Paris

We took what we thought was a scenic route on our way to Paris.  It was still raining that morning but we hoped to drive out of the rain soon.  It would have been a gorgeous drive but the rain was not going anywhere.  We couldn't see anything past the car in front of us.  It turned into a frustrating day with a lot of confusion at the toll booths in France.  Then just when we thought we were about there we hit traffic in Paris due to the French Open.  We were completely frazzled when we finally pulled up to the apartments in Paris that Cecilia's family own. We were happy to have Ethan and Cecilia there to greet us with a yummy meal of bread, meat and cheese.

We ate and talked for hours and then decided we needed a closer look at the Eiffel Tower than what we had seen from the freeway.  A short 10 minute walk from the apartment later there we were greeted by the shimmering tower at midnight.

The next morning after sleeping in for a bit to recover, Cecilia showed us a nearby park to run.  We were amazed by all the people there running!

Leaving the apartment for our run.

Next we stopped at the bakery to get breakfast where Andrew discovered eclairs (which, to Cecilia's dismay, he nicknamed chocolate hot dogs!)

After breakfast we were headed back to the Eiffel Tower.

Waiting in line.  What we hadn't anticipated in Paris: a two hour wait in line for everything!

What Andrew had been waiting for: climbing the Eiffel Tower!

Next we hopped on one of the boats for a ride down the Seine.

Andrew at the Seine.

Jason and I on the boat ride with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

We got off the boats at Notre Dame. This is one of those places that even if you've seen a hundred pictures of it, it is nothing like it is in person.  What an amazing building!  What had started out as a beautiful sunny day (finally!)  started to turn stormy and cool.  With the threat of rain Cecilia rushed off to find ponchos.  We never got more than a few sprinkles but it did help keep us a little warmer.

Mass was going on when we went inside the cathedral.  The sound of the organ inside was absolutely amazing!  I could have sat and listened to it for hours!  What an incredible building with the best acoustics I've ever heard! We were disappointed to find that the bell tower had just closed for the day.  We only made it about half way through our itinerary for the day.  Everything else we would have to fit in another day!

The bridge of love.  Andrew desperately wanted me to buy a lock to hang on the bridge but I was too cheap!

We had some wonderful French cuisine for dinner!  We ate duck, lamb, and even tried escargot.

Well, he almost tried it, but in the end he chickened out.