Paris Part 2

Last time i talked about the first part of our busy trip to Paris. We packed so much into our time in Paris, but we had a blast doing it all. Here is the second part of our busy and fun trip!

Day 4 Sunday, March 24th:
Sunday in Paris was our Museum day. On Monday many of the museums are closed (except the Louvre), so we decided to try and go to as many museums on the Sunday as we could visit. The Paris Pass came most in handy for our trips to these museums as it actually let us bypass the long "regular" line and gave us entry to a special "pass holder" line that was much shorter and gave us immediate entry. This saved us a lot of time, as we didn't have to wait in line to buy tickets and could just go straight into the museums. If you plan to visit museums when you visit Paris, I highly recommend getting the Paris Pass if only for this reason. We were able to see all the museums we wanted in one day with the time we saved not waiting in line (excluding the Louvre, which takes a day in itself). Plus, you get to smugly walk passed everyone in the other line and feel special. It was a busy day, but we enjoyed it!

The first stop on our museum day was Musee d'Orsay. This museum has many famous art works and is much smaller than the Louvre, so it's possible to do it in part of the day. We went first thing in the morning and were done by mid afternoon. It has paintings by van Gogh, including one of his "Starry Night" paintings that is really beautiful. It's not the most famous version of "Starry Night" that Dave and I were expecting, but it was still just as nice (of course it was, it was van Gogh!). Dave and I are no art connoisseurs, but we enjoyed seeing all the famous art pieces that we had heard about for so long. It's really neat seeing them in person because you can see the textures of the paint and the different layers. Unfortunately, we weren't able to take pictures in this museum to share with you (although Dave did take one secret one...I gave him a look). 

Our next stop was the Musee Rodin. Rodin is a famous sculptor and you probably know him for his sculpture "The Thinker". This is what we came to see, but there were also many other beautiful sculptures too and the museum is neat because many of the sculptures are located in the garden outside. Rodin actually lived in the house that has now been turned into the museum and used to wander in the same gardens.

While we were in the gardens at the Musee Rodin, we noticed an interesting building across the way with a gold roof. We decided to check it out when we were done and it turned out to be the Musee de l'Armee. We decided to go in, since it was included in our Paris Pass and we were glad we did because this is where the tomb of Napoleon is located. The tomb is HUGE and it is quite impressive to see. There are also many other tombs in this building of famous military figures.

By this point we were getting hungry, so we headed to the Jewish Quarter to try out what is known as the "best" felafel in Paris. Now, I have never really had felafel anywhere else, so I can't really judge if it was the "best", but it was extremely delicious and very filling! When we got to L'as Du Fallafel the line to get to the counter was LONG. But, I was expecting this from reviews I had read. Having said that, they have a pretty good system and it does move pretty quickly. A man took our orders while we stood in line and then we just handed the paper to the window when we got to the front and in minutes we had felafel in our hands! We found a corner to hide in and scarfed it down! We both went for the spicy version and it was delicious. A very cheap and filling lunch.

After feeling rejuvenated from our lunch, we headed back to Notre Dame cathedral to check out the Archeological Crypt that is underneath it. I didn't realize that underneath the Notre Dame is this crypt that contains remains from when Romans lived in Paris. It was really neat to see all the ruins and learn about Paris' history before it was the Paris we know today. When we were in the crypt we learned that there was an old Roman amphitheater, called "Les Arenes de Lutece" located right near our apartment so we decided to check it out on our walk home. It was really neat to go through a side street and walk into this old amphitheater right in the city. Today, it seems to be used as a park, we saw many kids throwing and kicking balls around and a group of old men playing Bocci ball in the middle. Unfortuneately no gladiator battles, but it was still really cool.

