There’s no feeling like it in the world. You know what I mean. Just as your car door clicks and you remember the keys are inside. Same thing when you hit the back button on your browser and lose your post that you’ve been working on for an hour. This only happens with picture-filled, link-loaded, really, really good posts. Argh! So. Here we go again, but I think I’m going to go bit by bit. I’ll do Paris first and then I’ll tell you about Normandy and Brittany and my visit with my pal, Nilda (Waltzing Natilda).
But first I have pictures to share. Back to school here in Germany at the Dept. of Defense schools. The boys really like their teachers and are looking forward to learning lots! Joe’s looking a little ornery, doncha think? His poor, poor teacher.
So… the trip. I had plans for all that riding/knitting time. Wonderful plans. Too bad I’m a complete dork and didn’t copy the part of the pattern I’d need to make that happen. I figure I wasted about 20 hours of fine knitting time. I was supposed to be working on the Pacific Grove Pullover from Just One More Row. I got the gauge swatch done and when I looked at what to do next…. nothing. I missed the center two pages of the pattern when I was copying it for the trip. Argh. I know you can completely understand how frustrating that was. Nilda’s lucky I didn’t have any sock needles on me (which is unusual) or I’d have broken into the sock yarn I brought her.
The trip from here to Paris is only 6 1/2 hours. I have to say I actually enjoyed Paris this time. Ha. Go figure. We did the four-hour quick tour. We checked into the hotel (I highly recommend the Holiday Inn Republique. I found out about it through tripadvisor.com. Make sure you get the breakfast included in your rate! WONDERFUL! Omelets/eggs made to order, fresh pancakes, fruits, meats… you name it. This could easily serve as brunch for the budget traveler) and then made way to one of the several nearby Metro stations. We headed towards the Arch de Triomphe:
They don’t look very happy, do they? lol. It gets better (well, not for Dan. He was dog sick that night in the hotel). We’d just walked about a mile down the Champs Elysees and the boys weren’t very thrilled about it. So we hopped back on the Metro and headed to the Eiffel Tower.
The boys loved it. The lines were massive, it was cold, windy and a storm was coming so we opted for one of the glass covered boat rides on the Seine instead of going up the tower. Let me tell you, this is an awesome way of seeing a lot of Paris in a short time. The boys are all about boats and trains (read: not walking) so this worked out well.
We rode it and took in the sites all the way to Notre Dame. From Notre Dame it was only a 25 min walk (with two boys) back to the hotel. I wish we’d known that when we first left because we’d had saved about $15 in Metro tickets because the Batobus (boat) is one price for all day. Oh well. Live and learn.
So that sums up our ultra-quick tour of Paris.
Another note about the hotel if you ever stay there… right across the street was a great place to get mussels and fries. It was called Leon de Bruxelles. However… if you have an upset stomach, the fish soup is not a good choice. Dan found that out a little later. He also will now believe me from now on when I say I think a chicken has been in our fridge a day or two too long….
In our next post we’ll go to Normandy and, the highlight of the trip, Brittany. But for now…. tha tha tha that’s all folks.
Looks like it was a hit! Glad you had such a wonderful time. sorry about the lack of knitting, been there, done that.
You have a beautiful family!
Wow, so cool. I love that Eiffel Tower pic!
Love the photos of the boys! Joseph always looks really full of mischief. It cracks me up. I’m glad that you gave Paris another chance. Can’t wait to see more France photos. And when are we going to start Birch…..?
Wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing your trip–I feel like I am there too–ok, not really, but it is the closest I will come to those wonderful places.
Perfect pictures! Great job of capturing adorable kids in front of incredible Parisian landmarks.
What adorable pictures- your boys are so cute! I love the picture in front of Notre Dame, where they both have the same impish stance. Cute, cute, cute!
Glad you made it through your whirlwind trip- even with no knitting! I would have been pulling my hair out (and knitting it!)
I know what you mean about the car keys and working on a post…and oops…it’s gone! I’ve done both more than my share of times.
Your boys are precious!
and the pics are awsome!
Fun trip! I’m so glad that the boys enjoyed Paris. I’ve been once and enjoyed it, but I want to go and explore more of the country next time.
My 15 yr old son voted Paris the best part of his trip this summer from Madrid to World Youth Day in Koln. We have simnilar photos in our album. It must be exciting to live so close to so many wonderful things is europe.
Li