Je t'aime Paris

Some highlights of our little trip to Paris...

Strolling down the Champs Elysee while trying not to hum the song. We ate at a wonderful cafe and visited the Arc de Triomph before making our way down to Place de la Concorde. Ruka ran all over the same historic ground where royalty was once beheaded!

The warm boat ride was nice relaxing way to cruise down la Seine and stop off at all the major sites. Also a nice place for a nap (for Ruka and grandpa Bob)

I thought maybe the Eiffel Tower would be overrated but the more time we spent there the more we realized just how amazing and magical it is. After climbing up to even the first floor I was shaking in my boots. It is so high and so open!

The Louvre is so huge and beautiful it was just daunting. Too much to see but we did our best with three kids in tow. Just as interesting as the Mona Lisa was the crowd gathered around a tiny painting pushing to snap a photo.

Emi loved the beheading of Saint John the Baptist and Miya was underwhelmed by all the breasts and penises.

We had to make detours to get to our favorite macaron manufacturers and after trying (a lot) of both we both totally side with the enfant terrible Pierre Herme–much better filling and downright dangerous flavors.

Notre Dame was so beautiful and intricate. Luckily Ruka stayed silent through the mass and the tour of the inside. It just happens to be 850 years old this year so the girls collected commemorative coins. But, unfortunately no hunchback sightings.

The kids loved jumping, playing, and climbing around Paris–making their parents cringe and stand out as "loud Americans." Ruka's highlight was probably the 10 hour-long carousel ride in the Tuileries Garden.

Thanks to Baba and Bob for coming along and helping make the trip happen. We loved the city and had a wonderful time. 

We learned 

1. Escargot is delicious in France

2. Do NOT take a big stroller to Paris if you are going to use Metro (Berlin is so superior in this)

3. Most French service and strangers where very nice and friendly, with the exception of one waiter in a little cafe off Champs Elysee, which we walked out of.

4. The Tower must be seen and experienced at night as well as day

5. Salty crepes are even better than dessert crepes, just not for dessert. ALL food we ate was delicious.

6. the Louvre itself is just as amazing as all the artifacts inside (this would really require several days)

7. The longer we were there the more Paris grew on us (except the distinct odor of urine all over)