Vendredi Noir in Paris

As Americans hit the malls for black Friday, we got on the number 2 train to go the Louvre and then Ste Chappelle and Notre Dame.  The 15-minute, one train station change ride took us right to the Louvre and we entered through the I.M. Pei glass pyramid, got our tickets, (the kids were free!) and with a lot to see in a little bit of time, we made our move to the Denon wing and the Mona Lisa.  There were no lines to deal with and we wiggled through the crowd and saw the Da Vinci masterpiece.  Ben and Marley both thought the painting was smaller than they expected, but were still impressed to see it in person.

Our next destination was the Venus De Milo,

then on through the many hallways filled with paintings of all genres and ages.  We had no plans to really dig into the museum since we had other things to do, but we did come across the Apartments of Napoleon III which were stunning.  Hungry, we hit the streets and found a cozy cafe that served some great pizza and filled up on that before heading to Ile De Cite for Sainte Chappelle and Notre Dame.  The security was tight at Ste. Chappelle since it's part of the complex that includes the French Supreme Court, so we waited in line for about a half an hour to get in, the longest wait of the trip.  But the wait proved to be worth it once we got inside and saw the beautiful colors of the stained glass.

The only disappointment was that the windows are in the process of a painstaking restoration project, so some of them were blocked off, but it still took our breath away.  With that goal chekced off the list, we headed toward Notre Dame and as true Buckeye fans took the opportunity to use it as a backdrop for our latest O-H-I-O which we've done a few times on the trip at other landmarks.

Inside the cathedral, it was humbling to see the beauty of the church which reminded me of (on a much grander scale of course) the church my family went to when I was a child in Youngstown, Martin Luther Lutheran church.  Annie and the kids lit a candle at the Statue of St Teresa and we quietly walked out into a sudden snow squall as we headed to the metro station to go back to the apartment.  The Metro has been great to use due to it's convenience and the frequency of the trains.  It's clean and the people have been friendly, in fact that's been the case across the board throughout the trip including during our stay in Paris.  We haven't run into any more rudeness at restaurants than you get at places back in the states, and in many cases, the people have gone out of their way to be nice.  Tonight, we have to pack up and get ready to return tomorrow to Cincinnati, to our family and friends and pets that we miss. 

The trip has been the best experience we've had as a family.  From the first night on the overnight train to Venice, to the sights in Rome where we had the best pizza and service at Remo's near our apartment in Testaccio, to the magical feeling of San Gimignano, the Alps we watched whizz by our train window on the way to Zurich and the many wonders of Paris, it's been simply spectacular.  Our perspective on the world can't help but have grown, which is something we probably won't truly appreciate until we are back home and get back into our day to day lives.  Ben and Marley have been the best traveling companions you could ask for and Annie and I are very proud of how they've handled the many changing situations we put them in.  We took this trip to appreciate what we have as a family and the chance to take a journey that we will never forget.  While it's sad to see it come to an end, what we've seen, heard, smelled, tasted and felt over the past 14 days will be shared and cherished by us for a long time.  As we got the chance to experience Thanksgiving in Europe, we are very very thankful for our health, especially Annie's and the opportunity to do this.  Thanks to everyone who has read this and reacted.  Bon Voyage!

Thanksgiving in Paris

Our original idea for celebrating Thanksgiving in Paris was to have dinner in the Jules Verne restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower in the evening.  I made reservations back in the summer for seven o'clock in the evening, but after looking over their menu and seeing the price of 200 Euros a person and imagining spending that much on Marley having bread and butter or maybe some spaghetti noodles, we pondered lunch there, but they still wanted 85 Euros a person for lunch.  A little more research came up with a good compromise, 58 Tour Eiffel, a cafe on the first level of the Tower above the plaza. No reservations are needed, which worked for us because we got a late start on our day.  We took the walk from our apartment toward Trocadero and the Palais De Chaillot, where you can approach the Tower from the north and provides you with the view in the picture I took above.  We had to wait in line to purchase tickets to take the lift up to the first floor and we were surprised to see that it wasn't crowded and we got a table right by the window, looking back at the Palais.

