Day 5: Friday, June 6th - Paris / Versailles

We decided that a trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a day trip out to see the Palace at Versailles. Friday morning, we headed out (after our last breakfast of coffee and bread in Paris) to take the train out to Versailles. After a few tries, we found the right train station with the correct tickets (the combo subway and palace entrance ticket) and we were on our way!

We arrived a little after they opened and headed into the palace to pick up our audio guides. There were lots to see and for the most part, each room in the main palace had an accompaning audio guide to listen to, so it made for a long walk :)


Me and Katie in the Hall of Mirrors

Dad listening to the audio guide in one of the Palace rooms

After finishing inside the Palace, we headed outdoors to the Garden. We looked around for a short (short) bit and then found the trolley (for an additional fee) that would take us to the rest of the grounds.


Goo Ma by the Gardens

A view of the Gardens from inside the Palace

We splurged on the 6 euro tram ticket to take us out to Marie Antoinette's (The tram was totally worth it!)


Once getting off at the 1st stop, Marie's Antoinette's, we walked around and took in the sights. Lots of flowers, trees, paths, and ultimately her estate filled with lakes, flower/vegetable gardens, multiple houses, and gross looking fish.


Dad, Goo Ma, and Mom with lots of flowers (roses, I think) and the front of the Temple of Love in the background


Parents in front of the Temple of Love


Me at Marie Antoinette's estate


Marie Antoinette's

Leaving Marie's estate, we took the tram again to the rest of the stops. I think everyone would have been ok not stopping at the 2nd one, but we figured we had paid for the ticket, we might as well look to see what it was. We got off and looked, didn't make it inside the building, and caught the next tram to take us to the Grand Canal stop where we pit stopped for lunch (and a nutella crepe) before calling it a day at Versailles.


Long day, but getting off the tram for another stop (after Marie's but before the Grand Canal)


Boats for rent at the Grand Canal

After leaving the Palace, we made another McDonald's coffee stop before crossing the street to catch a train back into Paris.

Once getting back into the city, we had an hour or so before the Musee D'Orsay was to close for the evening. At first we were a little uneasy about leaving my Mom, Dad, and Aunt to fend for themselves to find their way back to the hotel from the train station, but they assured us that they would be able to make it back on their own.

We trusted them, so we parted ways - they went back to the hotel, while David, Katie, Dah Jeh Jeh and I headed off to the Musee D'Orsay. Once we got there, it was on the brink of selling their last tickets for the day. We decided to go in anyway, even if it was just going to be less than an hour before the exhibits closed.

It was a mad dash to see as much as we could. Here are a few shots from the whirlwind museum visit:

This picture doesn't do this painting justice. She was quite freaky to see in person.

Once the museum closed, we headed back to the hotel to find that my parents and aunt did indeed find their way back to the hotel safely. It is a good thing that they all learned the French word for "EXIT" as that was the key in them finding their way out of the subway and back up to the street level.

For our last dinner in Paris, we followed Rick Steve's suggestion to a little (and I mean little) restaurant. The debate still stands on if tip was included in the meal...we're starting to think that it was and that the waitress/owner is extremely happy we visited their place.

So that's it for France! We went home, packed, and went to bed for an early morning wake up to head off to Italy.

Day 4: Thursday, June 5th - Paris

Getting the most out of our 2 day tour pass, we started out our day back on the bus. The plan was to head over to Notre Dame, ride the bus over to the Champ Elysees, have lunch, walk over to see the Arc de Triumph, and then take the bus back to the hotel.


Waiting at the bus stop

Walking up to Notre Dame


Us at Point Zero, the start of where all distances from Paris are measured


Goo Ma feeding little birds...they seem to like her! (More to come in the Venice blog)


Katie, on the other hand, can't seem to find any birds to come and eat her picked off the ground bread


The Louis Vitton House (with all things Louis Vitton)


Heading towards The Arc


Dave and our parents waiting while Dah Jeh Jeh went to go buy tickets to go to the top of the Arc

A view of the stairs everyone had to climb to get to the top of the Arc! Thats a lot of steps!!

