Today we spent the day exploring Paris. It’s Sunday, and our first morning waking up in Paris and therefore required strong coffee. Paul and I left the apartment around 8:30 in search of croissants and coffee, but didn’t have any luck. EVERYTHING was closed. Sunday morning in Paris, and not a croissant to be found. So we grabbed the kids and headed to a farmers market where we purchased figs, 3 types of cheese and fruit for lunch later in the day. We finally found an open boulangerie and both kids ate two chocolate and plain croissants each!
Then off to the catacombs — the empire of the dead. It was SO cool. We had pre purchased tickets, along with 20 other people, so we were the first to go underground. The line stretched around the block for people who didn’t purchase in advance. We walked 60 feet down a spiral staircase and saw bones of 6 million people which was moved to that location from across Paris 200 years ago. Cemeteries were over crowded, causing bad smells and the spread of disease, so they were dug up, moved every night by hearses for over a year, and displayed in an artful manner underground.   

From there we went to the Tulleries garden and then on to the Louvre. The kids saw Winged Victory, Mona Lisa, a sphinx, Venus du Milo, and more, all using a guide created for the kids which explained each piece of art in “kid terms.”

After the Louvre, we went to the amusement park along the Seine. Marshmallows and churros and amusement park rides for all. 

We swung by LaDurée for macaroons and then spent the next few hours just walking around the city. No real agenda, just exploring and taking breaks to rest our feet from the day.  

We ended up in St Germain for dinner at a place where we were definitely the only French. The men at the next table has vats of beer and wine and a portable speaker, and sang tunes at the top of their lungs for several hours.

Over dinner we discussed the favorite part of the day. For Miss M: the Louvre. For D: the croissants for breakfast and then his burger for dinner. It’s true what they say: the way to the heart is through the stomach!

The kids have picked up on all the smokers and they are adjusting to the slower pace. They keep commenting on the time, and daylight. 

We’ve made good use of the subway. It’s pretty easy to navigate and has been helpful getting us around the city.  

Not a lot of pictures to share since they are all on the camera we bought before the trip. Will try and sync my camera to my phone in a few days. 

At 10p we wrapped up dinner and headed to the Tracadero to see the Eiffel Tower light up at night.