PARIS!

Pfingstferien Paris Trip

Our state has had quite a few public holidays and bridging days to make extra long weekends in the last couple of months and then to wrap it up school had a week off  for Pfingst. Normally it is only a long weekend but the story goes that they (I assume the Ed Dept) realised they had been skimping on public holiday hours for the last few years so we got a whole week off for Pfingst. 

We planned ahead and went to Paris in the hope it wouldn't be as crowded as in the summer.

We are good train travelers but the 5 minute change in Cologne that was reduced to 2 minutes with an unexpected platform change meant that it was pretty tight. We ran down and up the stairs like mad and, as the conductor was shouting to everyone in the same situation; "Just get on the train, don't worry about finding your carriage, Just get on" we jumped on which meant we made the other two connections and had a nice smooth trip from then on. What I didn't realise until just as the doors closed and we were on our way was, that while Herr F and I knew we could just find a new set of connections if we missed the train which is annoying but doable the kids didn't know this. There was a few tears that were also due to imagining what would  have happened if only a part of our crew got on. We reassured the Monkey that the train can't leave the platform whilst either Mum or Dad has one leg on the train and one leg on the platform which is our way to get on the train to make sure we are all there. That explained, it was quickly forgotten then we sat back and relaxed for the rest of the journey. When I say relaxed Herr F doesn't relax at high speeds.

Sometimes you can play it by ear on holidays and sometimes you plan to get the most out of the time you have. This trip was fairly planned out. Our hotel was easy to find though we did have to get the map out at the Metro exit to make sure we headed off in the right direction and in that odd way of making the same mistake over and over again we alway turned the wrong way out of the metro. Only the Mouse got it right every time and she laughed at the rest of us everytime we headed off in the wrong direction.

So with our structured itinerary we made the most out of our buffet breakfast (every day) and headed out with a Metro map in every pocket. Our first stop: the Eiffel Tower.

It was fabulous to see the kids faces when we casually pointed out the Eiffel Tower. The lines weren't to long and after we got through the bag inspection and the tower entry queue we all climbed to the first level, even those of us who don't love heights did it. 

The thrillseekers in our party walked straight out onto the see through platform and attempted to entice those safely holding onto the railings discussing the merits of engineering out onto it too with no success.

The Bear collects coin mangle coins from places we go and this was an excellent distraction to the thought of how high we were. 

NB: we are still looking a week later for where the coin ended up. 

NNB (can you do that): coin found 3 weeks after trip and still I am only just getting this post finished.

Two were brave enough to continue on to the second level and saw an even better view. I am very lucky that Herr F took the parenting sword from the stone and took the Mouse up. They said it was amazing and highly recommend it.

Back on the ground we spent the afternoon wandering around looking at the Eiffel Tower from the ground, having a great cheese toastie lunch in the park in front of the Trocadero, looking at the Arch de Triomphe and strolling along the Champs Elyees. 

The rest of our week in Paris was just amazing. The weather was great and the excitment and joy the kids had at seeing all the things they had heard about was so lovely to witness. No one complained about the walking or the longish line at Versailles or the mini train strike or the strike that saw the Catacombs shut when we arrived (and it turns out stayed shut for a least a week). Everyone just went along for the adventure. 

I think part of what made it so good (apart from just the location and the weather) was that we all decided on a sight/landmark before we left, researched it and then acted as tour guide on that day. The Monkey was fascinated by the Arch la Defense so she took us there and it was somewhere I wouldn't have though to go but it was a great public space to wander around and see. The Bear decided on the Catacombs and wasn't to disappointed when it was closed but took on the job of chief Metro guide and got us from place to place the next day. The Mouse had her heart set on the Lourve and did more study than anyone else. I did the Eiffel Tower and found out that the names on the side of it are all the engineers, architects etc that worked on it and Herr F guided us through Versailles and threw in Notre Dame proving that university and a catholic upbringing do pay off as he didn't have to research.

When the Catacombs were closed and a lesson on the importance of strike action and never crossing a picket line were given we reorientated and wandered to the Luxemburg Gardens which were just one of the loveliest places to sit, play and think about where to head next. Notre Dame was the answer.

I highly recommed the Nintendo DS Louvre Guide. I only read about them the night before our visit and normally I hate the line to get audio guides, the enforced pace and basically I have never got one as I am too cheap. These however, were only 5 euros each, there was no line up to get them and the kids love the system. The best part of it was them retelling us what they had heard or adding to what we could tell them. We tried to buy it at the gift shop as we left (even willing to pay big dollar as it was so good and usable at home) but there were none in english left and we were told they weren't ever getting them in again. And it only cost 20 euros! There were loads in Japanese and Spanish but we thought better of it as none of us speak those languages. Later we looked at Nintendo and you can buy it online. NB still haven't managed to.

I didn't realise I had taken the above photo until I was downloading them later. It is in the tactile gallery in the Louvre where they have plaster versions of some of the sculpture so everyone including the visually impaired can experience the works. I just love how unselfconsious it is and how the Monkey and the sculpture are gazing the same direction.

There are 3 wings in the Louvre and this was my third time in the Louvre and only the first time I made it out of the Denom wing and into one of the others. I was determind to see the original fort foundations.

We got off one station early on our last day to check out our local park the Parc des Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissment. It was a really great neighbourhood to stay in as we got to see people going about their daily business while we ate breakfast and shopped for dinner.  

While Herr F was the brave one who got us through most things in french (room 212 is tricky to say) I set myself the small task of buying stamps in french and hopefully not having to revert back to english. The kids and Herr F were great supporters. The kids wrote the postcards and Herr F pushed me to try a fifth time to find a shop selling stamps right at the last minute at the train station. It used to be that all Tabac shops sold them but not anymore. Success!!!

 This was such a special holiday for us as a family as the kids were part of the planning and doing and I can't thank my crew enough for this adventure! Let's have more!!!