Paris, 3 (Monday)
Another full day. We talked a good game about taking it easy on the tourism with the kids in tow, but neither of us are very good at not trying to see things. So: another full day. The previous night, we'd gotten breakfast things at Franprix (yogurt and pastries) so we had a less-rushed morning at home. Then we headed to the Louvre. We'd gotten Paris Museum Passes to avoid the problem of the line, but we really didn't need them; there wasn't too much of a crowd. We went in through the pyramid and went right to the Mona Lisa, where we got to see it from the very front of the viewing area. L&G were underwhelmed, I have to say. We walked though the rest of the Italian painting galleries, but their focus was definitely on finding something to eat. Which took a bit of doing, since we foolishly hadn't just sat down at the first cafe we saw. But we found a concession area, and L&G had muffins, and there was a Starbucks, and YES WE GOT STARBUCKS. (Watery, sub-par Starbucks, but still.) Fortified, we made it through the Dutch painting galleries before heading out.
Weirdly, we ran into some neighbors from Hickory Drive right in the Louvre. We'd had no idea they were in Paris. What are the odds?
After the Louvre, we found a Franprix and got some food for a picnic in the Tuileries, which was lovely and definitely a highlight so far. We ate, L&G chased some crows and pigeons around, and then we found a carousel and a playground right in the Tuileries. All good.
We pushed our luck with another museum, L'Orangerie, to see the Monet water lilies. Again, L&G were underwhelmed. But they were super-whelmed when we went to Laduree for macarons afterward.
We tried once again to ascend the Notre Dame towers later that afternoon, to no avail. (We will try again; we will not be defeated.) Instead, we went to Shakespeare & Co. and let the kids each buy a book. There was also a cat inside the bookstore, which Greta pet.
After a brief stop at home to get the AG dolls, we went to dinner at Marguerita, a cute place in St. Germain. We sat outside, had delicious pasta and pizza, and watched L&G play with their dolls across the alleyway. Perfect end to the day.
Weirdly, we ran into some neighbors from Hickory Drive right in the Louvre. We'd had no idea they were in Paris. What are the odds?
After the Louvre, we found a Franprix and got some food for a picnic in the Tuileries, which was lovely and definitely a highlight so far. We ate, L&G chased some crows and pigeons around, and then we found a carousel and a playground right in the Tuileries. All good.
We pushed our luck with another museum, L'Orangerie, to see the Monet water lilies. Again, L&G were underwhelmed. But they were super-whelmed when we went to Laduree for macarons afterward.
We tried once again to ascend the Notre Dame towers later that afternoon, to no avail. (We will try again; we will not be defeated.) Instead, we went to Shakespeare & Co. and let the kids each buy a book. There was also a cat inside the bookstore, which Greta pet.
After a brief stop at home to get the AG dolls, we went to dinner at Marguerita, a cute place in St. Germain. We sat outside, had delicious pasta and pizza, and watched L&G play with their dolls across the alleyway. Perfect end to the day.
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