Loire Valley - We Have Arrived

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Sacre Couer

Today the group visited Sacre Couer which is located on the highest point in Paris.  You can climb up the stairs and get the view which is amazing.  All kinds of weird stuff goes on around the facility.

Maddux and the statue guy

Paris cafe. Tea and Sidewalk People Watching

We went over to Avenue Montaigne and Pont de l'Alma for a little sitting and having an Earl Grey tea and watching the locals and tourists hustling by.  Maddux worked his Earl Grey all of the way to nothing.  As much as he griped about sitting and watching I think he enjoyed it.

Paris - June 6th

This morning we woke up to a rainy day.  Linda, Lindsey and Sherry went to cooking class at a Michelin starred restaurant.  I went with Doug, Jessica, London and Maddux on one of the 25 great Parisian walks.  Unfortunately, on Monday most if not all of the sights are closed.  However, we were able to walk into the Plaza de Invalidies, see some war machinery, walk by the Rodin Museum and then head on back.  We picked up lunch and brought it back to the apartment - Personal pizza's, Croque Monsierurs and a Jambon Croissant.  Pretty impressive lunch.

Pappy and London in the garden of the Plaza de Invalidies

Pappy and London playing hide and go seek in the Garden.  Napoleon is watching from above in his tomb.  He was placed in the tomb in 1840. 

Maddux and Steve outside the Plaza with Eiffel Tower in the clouds

Our boy Napolean is entombed in this building. Gold dome, massive facility.....little man!!!

This one is for you Christina Simko.....Laduree

OK, this one is dedicated to our dear friend Christina Simko. We are doing 'research' for your macarons and we anxiously await your debut of 'ChouChou' in Dallas!!! We stopped by Laduree today for an informative and delicious research session.We left with 20 macarons and between everyone's 'sampling' we maybe have 4 left. Ahh-maa-zing!!!!!

We really wish you were here Ms Simko. Next stop on the macaron research tour...Pierre Herme!!!!!

Lindsey & Sherry in front of Laduree....yummy!

Window display at Laduree - lots of 'macaron trees' in the windows!

Macaron flavors at Laduree - Apparently it is VERY illegal in the Laduree world to take photographs in their shop section. I was quickly stopped from taking more pictures, but I believe the flavors are a nice thing to have!

Day at the Louvre & Champs Elysee/Arc de Triumph

Today we decided to run with the crowds of Paris! Every first Sunday of the month at the Lourve is free admission. Since we are traveling with such a large group, this is really a great option for us. In order to get there and get in a reasonable location in line for the 9 am opening, we were searching down a taxi at 7:50! We arrived at the Louvre at 8:10 and got a nice place in line. It was amazing, right after we arrived, the lines formed so far we couldn't even see the end!! So, glad we woke up early!

After some quality time a the Louvre, we had lunch at a little cafe that has the greatest 'poulet & frites' ever. Maddux decided to go another route with Escargot. Can someone please explain to me how he can hate vegetables so much, yet throw back some snails?!?!?! (Although they were quite good!)

After lunch, we headed down the Champs Elysees for some sightseeing. As we were walking towards the Champs Elysees we passed 2004 Presidential Candidate John Kerry.  He was walking along Rue Rivoli with a couple of guys.

Not much shopping because most stores are closed on Sundays, but it was a nice walk. A few highlights of the walk - the opening of Abercrombie & Fitch, the only store in France. Not my kind of store, BUT Jessica was fortunate enough to have a photo opportunity with the very attractive male models at the front door......very nice! We all think she should be a model too!!

Our grand finale of the day was a hike up the Arc de Triumph for an aerial view. Pappy, Steve, Maddux & Jessica climbed 273 stairs to get to the top. My mom, Lindsey, London & I waited at a a local cafe for them. (I think we had the better option)

Now, we are back at the apartment watching the French Open and regrouping before we tackle the big decision of where to have dinner and whether or not to take the boat cruise down the Seine tonight. ;->

Early morning wake-up call and waiting in line at the Louvre

London & Steve in front of a Tony Cragg sculpture at the Louvre

London posing with the sculptures in the Louvre

Escargot Time!!!!

London and Pappy with the statue man after London decided to pull on his mask. Needless to say we we left a tip after she realized it was a real person!

Ms Jessica and her very attractive Abercrombie & Fitch models on the Champs Elysees

View from the top of the Arc de Triumph

Maddux at the top of the Arc de Triumph

J'aime Paris!!!

Sherry & Lindsey by the Eiffel Tower &
Pappy, London, Maddux & Steve under the Eiffel Tower. (and a randon guy on the left)

Pappy & London on the boat on the carousel.

Maddux & Jessica accompanying London on the carousel by the Eiffel Tower.

Lindsey enjoying the carousel too!!

It has been a very fun and eventful 24 hours in Paris! Last night we went to a cafe in our 'hood. It was a a very nice dinner with everyone! Fortunately our neighborhood is very close to the Eiffel Tower and Champs de Mars Parc. So, after dinner we all went for a walk in the park and of course London found a carousel!!! This time she had many more people riding with her than when we were in Beaune!!!