Paris, La Cite d'Amour

Due to the miracle of jet lag, we slept until 11am on the morning of Day 2.  So we grabbed a cup of coffee from the hotel and made our way into the city.  I wanted to go l'Orangerie, the museum where Monet's water lilies are displayed, which is a dream of mine to see.  Unfortunately, we didn't make it that far.  Oh well, I guess I will have to go back some day.  

After walking about 7 miles the day before, and about 7 miles the day before that, we decided to travel by Metro.  Oh yeah, and it was raining.  Our first stop was the Monoprix grocery store.  You may think I'm crazy, but I think grocery stores are the best places for souvenirs.  I like to get jelly, chocolates, and other little things to remember my trips. Plus, grocery stores are where you can see how the people really live.

Aren't these little containers of berries so cute? They just beg to be taken on a picnic.

Why don't they sell eggs this way in America? I mean, I love the USA, but isn't this clever?

And once you have your berries and eggs, head upstairs for a wedding gown!

Across the street from the Monoprix was a little food court and movie theatre.

Then we walked a little ways to another restaurant suggested by Rob's captain.  This one was a little lacking in the charm department, but the food was good.

Duck confit. I'm a sucker for duck. The last time we came I ate it for 4 out of 6 meals.

Once we realized we didn't have time for the museum, we wandered over to the Eiffel Tower.  Sadly, the base of the tower is now surrounded by a security wall and you have to pass through metal detectors to go underneath.  I understand why, but it's a depressing sign of the times.  Luckily we were able to go under and take photos the first time we came, so we didn't bother with the line this time.

It was a little chilly, and we were a little hungry, so I found a creperie on google maps and navigated us there. I love crepes.  Seriously, after croque monsieurs and duck confit, crepes are my favorite thing to eat in France.  

Rob had banana Nutella and I had raspberry with chantilly (which is so much more romantic than saying whipped cream).

With our sweet tooth satisfied, we took the metro back to the hotel so we could change for dinner.  Yes, we ate A LOT in Paris.  Sight-seeing makes me hungry!

Our dinner plans were actually something extra special.  May is a big month in our family.  I have my birthday and Mother's Day, plus our anniversary is at the end of the month.  Rob had the brilliant idea of celebrating all of these things with a dinner cruise on the Seine, and I'm so glad he thought of it!  It was  a great way to see the city.  We had to take the 6pm cruise, and not the 8pm cruise because Rob had to fly the next day and he can't drink within 12 hours of flying.

I know, so many pictures of myself. But Rob is a better photographer than I am.

There's that hand sanitizer again!

Hey look! A picture of Rob! And the Museu d'Orsay, which is my favorite.

Our boat for the evening.

My amazing husband booked our table at the front of the boat so we had an unobstructed view.

I don't remember what any of this was, but it was delicious.

Sometimes I don't even know he's taking a picture of me.

Le Louvre.

Le Tour Eiffel

Now for a brief history lesson. In 1886, France gave the US the Statue of Liberty. In 1889, the American community in Paris gave this Statue of Liberty to the French people to commemorate the centennial of their revolution. It now sits on the Pont de Grenelle and was actually a working model used in the building of the statue the French gave to us.

Dessert, anyone?

Rob is probably planning the Viking River cruise we really want to take some day.

And that my friends, is how we spend our Spring vacation in Paris.

On our final morning, I rode in the crew bus with Rob to the airport and then we parted ways.  He had to fly to Salt Lake City and then to Amsterdam.  I was bound for Cincinnati.  I was super lucky and got the last seat in Delta One on the way home too!  Unfortunately I wasn't able to sleep this time because my seat was next to a guy who snored.  

Instead, I watched 4 movies.  Do you know how happy it made me to watch 4 movies uninterrupted?  Ok, I was interrupted once by the flight attendant with a warm chocolate chip cookie.  I watched:
Pitch Perfect 3, terrible movie
Downsizing, strange movie
When Harry Met Sally, my all time favorite
You've Got Mail, a classic

By the time we landed in Cincinnati I was ready to see my babies! A huge thanks to my sister-in-law Jenni and her family for opening their home to our kids, and thus making this trip possible.