Everyone including Marley managed to find something on the menu they liked, and Annie showed her patriotism by ordering a turkey dinner that was pretty tasty.  We decided that since we got a late start on the day and the weather was better than we expected, we would put off the Louvre and Notre Dame and Ste. Chappelle to our final day on Friday and walk toward the Champs Des Elysees where they had both sides lined with temporary shops with vendors selling all kinds of clothes, hats, food etc.  We saw it on the taxi ride in from the airport on Tuesday and it caught our eye.  It was great to stroll down the Avenue with the holiday lights lit up and enjoy the crowds and the smells and the atmosphere. 

We enjoyed a cup or two of Vin Chaud, which was hot red wine which was perfect for the chilly day that included a brief but intense storm of snow pellets. That didn't dampen the kids appetite for some barbe de papa and a crepe.

The rain came down a little harder which prompted us to grab a cab and head back to the apartment and dinner at a restaurant a short walk away.  The dinner was nice and we are settled in to get ready for a big day tomorrow to head for the Louvre and Notre Dame and Sainte Chappelle.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone, hope the Bengals don't ruin it for anyone.  We'll be happily sleeping through that one!

A gorgeous day in Paris

Lady luck smiled on us when we got up this morning to a beautiful day in Paris.  After a breakfast at our apartment, we took the fairly short stroll down Avenue Victor Hugo to the Arc De Triomphe.  To access it through the world's busiest traffic circle, you have to go to the Charles De Gaulle E'toile Metro station and walk under the traffic circle to get to the Arc.  We paid our fee and climbed the twisting stairway to the top of the Arc and took in the 360 degree view of Paris under bleu skies and temperatures in the mid-40s.

The view from the top was spectacular and as someone with a fear of heights, it didn't bother me at all.

Inside the Arc there are very informational panels showing the history of the Arc as well as the history of the unknown soldier not only buried there but other unknown soldiers in various countries including the U.S.  We had a fun lunch at a cafe on the Champs De Elysees that wasn't the best meal in the world but the location couldn't be beat.

We needed to get back to the apartment by 2 to meet our friends Candace and Griffin who were meeting us to stay for the rest of the trip.  Once they arrived, we set out on the number 2 blue Metro line to Montmarte and the Sacre C'ouer. 

We climbed the steps to the beautiful church at the top and the great view of Paris late in the day. 

With the hippie/poet/artist vibe conquered, we jumped back on the Metro in order to get back to our apartment since we couldn't get in after seven after Marley dropped a key fob down an elevator shaft at the apartment.  Long story that had a happy ending when a worker found the key fob and another key fob that a previous guest had lost.  We stopped at various stores for a fabulous dinner our on enclosed deck, and Marley played hostess with a great set up station in an adjacent room.

The food was great and the view even greater with even greater friends as an incredible trip continues.

Thanks for all the well wishes we've gotten back from the states.  Tomorrow, with a rainy/snowy forecast, we plan to do our Thanksgiving lunch at the Eiffel Tower, ditching the Jules Verne restaurant plan for the more affordable 58 Tour Eiffel option with plans for a stop at the Louvre in the afteroon. 

Marley says........Well HI again.....from Paris......

The AMAZING  Concert

    Hey PEEPSLES OF DA WORLD!!!!!!! This is what we did!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy!! Marley

    Last night you probaly know that we when to a concert and they said our names and all, but I wanted to tell you how I felt. It was amazing! I LOVED it so much! Now listen, I'm not a cryer like my mom and dad but I cried when they said it. It was so cool. Imagine if that happened to you?

Our Apartment

We have our OWN floor to ourselves! You've got to admit that is pretty cool! It is really nice and big. We have a view of the Eiffel Tower! Look at our view:

 Well it dosen't look like that, it looks like this:

That is what it looks likes. At night too! :)
When we walked into it I thougth it was two apartments it is so big!!! It is also cool because we have our own key to get up in the elevator (lift). No one else can get up here!

Troop and Griff

They are both coming to greet us today! I am excited!

Pics and MORE pics...

