I Love Paris in the Spring Time!

**This post has been the bane of my existence for the past few days...I finished it, somehow deleted it, found it on google reader, had to copy and paste the words, and reload ALL the pictures again, then had to figure out why the words were all highlighted in white (still didn't figure that out, but worked around it), and then I finally posted it AGAIN - only to find out that somehow half the pictures got rearranged out of order. blah.  But i fixed it, and it's done now, I hope, so there you have it....Paris.***

When a fantastic deal comes up on airfare, it should not be passed up.  So, when a fantastic deal came up to fly to Paris, we jumped on it!  Sure, Paris was not really on the top of our list (don't shoot me for saying that), but we could not pass up such a good fare.  We booked it, and off we went!... or at least off we tried to go...

The first 36 hours of our trip were not the greatest.  First, as we pulled up to the airport, I remembered that I had left all of Asher's bottles - full of milk - in the fridge... there's never as good a time as the present to start taking him off the bottle, eh?  I was not happy about my oversight.  Second, as we walked into the airport and located our flight on the monitors, we saw that it was delayed 2 hours.  We stood in line to check our baggage, and were told that we would not make our connection in Rome, therefore we would have to reschedule our flight, so "please go stand in that long, long line you see over there. Thank you."

We stood in line, learned that the reason our flight was delayed was due to the fog outside, and that the plane was not able to land.  We were told we might be able to make it if the plane took off within the next 30 minutes...it didn't.  After waiting 4 hours - during which time I could have made a trip back to get the bottles - but I didn't want the flight to miraculously arrive and leave without me, so I didn't go.  The fog finally lifted, we got booked for the next flight out of Rome to Paris, and we took off.

The third kink in our trip was because of our stroller, or actually our lack of a stroller.  You know how in America, you check your stroller at the end of the ramp, and then it magically appears when you get off the plane?  Well, apparently Alitalia airlines does not do that.  When you leave the stroller on the ramp, it gets checked all the way through to your final destination, through your layover and everything.  If you had a mellow, relaxed child, this would not be a problem...when you have Asher, a tired little boy who was already stuck in one airport for four hours, and never sits still, well... momma has a mini breakdown when she finds out she doesn't get her stroller for the layover.  I wish I could have thrown myself on the floor and throw a full on tantrum like Asher does.. .growing up stinks sometimes :)  I very much despise Alitalia airlines at the moment, grrr.  But we did eat at McDonald's, and I had a fountain soda, so that helped soothe me some.  It's funny how seeing McDonald's is such a wonderful thing, especially when it's not a favorite of mine back in the States.

We finally landed in Paris, and took a taxi to our apartment.  As we got closer to the place, we realized that we had rented an apartment in little Asia! Surprise! haha.  We go to Paris and stayed in Asia.  It was pretty great.  I love Asia.  We had Chinese food one of the nights we were there.  Pretty good stuff!  They told us you could see the Eiffel Tower from the apartment.  When we got there, we ran to the window and looked, and looked until we found our "view" of the Eiffel Tower - Can you find it or what we could actually see of it?

The night of our arrival, we decided to go to the Eiffel Tower to see how to go about purchasing the tickets.  It was beautiful weather the entire time we were there, so walking was not bad at all.

The next morning on our way to the Eiffel Tower, we had our fourth problem.  The metro stopped mid-station for at least a half an hour.  This is never good with Asher, who was stuck in his stroller, with a crowded train, and wanting to get out... it was a very, VERY stressful 30 minutes, to say the least.

Our fifth and final situation happened in the line to get up to the Eiffel Tower... The line was long, so Sean stood in it, while Asher, Florida, and I were in a little park until the line moved up to the corralled section.  Let's just say it all started when we had to tear Asher away from the sand box, and then it just got worse and worse from there.  Never has Asher had a bigger melt down than he did in the line of the Eiffel Tower line.  He screamed, SCREAMED, for a good 30 minutes, at least.  People were all about giving advice, but not about giving up their place in line to let us through so we could get up there, and let child down so he could run around and calm down.  I was pretty much in tears, and Asher was inconsolable.  It was one of the hardest moments as a mother, and all I could do was pray that he would calm down.  Once we got out of the sun, and into the elevator, he calmed down and from that point on in our trip, for the most part, he did great!

This shows how long the line was at night
It was pretty long, even if you can't really tell from the picture.
But look how huge the Eiffel Tower is!

Sitting in front of the Champ de Mars.  This part reminded me of the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Shauna and Florida (Our friend and babysitter, who was a lifesaver on this trip!)

After checking it all out, we went out for dinner at a French restaurant.  Sean had Coq au vin.  

It was pretty good - I know Asher liked it!  And the French bread too! mmmm

It was dark by the time we left the restaurant, and as we were walking, we saw this beautiful site.  I think this was one of the most spectacular view we saw on the trip.  Unfortunately, it was way past Asher's bedtime, and we had already had a long day, so this was all we got of the Eiffel Tower at night

The next day we actually went to stand in line for the Eiffel Tower.  There was a park right across the street, so we took Asher there to play, while Sean waited in line.  Asher had a great time :)

(That lady stayed like that for at least 10 minutes - pretty impressive if you ask me!)

