Paris

Yep. We’ve been to Paris. Which sounds a little bit insane and unreal. I think it’s one of those things that will seem more concrete in memory than it did in situ.

I think our visit was hindered by a couple things. 1) We know we operate best in smallish towns where there’s open spaces and they speak English. Paris is none of these things. 2) We were 4 people vaguely contained and frustrated by jet lag, and 2 of those people don’t fake it well. 3) I was too busy before we left to do my usual deluxe planning extravaganza, so we were winging it. Not my strong suit.

But, all of that said, we were in Paris, and how amazing is that?! Of course our visit to Paris was also bouyed by several factors: 1) Paris holds a certain cache, even for our kids. Just saying the name aloud was enough to talk us out of some funks. 2) Baguettes, croissants, macarons, chocolate. That’s all I have to say about that. 3) Anywhere you go has some potential for being historically, culturally, artistically, and sociologically significant. Even metro rides are different enough from our normal existence that they were exciting.

So here’s what happened!

Day 1 Eiffel Tower We took the metro and saw it. We were tired and didn’t make much effort to get around all the construction all over the place. We never actually even saw where it touches the ground because of all the 6-foot high temporary fencing. But then the highlight of the day was the Uber we hired because we thought we might fall on the metro tracks had we tried to navigate them. Holy cow. That was terrifyingly and amazingly terrifying. The scooters, the bikes, the pedestrians, the lack of consideration of lanes, the stopping in the middle of the intersection when the light is red. Holy cow. It was amazing!

Day 2 Notre Dame and Marie Curie We started at the famous cathedral and happened upon a wonderful choral concert by the European Honour Choir. No idea how often performances like that happen, but we felt really lucky. It was wonderful to sit and listen in such grand surroundings. We walked the neighborhoods to the Curie Institute and got to see her lab and office and garden. That was amazing!

Day 3 Musee L’Orangerie and Musee D’Orsay Art day! The Orangerie with Monet’s lilly pads was astounding. Absolutely astounding. We spent hours in that small museum; even the girls’ attention was held for quite awhile. (The computerized toilets might have helped.) The D’Orsay was had more to give than we had time for, but we “made due” with van Gogh, Degas, Monet, and so many others. Then on the way home, we spotted a Banksy a across from our apartment! Whoa!

Day 4 Centre Pompidou Another art day. Maggie and Tessa put up with us for a third museum! But this one had an interesting building (escalators on the outside? what?) and contemporary art can be a little easier to talk about when you’re 5. The girls sat for awhile doing sketches of Chagall and Malevitch and Lissitsky. Then they spent another period of time telling us what they imagined each painting to represent. It was wonderful! Aaaaand, another Banksy!

Day 5 Versailles We took the train down to the palace for an outside day. The palace: eh. Gilded and extravagant and pretty much what you’d expect. Maybe it would have been more enjoyable if we hadn’t been in these hot little rooms with hundreds of our new best friends. The gardens: whoa! We happened to be there on a musical fountains day, so they were all flowing and some were “choreographed” to period music.

So cool! I could have spent hours, or days, or years there. Especially when you know the plumbing is mostly original. We did also go to Marie’s make-believe village. Weird. But I think that could have been a cush job and I want it.

So we did it! Maybe we’ll go back and fix our little fails (catacombs, Seine cruise, Louvre, Montmatre) in the winter or spring. But for now, thanks, Paris, for being our jumping off spot! We did you!