By this point we were exhausted so we picked up a baguette on the walk home from Eric Kayser bakery. I had read that they were supposed to have the "best" baguette in Paris. We also picked up a bottle of wine and went home to relax and enjoy our snack before dinner. The baguette was very good, but I'm not sure if I liked it better than our baguette from our little bakery here in Toulouse. It was tasty, but very doughy in flavour. It was still very delicious and we had no problem eating it all with our wine. Once we were rested enough we headed to China town to try out a restaurant called "Pho 14" that's supposed to have the best Pho in Paris and for a cheap price too. Dave ordered the Pho and I had a vermicilli bowl and we each got a beer. The meal was very delicious and very cheap. After dinner,  we were exhausted, so went home and rested for our big day tomorrow at the Louvre.

Sneaky picture inside Musee d'Orsay

Musee Rodin

Rodin's famous and risky "The Kiss" sculpture

Dave thinking in front of "The Thinker" (we are very original)

Rodin's "The Gates of Hell" (don't worry, we didn't go in)

Musee de l'Armee

Napoleon's tomb (big enough? me thinks somebody had a Napoleon complex)

So close to the front, gimme!

So giant!

mmmmm

Archaeological crypt

Les Arenes de Lutece ( I enjoy that this old Roman ruin is just a French kid's playground now haha)

Wine and baguette break

Delicious vermicelli bowl

Pho

Day 5 Monday, March 25th: 

We got up early and headed back to Notre Dame again because Dave really wanted to climb the towers to the top of Notre Dame. We had tried to do it the first time we were at the church but the line was too long. This time we got there early and while there was a line, it didn't take too much time to get to the front. We lucked out and had a sunny morning too, which made it great for views from the top. And Dave got to climb things again, so he was happy. 

Most of the museums in Paris are closed on Monday, the Louvre is not (it is closed on Tuesdays though) so we decided to make the rest of the day our Louvre day, and it's so big you need a day to see it. We got there at mid-morning and we stayed until it closed. We did a pretty good job of seeing a lot, but we missed out on a few wings because there just wasn't enough time. Also, the museum is undergoing some construction in a few of the wings and so parts are shut off to the public, making it very confusing to get to certain wings without getting turned around. We managed all right though and only got lost a few times. We saw everything we wanted to see and the Louvre is really amazing.There are so many famous art works that you have heard about your whole life and it really is cool to see them in person. We saw the Mona Lisa and many other famous works, it was great!

After the Louvre, we decided to head down to the Arc de Triomphe. We had walked by a few times but hadn't been to the top yet, and of course Dave wouldn't stand for not climbing to the top of something if given the chance. We got to the top just as the sun was going down and it was nice to take in the view as the sun was setting. If you are looking for a good view in Paris and don't want to wait in a line, this is the place. There was never a line when we were there and it is easy to get to the top without waiting. Plus, the views are just as nice as anywhere else.

By this time we were exhausted and our feet were killing us from walking all day at the Louvre so we headed home. We didn't really have the energy to find somewhere to go for dinner and wanted something quick, feeling too tired for a "french" meal that can sometimes take awhile. So, we actually went to McDonald's near our apartment and picked up takeout and then got a bottle of wine to bring home. We had a little wine and McDonald's picnic in our apartment and it was honestly delicious and the perfect, relaxing way to end the day. I know, I know... I can't believe we ordered McDonald's in Paris (don't judge me!).  After that we called it a night.

View from the top of Notre Dame Towers

This gargoyle is enjoying a snack

Dave and I at the top of Notre Dame (excuse my squinty eyes)

The Louvre

Dave thinks the real Venus de Milo is almost as good as the Gummy Venus de Milo

The original "Tebowing"

Mona Lisa

Winged Victory

Outside the Louvre (it's GIANT)

Arc de Triomphe

View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

Day 6 Tuesday, March 26th: 
This was our last day in Paris, and it was really only a half a day because we had a train to catch that afternoon. But, since our apartment was so close to the train station (a 5 minute walk) and since we still had a few things we wanted to see we decided to try and cram in a few more things before we had to go home. We woke up early and headed straight for the Catacombs of Paris. Under the ground in Paris lies catacombs that have the remains of about six million people. The Catacombs are dark and damp and the bones line the sides of the tunnels and are arranged in interesting ways. It was kind of creepy but neat to see and the audio guide provided us with a little bit of history about the catacombs. It was really interesting and I'm glad we got a chance to learn a bit about this "creepy" part of Paris. The Catacombs also used to be old mines and there are some neat stories and carvings in the walls that are very interesting to see. We enjoyed our visit here and I'm glad we were able to squeeze it in.

