Paris France
Have you ever tried to get 8 people ready, the apartment cleaned up, and everyone off to the train terminal. THAT IS A MAJOR FEAT IN ITSELF. As we moving to the train station like a herd of ferral cats, our AIRBNB lady came rushing out to give us a few things we left.
Just getting on the Metro is challenge with everyone carrying their suit cases.
Boarding the high speed train to Paris
Whew!! We made it on board.
Today was Ryan's birthday. We tried to make the best of it.
Ryan opening cards his kids made for him
Pick Pocket Experience on the way to St. Denis
I have been pick-pocketed in Naples some years ago. So I normally keep my money in a money belt. However , it is a pain to get money out of. So now, I just keep big bills with cash and credit cards in my money belt. I do like a change purse to keep change in and some small bills, so I can buy things on the spot and not dig down for my credit card.
For me, it usually happens on crowded Metros. We were coming to our AIRBNB in Paris. The Metro was crowded. We had our bags, backpacks, and keeping track of grand-kids. Everyone is being pushed and shoved because the Metro is so packed. When I got off the Metro, I checked my coin purse and it was not there. Unfortunatly, I had also put about $50 in Euors in addition to coins. (My fault). Later, I had a young girl come up and try to unzip my backpack I was holding. Luckily some of the other passengers made note of it and the girl got off. I also had a man inform me my zipped pocket was unzipped. Most people are nice it is just a few professionals that do the pick-pocketing. Now the bad part is that I no longer have my coin purse and can’t seem to find a new one that is not too feminine. I now rely on having Karen pay for everything.
Arrival in St Denis - a city outside Paris where we were staying with Becky's Gang
We went to a local deli for sandwiches. Karen let everyone pick out their own dessert. It was funny that when we mentioned we were buying the pastries for his birthday, everyone in the store started singing Happy Birthday to Ryan.
Everyone having dinner in the AIRBNB
Family Home Evening (devotional) with the gang.
After Dinner Walk
We put the kids down and went for a walk but couldn't find anything open. We did pass a cool Basilica that had some remodeling.
St. Denis Basilica
French Open Tennis - Roland Garros
The French Open, or (as they call it in France - Roland Garros) is one of the Grand Slam Tournaments. Karen and I have been to Wimbledon and the US Open. Before COVID we were hoping to go to the French Open as we traveled with Becky's family, but that was cancelled.
We ended up just getting Ground Passes, but we were still able to see some good matches. This makes 3 out of the 4 Grand Slam Tournaments we attended. (We have also been to Indian Wells several time in Palm Desert as well as the Miami Open.) Who knows, maybe we will make it to the Australian Open some day to make it all four.
It was fun to have the grand-kids there because Julia and Ethan just started playing High School Tennis this year.
Ethan even got a signature from one of the players.
He got the signature on his water bottle
This was the first time watching a wheel chair match.
Dinner at the Deli and shopping for groceries
After returning home from the tennis we dropped over to the nearby Deli for some crepes. I think after our episode of 16 people picking out their pastries yesterday, they have gotten to know us pretty well.
Karen got a banana and Nutella crepe (which I didn't share) , Becky got a cheese crepe,(which I did taste and was great). I got a Bishoff Cookie Butter and banana crepe (it was REALLY great!!)
Shopping
Shopping at the grocery store is pretty wild.
I have never bought baguettes in the 10 pack before.
Karen could not pass up the chocolate isle.
Versailles and Paris Temple
Going to Versailles is always interesting. Going with 16 people is VERY interesting. A little trivia - a group of cats is called a clowder, however if you get a group or herd of wild or feral cats it is called a dowt or destruction. I think our herd may fit into the destruction category.
We are lucky to have Becky and Karen giving us a tour from Rick Steves book
Versailles is TOTALLY amazing
It is always a lot of fun racing up and down the stairs while waiting for the group to catch up.
The gardens by Versailles are not only amazing but also immense
Fire Alarm
We were in one of the buildings when a fire alarm went off. They had to evacuate the building. However, they evacuated half our group on one side of the building and the other half on the other side.
We finally all got together.
Paris Temple
The Paris Temple is actually closer to Versailles than Paris. We had a long walk to the temple (about 2 km) only with the help of our two Master Minds. (Ryan and Joshua)
After some walk we did make it to the temple.
The temple has a beautiful court yard and gardens, along with the Christus Statue of Jesus.
All the teenagers did baptisms and Karen and I did Initiatory. (Inside the temple there is a beautiful spiral staircase and a BEAUTIFUL stained glass on the ceiling.
Croissants and Pastries on the way home.
For the big walk home, Karen stopped off at a bakery and gave everyone their choice of pastery.
On the train ride home, the kids enjoyed playing games and teaching Grandma new games.
Postscript for the day.
It is interesting to travel on several metros and trains and someone has to go to the bathroom Finding a bathroom is one thing in a metro station between rides, but many toilets in Paris have a cost. The group of would-be bathroom goers charge out to the toilets just to find out they need a credit card to get in.
Traveling with a large group is a unique experience in itself.
Sacre-Coeur Cathedral - Louvre Museum - & Eiffel Tower
We needed to drop by the local bakery to pick up some macaroons and croisants for the day.
Always fun running up and down escalators while waiting for the gang.
