Today we really packed in the fun. Be forewarned there are lots of photos on this post.
We started the day with some really cozy sleeping conditions. Everybody was really tired after our train arrived late Monday night.
We had breakfast at the hotel.
Chocolate muffin and Nutella. What else could this girl want?
We stayed at the Novotel Gare de Lyon. It had rooms that were slightly larger than most other hotels, but I still got chewed out for sneaking 5 guests in a room that was meant for no more than 4 guests.
After breakfast we jumped on the metro to head to the Place du Carrousel.
We entered the underground shopping area abutting the Louvre. The Mona Lisa on the light fixture was the best view that we would get of her.
The inverted pyramid.
Alas, the Louvre was closed on Tuesdays, so we were stuck banging on the gates to let us in.
At the Louvre, but not in the Louvre.
We spent some time on the plaza outside the Louvre.
At the I.M. Pei Pyramid.
Dang.
On the bright side, this gave Ada time to practice her miming.
At the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.
A nude.
Louvre selfie.
The girls wandered around the small hedge row maze.
After the unsuccessful Louvre visit we headed back down into the Metro to head to our next destination.
Le Jardin du Luxembourg.
We rented a couple of sailing ships and set the girls to work. We were captaining Japanese and Swedish vessels.
This was a ton of fun. The ships come with a wooden stick that lets you push them away from the edges. Otherwise, they just sail to wherever the wind pushes them.
Japan and Sweden on the prowl.
This was good exercise. We covered the whole little pond.
After sailing the boats the girls wanted to spend some time at a little park in lieu of getting ice cream today because there was an entrance fee. It was a good day to run around.
I love Ada's face on whatever this thing is called.
We admired the Statue of Liberty. She sure gets around Paris.
After the park we visited Angelina for some drinking chocolate.
I like chocolate less than everybody else in the family, but I was the only one who finished my drink (helped by adding loads of sugar). It was really, rally rich.
From Angelina we walked to the Saint Sulpice church and fountain.
You'd think that I'd be able to take a photo without my finger getting in the way by now... Oh well, you'd be wrong.
Inside Saint Sulpice.
From there we walked to the Pantheon.
You can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
There are so many interesting buildings in Paris. The Pantheon was originally built to be a church, but now is a secular mausoleum housing the bodies of many famous French.
Foucalt's pendulum, showing the rotation of the earth was originally constructed in this building. This is a replica of the original.
We walked down to visit the crypt. Alison, Kate and Lyla are with Victor Hugo.
Me, Ada & Lyla are with the Marie & Pierre Curie.
We left the Pantheon and Latin Quarter behind and rode the Metro to the National Picasso Museum.
We had lots of signs guiding our way.
Look, a Picasso.
Divert the eyes of children.
The museum had a lovely little courtyard and the girls had fun running around.
This may be the church of Saint Denis. We stumbled upon this one as we walked back to the Metro.
Our next stop was at the beautiful Sacre-Coeur Basilica.
Wherever there is a tourist attraction, there is a carousel.
We decided to find some dinner before heading up to the Basilica. We found a French restaurant nearby. They offered frog legs & escargot (as well as other similar fare), but we had no interest in spending $20 to try any of these.
We rode the funicular up the mountain.
Like I said, there are so many beautiful churches and buildings in Paris (and really, throughout all of Europe).
The building sits up on a hill and has splendid views.
Watching the sunset and street performers.
Time to walk back to the Metro to head back to our hotel for one last night.
One last stop to transfer trains at Chatelet.
We end right where we started, with sleeping girls.
Tomorrow we pack up and catch our long (albeit direct) flight home.
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