Asher playing in the sandbox in front of the Eiffel Tower...the calm before the storm :

And then we took him away and made him stand in line for 40 minutes.  We didn't get any pictures of him during his complete melt down since we had, ya know, more important thing to do.  But this picture on him on the ground at the top of the tower reminded us of it :)

Look, I'm on top of the Eiffel Tower ...What's the big deal that you made me wait in that horrific line?? 

Our ride up the tower

Still deciding if he is happy or not

This is how I looked pretty much throughout the trip :) Stuck behind my camera!

The "We just got to the top, and Asher worked me pretty well" picture.  

And then the "Phew, he's happy, now let's out ourselves back together and restart" picture.

The river Seine and the Champ de Mars

The Arc de Triomphe is in the top left - Louvre is the middle top right.  Yeah, we walked that far!

Arc de Triomphe

The Louvre

Something else...

We Survived!!! Now let's get down and go find some pigeons!

I see you little birdie... and you are all alone...

ATTACK!!!

And if you are wondering - Yes, the blankie went with us everywhere.  And yes,  it was filthy and covered in so much Parisian dirt by the time we got home.  The first thing I did when we got home was to throw that thing in the hot cycle of laundry :)  We love you blankie!

I see ducks!! I'll climb the fence!!  Let me at 'em!

Making friends in Paris over pigeons :)

He's already chasing after girls - sheesh!

There were accordion players everywhere we went.  It definitely gave Paris that romantic ambiance.

We walked from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe, and Asher slept the whole way.  It was 

great!

Next stop - Arc de Triomphe, but first we had to get there...some of the sites on the way:

One of these things is not like the other.  
One of these things just doesn't belong :)  Can you figure it out?

Live Art 

The Arc!

And then he awoke, and he was hungry :)

From there we took a stroll down the Champs Eylsees...

Saw some very expensive stores - This one's for you Ligia!

Ate some good but super expensive baguette sandwiches...

Watched some awesome street dancers...

And then relaxed and let Asher play...

Sometimes, you just gotta let them do what makes them happy...  In this case, rolling around in Parisian dirt :)

Wash him off, and we are on our way!

Stroll away family, stroll away :)

There were lawn chairs all over this park on the Champs Eylsees.  It was great to see everyone just enjoying the day by relaxing and just doing their thing.

And then we hit the Louvre, but it was time to go home at that point.  A good way to end the day.

The next morning, we took a train down to the Chateau de Versailles

This is Flat Stanley, our niece sent him to us from Arizona, asking for some pictures of him in Albania.  But why take pictures in Albania when we were about to head out to Paris!! 

(Don't worry, we got pictures in both.  We really do enjoy Albania!)

The gates of Versailles

When we went to tour the house, surprise, surprise!  You couldn't bring in strollers... and Asher had just fallen asleep... you can imagine my frustration.  We ended up taking turns.  Sean and I went through, while Florida started with Asher at the baggage check, and then we came back and Florida went through.  He slept the entire time, so it worked out fine... stupid stroller restrictions.  Don't they realize how important strollers are to the sanity of parents!?!

These next two pictures are of amazing paintings that looked like the people were actually sitting there. Incredible!

King Louis

Oh the opulence!

The Queen's Room

A painting of the coronation of Napoleon's bride - it was huge, and absolutely incredible!

Asher after his good nap.

A painting of the coronation of Napoleon's bride - it was huge, and absolutely incredible!

To the gardens!!

The gardens of Versailles were probably one of my favorite parts of the trip.  There was a lake that people picnicked by, bicycles, other random forms of transportation to rent.  The weather was beautiful, the sites amazing, and there were lots of areas for Asher to explore... safely, and independently. 

Look! Asher found a wine bottle....in France!  That's unheard of!

 Marie Antoinette's Home - Tiranon

 Marie Antoinette's Bedroom

I love the bold, bright colors!

 A "behind the scene" shot of Asher.  He had his moments :)

On the way home from Versailles, we stopped by Notre Dame..

Asher found a friend with whom he could practice his "bark."

The gargoyles

The incredible stone work

One of my favorite pictures

Flying buttresses!

Asher enjoying the view, and room to run around in a park beside the cathedral.

Love Lock Bridge - 

Apparently, you padlock the name of you and your true love on the bridge, and it binds you together.

The streets of Paris

The day of our departure, we went to our final destination, the Louvre

Here's a little taste of how trying to take pictures with an active little boy goes... 

Quick take it!

Too late!  We tried :)

Inside the pyramid and heading down the lift they have for strollers :) Fortunately, Asher was asleep by this time.  He slept through most of the Louvre - it was great!!  He even slept through us lugging him in his stroller up and down too many flights of stairs to count :)  Good job little man!

The Venus di Milo

Napoleon's private apartment - ridiculously opulent!

Hi wee little throne :)

The ceilings were amazing!

Trying to get to the Mona Lisa :)

There she is - The Mona Lisa!

Other gorgeous and famous art at the Louvre...

Hammurabi's Code - The first written law known to man

And he woke up at the very end - Way to go Asher!

...and found some more pigeons outside :)

Sneak attack!!

Look, Feet!

And that concludes our trip to Paris.  It turned out pretty well.  We saw all we wanted to see, and made it home in one piece.  Next time we go, if there is a next time, we go by ourselves without the kids :)