Sacre-Coeur Cathedral
Outside the Sacre-Coeur there were a lot of lock on the fences .
Just finding and going to the toilet is a major undertaking when traveling with 16 people
While we were waiting for Becky and Joshua we found a small park. The kids are huddled under one of the play toys playing with their Kindles
We stopped at a park along the way and had lunch.
Grandma cutting up some cheese for sandwiches
Louvre Museum
No trip to the Louvre is complete without checking out the Mona Lisa and Venice De Milo
Keeping everyone together with the mass mobs of people is almost impossible with 16 people.
Seems like we are always waiting around for someone.
Outside the Louvre and practically everywhere in Paris, Street Vendors are selling everything from souvenir trinkets, art, and just about everything else. This is the first time I have seen a guy selling a tennis practice set. He was just out whacking the ball on an elastic band hooked to the ground. It looked like fun. I guess if you don't have a wall to practice on this may work.
Eiffel Tower
Ryan's gang took the ride to the very top of the Eiffel Tower
We kept Agnes as a tag a long
Got to stop at the Street Vendors for some Eiffel Tower souvenirs
Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral - Notre-Dame - Luxembourg Garden -
Hooking up with Ryan
Side Note - French People's Personality.
Normally I think that French people are a little cold and not too helpful, especially in Paris. (It seems like French people in outlying towns are more warm and friendly.) However, I think after today I may change my mind. When we arrived in Paris and before we got to our AIRBNB, I was pick-pocketed in the Metro. The next day, we were coming home on the Metro, a little girl tried to open my back pack. Luckily a few people in the Metro drew attention to her and nothing was stolen.
Today was TOTALLY different. Before we left on our journey, we dropped over to the Pharmacy because Julia developed some bad Athlete's Foot. The Pharmacy lady was so nice and showed us some cream and ointment. Then on the first Metro, a girl gave up her seat for me. Then on another Metro we were talking about going to Notre-Dame and a girl started talking to us and asked us if she could help us get to where we were going. We told her that Joshua had a plan. She went to him and talked to him. She told him a better way. Then she got off the Metro with us and walked us to the next place we needed to catch the next metro then left us. My feelings about French people are changing. Another guy pointed to my unzipped pocket and motioned that I should zip it close. There are a LOT of nice French people in Paris, I am finding out. Even our Crepe maker was joking around with us.
Christian needed to change his backpack then were off like a herd of cats (or should I say , Disaster of cats?)
Becky's group with all their gear needed to go to the airport after our sightseeing.
It is always interesting what the boys will do while waiting for the Metro. (Sometimes it is literally climbing the walls or racing up and down the stairs. This time, sitting upside down on the chairs. )
Going over the Seine River
Before going to the Sainte-Chappel Cathdral someone needed to go to the bathroom. When traveling with groups of 8 or more, someone needs to be the designated bag watcher.
Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral
The Cathedral has some of the most amazing stain-glass depicting the creation of the earth, birth and death of Jesus and the 2nd coming.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Notre-Dame was under construction from the fire that happened a few years ago. It was still quite fun to see.
Luzembourg Gardens
The gardens were a great place to have a little lunch.
After lunch, Joshua took the kids on a statue finding hike to spot some of the statues in the guide book.
After lunch Becky and Crew put on their back-pack and headed off to the airport for Rome. (We will hook up with them in Prague.)
Hooking up with Ryan's Bunch.
Ryan's family was doing something different in the morning. We needed to hook back up with his family. We took Hudson because they were going to go up on a hot air balloon and Hudson does not like heights
Karen and Hudson mapped out a way back to the Seine River.
On the way back, Hudson spotted a Gelato place. The cool thing about this place is that they made the ice cream and gelato in the shape of a flower.
It was really pleasant sitting outside the Gelato place. The street was one of those typical Paris streets lined with people eating outside.
We hooked up with Ryan's family by the Notre-Dame. There were some Street Performers showing off their skating and rollerblade skills skating between some cups they set up. They would do slalom through the cups, dancing and all kinds of stunts. It was fun to watch.
Side Walk Fair
There was a little sidewalk fair setup and the gang could not pass up some shopping .
Bryson was having a blast posing by a dragon.
The Metro ride from Purgatory. The LONGEST SWEATIEST ride ever.
Karen and I took the kids home by ourselves while Ryan and Monica had a little alone time. The last leg of the Metro was a long ride - maybe over 15 or more stops. It was so hot , sweaty, crowded and we had to stand up the entire way.
However as we left the Metro a light sprinkle of rain started. It really felt good after the long hot sweaty ride. Then before we could get to our apartment it started to down-pore. Everyone jumped under a canopy, with the exception of Hudson, who ran around in the pouring rain until we made him get under the canopy. After a few minutes it stopped raining.
Our favorite Crepe Maker was glad to see us.
Over the last 3 days, we have been to this little Deli so much, that they know us by site. They are always joking with us. This is the same Deli Karen let all the family pick out pastries for Ryan's birthday the night we got to Paris and hooked up with Becky's family.
The Crepe Guy knows us so well he guesses our orders.
Tomorrow we pack up and head off to Switzerland.
Last bit of Paris trivia - I thought the microwave in our apartment looked pretty space age.