There's nothing like finishing up a visit to a catacomb full of bones with a snack run for macaroons. But, I was determined to visit some of the famous macaroon shops that I had read about before leaving Paris. I couldn't come to Paris and not try a macaroon! So, we rushed to the famous  Pierre Herme and got a selection of macaroons to have on the train ride home. They were delicious. We had many flavours, but the creme brulee was our favourite. It had a vanilla and caramel flavouring and almost tasted like a roasted marshmellow. It was soo good. I've had macaroons here in Toulouse, but they were just okay, so I wasn't expecting much. But, the macaroons in Paris are really very good and I can see why they are so famous now. We also got an Infinite Vanilla tart from the same bakery that I heard was supposed to be good. We shared it and it was also really, really delcious. I wish we could have bought more, but it was pretty pricey. We enjoyed our feast on the train home though and gobbled up all of our treats!

By the time we were done getting our macaroons, we realized that we were cutting it close for our train. So, we took the metro back to the apartment, and ran home. I grabbed our bags and Dave bought a few baguette sandwiches for the train and then we did a last quick clean of the apartment before literally running to the train station. We got there just in time and about two minutes after we got on the train it departed the station (good thing we ran!). It was worth it though, and after we cooled down we relaxed and enjoyed our last Paris lunch on the train with our feast of baguette sandwiches and macaroons.

One of the carvings in the wall of the Catacombs

That is all bones

Very creepy down there

Let's follow up those catacomb pictures with pictures of food. Seriously though, look how good that all looks! How did I ever decide?

Macaroons!

Mmmm so good. I think this one was Blackcurrant flavour. We took a picture like this of every macaroon we ate, but I'll spare you looking at all of them.

Infinite Vanilla Tart (much better than finite vanilla tarts)

Look at that filling. So good!

We had a great time in Paris and I'm glad we got to visit before we left France. We packed in a ton and I loved everything we saw. There is so much to see in Paris that I'm sure you could go back many times and never see it all. We had a great time seeing what we did and enjoying some Paris treats while we were at it. It was a great trip!

Until next time...

Au revoir

Paris Part 1

Dave and I had been living in France for almost a year and still hadn't managed to make it to Paris for a visit yet. With the end of our year long adventure drawing near, we decided we had to make a trip to Paris happen. We couldn't come back from a year away living in France without going to its most famous city. So, at the end of March Dave managed to sneak away from school for a few days and we enjoyed an extended weekend in Paris. We rented an apartment through Airbnb again (love that website) and decided to take the train. It worked out perfectly and we were well located in the city, close enough to walk to many attractions and near to a metro stop to easily get to anything else that was a little further away. When I first started researching Paris for what attractions we wanted to see during our visit, it was a little overwhelming. There is SO SO SO much to do there! We only had about 4 full days and 2 half days (when we traveled) to fit in all the sights. We jam packed our trip and tried to fit in as much as we could, and I think we did a pretty good job of seeing most of the main attractions. We had a lot of fun and I'm glad we can say that we finally got to see Paris!

Day One Thursday, March 21st:
We started our day with an early train ride into Paris and arrived by mid afternoon. After meeting the owner of our apartment and getting the keys, we dropped our stuff off and immediately began our sightseeing! When I say we jammed in as much as we could on our trip, I mean it. We had booked advanced tickets online to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower for that afternoon. I recommend this if you are planning to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, as the lines to buy tickets on sight can get really long and this saves you a lot of time. The online tickets can sell out, so you need to plan in advance (or if you are like me, constantly check the website the week before your visit and luck out when two tickets randomly become available....SCORE!). We managed to make it to the Eiffel Tower just on time and rode the elevator up to the top. It was really cool and I think it was well worth it to go to the top. The view was great and it was an awesome experience to be at the top of the Eiffel Tower, after seeing it in pictures and in movies for so long. We splurged and enjoyed two glasses of champagne from one of the stands at the top, despite the fact that it was ridiculously overpriced. But hey, when else are we going to get to drink champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower? So we figured, why not?! It was a lot of fun.

