Paris "Take 2" + Bonus Material

We had a 3-day weekend last weekend so we decided to head back to Paris with Mike and Sue. Poor Mike and Sue got the crash course in "vacationing with a toddler" ... Kelty actually did well; still not a fan of the museums but there was plenty to see and do while walking the streets of Paris.

I have to say this trip was really different than our first trip to Paris. We had a lot of "events" to laugh (and cringe) about ...

1) The parking garage we used for the car was literally a big port-a-potty, ugh, who the heck uses a parking space to drop a load! We had to step over puddles of pee to carry our suitcases through the parking garage stairwell.

2) We happened to pick the nastiest subway car to ride one evening, some dude decided to clear his throat and nasal passages on the floor of the subway car earlier that evening and Kelty so kindly grabbed a pole that was lubricated in spit.

3) Some dude coughed all over Mikey's head in the subway. He literally hosed Mikey's head with spray. Ahhhh!

4) Mikey made a buddy while in line to ride the elevator up the Eiffel Tower. This guy was so far up in Mikey's business that they looked like they were attached. As you can see ... Mikey made quite the impression on the Paris follks. Ha!

Time for photo's ...

Day 1

We left Saturday late-morning for the 4 1/2 car trip to Paris. After arriving around 4-ish, checking into our hotel (which was inexpensive and nice ... minus the port-a-potty parking garage) we took the subway to the Louvre. The Louvre at night, glowing against the night sky is nothing short of amazing. Add in a musician playing the cello in one of the exterior corridors and have the soft echo follow you during your stroll .... sigh .... is a memory I never want to lose.

After the Louvre we took and evening walk to the Eiffel Tower ... it was a looooong walk (not good for my ankle) but it was worth it. Before jumping in line for Eiffel we ate Crepes and took Kelty on a carousel ride.

Our token "kissing photo" ... this is in the courtyard of the Louvre.

Mike and Al looking through windows of Louvre

Our walk to to the Eiffel Tower

Mmmm .... Crepes!

Day 2

We attempted the Louvre again with Kelty. We made it through the Egyptian wing before Al and I called it quits and left Mike and Sue to explore the Louvre in peace. After Kelty's nap we all ventured out again, visited Notre Dame and then spent the evening walking an exploring.

I missed the shot of Kelty imitating the placement of the arms in the carving

Notre Dame

Al said this shop was in the movie Ratatouille ... this shop apparently specializes in killing rats. The rats hanging in the shop window were real (taxidermy rats).

Day 3

We had to leave by noon on Monday ... Al had to get home so he could go to work and mission plan for a last minute flight the squadron put him on. Nice .... thanks! Mike and Sue took us to two specific places on Monday morning ... La Boutique Maille (a specialty mustard shop) and Les Palais Des Thes (a loose- leaf tea shop). The tea shop was much like TeaVana and I was able to re-stock my Roobios and Chai tea's. The mustard shop was awesome! They even had specialty mustard on tap. We brought home some great mustards that I'm anxious to start using ... maybe they'll make into my "Cooking" section.

Kelty "modeling" in front of the store window next to the mustard shop.