Thxns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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:)



Finally, Paris

Our earliest wake up call of the trip got us up in Luzia's apartment outside Zurich at 5:15am.  We needed to catch the 6:15 local train to get to Zurich HB to get on the train to Paris at 7:02.  Thanks to explicit instructions from our hosts, we got on the correct train and found the train to Paris in plenty of time.  We got into our four-seat cozy couchette and managed to get some sleep and a little food as we headed into France.  Luckily, when we got to Paris it wasn't raining and after being shown around the apartment with a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower, we walked around our neighborhood in the 16th arrondisement surrounding Place De Victor Hugo to grab some food to take back to the apartment for a mid-afternoon lunch.  Later, we found a supermarket around the corner and grabbed some basics like cereal and milk and bought a herb chicken from a vendor in a storefront market.  We ate that for dinner in a great setting in the enclosed deck on the tenth floor apartment and enjoyed the top of the hour light show from the Eiffel Tower.  After a tasty meal, we caught a cab for the 15 minute ride to the Olympia Music Hall in the 9th arrondisement, to see The National for Ben and Marley's first concert.

They are a band from Cincinnati who we've seen in concert before and  we sent a woman in their management a note saying that we were a family from Ohio and would be seeing them in concert in Paris and wondered if they could dedicate the song Bloodbuzz Ohio to Ben and Marley.  We got there as they were playing their opening song, Runaway and hurried to our seats in the last row of the balcony of a beautiful theatre.  We had just settled into our seats when the lead singer, Matt, said this next song is for Ben and Marley from Ohio, and as Annie and I started screaming, he said is anyone else here from Cincincnnati?  Then they played Bloodbuzz Ohio much to our delight and with Ben and Marley smiling and stunned, Annie and I looked at each other in tears.  The rest of the show was great, my best concert experience ever, and made for a great night, a fantastic start to what promises to be a fantastic stay in Paris.

Fondue with Luzia and Marco

Wow...what a way to end a day in Zurich.  We had a yummy Fondue....one cheese, one chocolate.

Marco and Zia have been such great hosts.  Zia worries about the weather but we got an awesome taste of Switzerland...both in the train ride and our dinners last night and tonight.  Seeing our friends along the way has been a great gift.  We are having a fantastic time and are looking forward to our wrap up in Paris.  Thank you our Swiss friends for such an enjoyable stay.  Love and hugs!

Marley says........ Well HI again.....

Marley    

    Waz up? Peeples of da world, Marley is talking to you from Luzia's apartment in Zurich, Swizerland! We had a snow ball fight in the montains! Is that cool or WHAT? I think it is cool! So, I have a color theme. It is PURPLE! I have purple earrings, a scarf, a hat, and an umbrella! I look SUPER cute when I have all of it on which I do EVERY time I go outside. Unless I am going to the porch for just a bit but I think you get what I mean!  Look:

   Rain Rain GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     Well on the other hand I think the rain is following us. Cause every where we go it rains. It is annoying but everything is still pretty. The mountains here are so pretty. It is amazing that I am in EUROPE! Across the ocean. Weird to think that huh?                                    
Luzia And Marco Sitting In A Tree.........       

Well Luzia and here boyfriend are so cute together. They have pictures of each other in every room on every wall almost. It is fun.

                                 Venice Is still #1

     I am still in LOVE with Venice. It is SUPER amazing there. I wish Sam Smith and I could live here together and study together. It is cool I think. Well If I couldn't live in Venice I would live in San Gimignano. San Gimignano is pretty just like Venice without water. I wish there was just water and it would be PERFECT. But you could take away the hills. You know how tiring it is. Well if you don't know I will tell you that it is pretty tiring.  



This a veiw from San Giano



The Best Things About This Trip

1. I am in Europe
2. I get to see a NEW world
3. I get to eat AMAZING food
4. I get new loves and interests
5. I get to spend quality time with my family

What I am Looking Forward To

1.  I Get to see my first concert in Paris
2. I get to eat in the Eiffel Tower
3. I get to meet new American/ Paris friends
4. I get to be with my family more
5. And I will have something to talk about with my friends

 Well have I said Well to much?

I think I have

BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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