After that we walked down the Champs d'Elysees,  which is basically a big street with lots of stores and restaurants. By the time we were done checking that out we were hungry for dinner, so we tried out an Entrecote place and had a yummy steak dinner and a great bottle of red wine. The tables were very close together in the restaurant (this is common in Paris) so we couldn't help but strike up a conversation with a nice couple beside us who were from San Diego. They were very nice and it was a great first meal in Paris. After dinner, we walked off our meal and checked out the Eiffel Tower at night. They light it up at night and it is very beautiful. If you go to Paris, make sure you see the Eiffel Tower during the day and during the night! On the way to the Eiffel Tower we randomly passed over a bridge and realized that it was the same spot where Princess Diana had her fatal car crash years ago. There is still a monument there today where people leave flowers and there is also lots of messages on the overpass in memory of Diana. We came upon it by accident, but I'm glad we did. It was very moving.

After, we were exhausted from our busy first day so we made our way back to the apartment and went to bed.

View from the top of the Eiffel Tower

Yay! I'm on the Eiffel Tower! And there was an elevator to get there! (Dave did insist on making me take the stairs on the way down though)

Dave and I with our champagne. Ignore the spike behind us to prevent birds from landing (guess we should have picked a better back drop for our photo op, I blame the champagne haha)

The Eiffel Tower

Dave and I in front of the Eiffel Tower

Sparkly!

Dave likes the Eiffel Tower at night

Diana memorial

Messages to Diana on the wall

Memorial to Diana 

Day Two Friday, March 22nd:
We woke up early on our second day in Paris to catch the 45 minute train ride out to Versailles. There are lots of tour buses and other tours that will take you out to Versailles, but Dave and I managed to get out there on our own and it was fairly easy. We just took the local train and it took us right there and was very cheap. Dave and I bought the Paris Museum Pass before we left. If you plan on visiting a few museums and most of the main attractions I recommend this. It is expensive, but it is worth it if you are seeing enough things. Plus, at the main museums (i.e. the Louvre) you get to skip the line and go right in, which saves a TON of time. Unfortunately at Versailles, they did not have a special entrance for pass holders, but the main line moved fairly quickly and we got in without having to wait too long. Our pass included an audio guide with it which was a great way to learn about the history of Versailles and was very well done. I'm glad we saved money and visited Versailles on our own without a guided tour because it was easy enough and the audio tour was great! After visiting the main palace, we wandered in the gardens. These aren't just ordinary gardens, they are HUGE! I think we spent more times in the gardens than we did in the actual palace. The gardens have a "pond" that's the size of a lake, you can even rent paddle boats and boat along it! In amongst the gardens are these little cottages that belonged to the royal family. The gardens are so impressive and were one of my favourite parts of Versailles. We ended up spending pretty much the whole day at Versailles. We were so tired when we got home that I needed to take a nap before we did anything else.

After resting for a few hours in the apartment, we decided to head out for a walk around Paris at night. We wandered around outside the Louvre, which was neat to see at night because it is all lit up and there are practically no people around. We ended the evening at a Canadian pub that Dave's parents had told us about from their trip to Paris in the summer. Having lived in Europe for almost a year, we were missing Canada a bit. This pub was really cool for expats living in France. It has a hockey theme and lots of hockey gear on the walls. They also served some Canadian beers and they even had Caesars!!! I was in heaven. I've been missing Caesars so much! Even though it was 9 Euros for one small Caesar I couldn't resist. I had one and it was the best! I am now content until I get back to Canada! We  watched some hockey and March Madness basketball at the pub and enjoyed some pints and freshly popped popcorn. Eventually, we decided to call it a night, but not before stopping at a Gyro stand in the Latin Quarter for a late night snack. It was delicious! We walked back to the apartment, munching on our Gyros and called it a night!

