Summer Vacation: Day 13 - Paris

After breakfast at the apartment, we went and got the souvenirs that Riley had been begging for since the day before.  

Then we walked and got some macarons at a place I had read was one of the best in Paris and just happened to be down the street from the apartment.

From there, we took the Batobus from the Eiffel Tower to the Musee d'Orsay.

We were able to get in for a great deal because the kids were free and with our Eurostar ticket, the adults were buy one get one free!  The kids were excited to see more van Goghs, including a version of Starry Night.  All of Monet's Waterlilies were across the river at another museum, but there were a couple versions we got to see.  There was also a great Cezanne special exhibit.  And loads of other paintings we all enjoyed seeing.

I was really looking forward to some silhouette photos at the big clock!

The museum building itself is gorgeous to look at.

It was pretty fun to see a Statue of Liberty!

We left the museum to find lunch at a little cafe.  Lots of bread and cheese and wine!  Mmmmm.

We got back on the Batobus and got off at Notre Dame.

There was a really long line to get in but it was moving quickly.  It didn't take too long to get into the building - just enough time for a croissant!  I am glad I had read a couple reviews online mentioning that shoulders needed to be covered so luckily I had something in my bag for me and Riley to put on.  We saw several people being sent to buy a shawl from a street vendor/store nearby.

The kids loved all the stained glass, and unlike the time when Roy and I came many years ago, a service was happening so we got to see some of that.  Riley would have liked to stay to watch/listen way longer.

There were some amazing models of the building and completed Notre Dame.  The detail was amazing.

There was a donation box, and the kids loved looking at the money from all over the world that was inside.

We took a few pictures outside before leaving.

We got back on the Batobus to the Louvre stop.  We showed the kids the pyramids, but didn't go across really close.

We had a snack and some water (the amount of water we drank this day was impressive!  It was so hot, so we were glad to find men selling bottled water for one euro all over) and then found a carnival in the Jardin de Toulieres where the kids were excited to have a cold slushie.

They played at a playground for a while.

Then we walked out past the Place de Concorde to the Batobus stop at the base of the Champs Elysees.  We got back on for a little tour past the Eiffel Tower and down past the Statue of Liberty and back to the Eiffel Tower.

We walked back to our neighborhood and got some groceries for dinner.

After dinner, we went to see the Eiffel Tower at night.  It was packed with people and really lively and festive.  We stayed so that the kids could see the sparkling show that lasts only 5 minutes every hour on the hour.

- - - -
Total walking: approx 3.8 miles or 6.1 km
- - - -