the 7 day ticket that was "only sold on Sundays" which was half the price (like only 150 Euros for the 6 of us instead of 300 Euros), the only catch is you are supposed to put your photo on them, and we don't have a way to put your photo on them... There are these photo booths, but we are hoping they will just be ok, as no one is checking the tickets you just scan them.
We then headed out to see the "town", on AA's Chat GBT walking tour. We saw the outside of Hotel National De Invalides. (T wants to go back to the Army Museum). Then we walked to Pont Alexandre III (the bridge), unfortunately it was half under construction, but still really neat. Also we could see the effel tower from hhere.
The kids sure were excited to see all this old architecture and statues and monuments.
Next we walked passed Petit Palais and Grand Palais that are across from each other. The Petit Palais was much more "fancy" gate.
We strolled the lower Champs-Elysees Garden towards the Place de la Concorde, where we could see the Arc du Triumph in the distance.
The Place de la Concorde had a very cool Obelisk and fountains. There were also some interesting art installations.
After this we decided it was time to eat, so we headed onto the metro to head towards the Notre Dame Cathedral as Lola found a gluten free crepe and waffle restaurant. B was super excited for the crepes.
We walked out of the metro station and the restaurant was right across the street with a view of the Notre Dame. We stood in line in hopes it wouldn't take too long. We could see a perfect table for us as we waited in line. Luckily the groups in front of us were less people, and they let us go there.
the kids ordered sweet crepes, while AA and MBMell ordered "salty crepes, and DD and Lola ordered salty waffles. DD ordered a chocolate milkshake which he was super happy with.
The food was excellent, so good that B got nutella on her sweater.
After we all enjoyed lunch, we headed to the Notre Dame, Lola was excited to see the inside, since they hadn't been there since 2008, and it had a fire since (in 2019).
When they got inside it felt very different than they remembered. Much brighter, and chairs in the center. They walked with the crowd around the outside looking at all the little "rooms" and the amazing ceiling and architecture. The stain glass Rose's were some of the highlights.
There were way more people in their than we remembered the last time we were there.
Back on the metro, we headed back to Jardin des Tulleries ( gardens outside of the Louve). We walked through them
, and decided to have a drink as we had some time before our tickets to the Louve. The gardens were a little underwhelming, but the kids enjoyed pointing out the dogs, and sitting on the soft grass. This is also where the Paris 2024 olympic flame was, but it was being taken down as it was removed after September 15th. AA and DD got us all a can of water, some still and some sparkling. We drank those and headed to the entrance of the Louve. Waited in the 15:30 line that moved pretty quickly, and got through security, to enter the main entrance by the pyramids.
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| walked past the national assembly |
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| olympic flame being removed. |
We all needed to use the washroom, but the ladies waited in a much longer line. The boys got maps and determined where we were going first.
The Louve is huge, but we had some good highlights.
- History of the Louve (peoples favorite), and confirmed AA and Lola saw it in 2008 but don't remember.
- The crazy crowds to see the Mona Lisa (the painting is a little underwhelming, and the crowds were way too pushy and warm)
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| not wheres Waldo but wheres AA |
- The greek vases
- La Venus to Milo and other statues
- Napoleon's Apartment, but the bed and large tapestry was closed for a few days (so disappointed we didn't get to see that) We rushed there as we only had 15 minutes left before closing but glad we were persistent in getting there.
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| Table for 43 guests! |
- And all the beautiful ceilings.
After the 2.5 hours of crowds and so much art, we headed for supper at a short walk across the river that Lola found while they were drinking water on the grass. A short pits stop to get B a notebook, as she really wants to write about her trip for extra credit.
We walked a short 8 minutes and found it, Cocorico and had an excellent meal. B was so excited about the Creme brûlée. The waiter was pretty hillarious and new english pretty good. DD had the fish special, Black Pollack, AA had the Beef bourguignon, MBMell had the Croque Madame (which was on the snack portion, as she wanted a small meal, it wasn't very small), Lola had the steak and frites, and the kids had burgers. Lola also had Sorbet for dessert.
The waiter joked about the ketchup being jam, and Lola not getting to eat with a knife, and just had to eat with her hands. Also commented how AA's dessert spoon wasn't even dirty (even though he had a bite of the second creme brûlée that was ordered to share).
We walked to the Metro and then Train, where MBMell had a problem with her ticket to get in the first time, so from now on she won't be the last one through. She asked the guy, and he let her in, we think there was something wrong with the way B went through the turnstyle and MBMell double tapped.
We made it back to our place around 8:30, and the kids went straight to bed. The adults figured out the plan for the next day, then we lost MBMell to the jet lag.
AA, DD and Lola had snacks and beverages, and Lola beat them in 2 games of Cribbage. The second game she skunked DD with a 24 cribbage hand (and only needed 18 points to win).
It was a great day, and the weather held out! The food, company and architecture was excellent.
Cheers, Lola.
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