Versailles (so much gold everywhere!)

The roof of the Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel

Inside Versailles (just a little crowded)

I'm thinking of doing something similar with my bedroom decor

A model of the gardens so you can get an idea of how HUGE they are

Gardens

In front of the Grand Trianon

In the gardens

Cottages in the gardens

More cottages (p.s. a swan tried to kill Dave and I as we took this photo)

Pond in the gardens

More of the gardens (they were big!)

In front of Versailles

The Louvre at night, so peaceful

In Caesar heaven!

Popcorn at a pub is genius

Fries in a gyro is the way to go!

Day 3 Saturday, March 23rd:
Saturday we got up and headed to the famous Rue Mouffetard, which was just around the corner from our apartment. This little street is so cute and has tons of little shops and restaurants. You can buy pastries, breads, cheese, wine, and fresh produce and more! We didn't end up getting anything, since we were on our way to explore for the day, but it is definitely a cute area to get a souvenir or some nice food for lunch. After, we walked down to the Pantheon. This building is huge and it is where many of France's most famous people have been buried, including Marie Curie. The building is quite impressive and I'm glad we had a chance to see it.

By the time we were done checking out the Pantheon we were hungry, so we grabbed a sandwich and sat in the park to eat. There were tons of people out enjoying a nice Saturday and children sailing little boats in the fountains. The park was full of chairs for people to sit on and it was nice to take a break and rest our walking feet. When were done we stopped by a pastry shop that I read about called Gerard Mulot and picked up a few pastries. Then we headed over to Notre Dame Cathedral. The line was pretty long to get into the church, but it actually moved fairly quickly. Plus, we took the opportunity to enjoy our pastries while we waited, so the wait didn't seem so bad. The church is really beautiful and well worth the wait to get inside. Across the street from Notre Dame is another chuch called Sainte Chapelle. This church is famous for it's beautiful stained glass windows and they are amazing. The church doesn't look like much when you first walk in, but when you get to the top level it is full of stained glass on every wall and is beautiful. As, we were leaving Sainte Chapelle we noticed a large crowd gathering outside the Notre Dame Cathedral. We stopped by to check out what was going on and it turned out that this year is the 850 year anniversary of the church, and as part of the anniversary celebration the church is undergoing several renovations throughout the year. One of the renovations was replacing the church's bells, which apparently were very off key. Today, happened to be the day that the new bells were going to be rung and heard for the very first time. We stuck around to listen to the ceremony and hear the bells ring for the first time. There were a lot of people and it was really neat to be a part of it and to hear the bells ring. They sounded great! We even bought a little bell of our own as a souvenir.

After the ceremony we took the metro and a bus and headed up the hill to La Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre. This is a church located in the Montmartre area, which is at the top of a hill. The church is beautiful and the view is amazing. You can see the whole city and many people gather to take in the view. We got there as the sun was setting too, so it was very nice. The area around the church is neat too because there are many shops and restaurants. You have to be careful at the very bottom of the hill in front of the church as there are some aggresive people that try to sell you things. We only got approached once, but we just ignored them and kept walking and it was fine. It is still worth it to go and see that view!  Afterwards, we headed back closer to our apartment and got some delicious pizza for dinner at a restaurant called Amici Miel. The pizza was really good and we enjoyed the restaurant a lot.

Wine and Cheese shop on Rue Mouffetard

The Pantheon

Foucault's Pendulum in the Pantheon

The ceiling in the Pantheon

Crypts of Marie and Pierre Curie

Lunch at the park

So many pastries, how to choose?

Lemon meringue and milk chocolate tarts. YUM!

Notre Dame

Beautiful stained glass window in Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Sainte Chapelle

Beautiful stained glass

Love this window in Sainte Chapelle

Sacre Coeur

At the top of Montmartre , Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur from the bottom of the hill

Pizza!

Yum, full bacon strips!

 Since we jammed packed so much into our visit, there's too much for one post. So, I'll stop here for now. Tune in next time for part two of our trip to Paris!

Until next time...
Au revoir