Me and Dave waiting for everyone to come down


We told everyone to look for us when they got to the top. Too bad we couldnt see them and they couldnt see us


After the Arc, we made it over to the other Arches, the Golden Arches of McDonalds for some coffee. This one even had a mini bistro with lots of goodies!


We finished up at McDonalds and then had to make a "mini mad dash" to catch the bus. We had exhausted the sights on the main tour route, so we decided to try and catch another route before our 2 day bus pass expired. This second route took us to St Germain and the Mont Parnasse areas before dropping us off back at our original bus stop by our hotel. (I have to take Dave's word on the sights on the 2nd tour route because I dozed in and out for this part of the ride...I was exhausted)

Making it back to the hotel, we rested up again and then regrouped to find a Chinese restaurant for dinner (my mom was dead set on getting a Chinese meal). Frommers suggested one in the Latin Quarter (where we had had driven through on our tour) so we decided to go check it out. It was a little bit of a hike, but turned out to be a pretty good Chinese meal in Paris. Even if it cost 2 euros for each single serving bowl of rice.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and called it a night. We had big plans to get up early and catch the train to Versailles.

Day 3: Wednesday, June 4th - Paris

After going to bed super early (maybe a little too early since I woke up at like 4am and couldn't get back to bed), we started our first full day in Paris with the daily breakfast provided by our hotel. Traditional Parisan breakfast of bread and coffee. At least there was butter and jam! It was nice that we also supplemented our breakfasts with fruit we bought.



The weather was still a bit chilly and cloudy, so we decided to go for a walk to the Louve and see the museum to start off our day.


Goo Ma on the Alexander III Bridge


Dad by the Petit Palace


Dave tormenting Katie in the Tuileries Gardens


Dah Jeh Jeh imitating art


Lounging at a fountain in the Gardens


We made it to the Louve!


Our first (and I think our only) mishap of getting separated.


Katie and Mona


Us in some antechamber to an Egyptian tomb


After visiting the Louve, we had lunch...where I accidentally ordered a 5 euro bottle of water :( and then walked around a bit.

We found a McDonalds where we stopped for a bathroom break. Amazingly, we didnt buy anything (read on for other McDonalds we saw and DID stop at)


We came across another bakery and Katie couldn't resist the chocolate mousse.


We walked back to the Louve and then got on one of those "hop on and hop off" bus tours. It was a 2 day ticket and it offered audio guides in Chinese so it seemed like a great way to see and learn about the city's sights.




BUS TOUR!


We ended Day 1 of our bus tour and headed back to the hotel to rest up a little before heading out to dinner and trying for the Eifel Tower again. The weather was still chilly, but less windy so we ventured up to catch a Paris sunset and the city at night atop the tower.


Dinner with tea cups with my dad's name on it


Waiting for the (double decker) elevator to take us to the top


Crammed in the elevator


Our fleeting glimpse of Paris at sunset atop of the Eifel Tower (literally a second, just long enough to stop and snap a picture before getting back in line to get onto another elevator to take us to the 3rd level)


A souvenior shop at the top of the Tower


We made it back down and found a nice patch of grass to sit (thanks to Continental for the blanket to sit on!) and see the tower aglow at night.


At the top of every hour at night, the tower lights up and twinkles for 10-15 minutes or so.

Day 2: Tuesday, June 3rd - Paris

Tuesday, June 3rd - Paris:

After taking the red eye from Newark, we arrived at Paris' Charles De Gaulle aiport around 11am local time. Luggage took a bit and there was some confusion on where to meet out pre-arranged transportation to the hotel, but in the end...we made it to our hotel safe and sound, but definitely tired!


Goo Ma and Katie in the van on the way to our hotel.

Once we got to the hotel and settled in, we all decided a nap was in order. We rested up, bundled up (if was chillier than most of us expected it to be in Paris in June), and headed out to see Paris!


Mom and Dad in front of our hotel.

Walking out of our hotel towards Rue Claire (our intended dinner destination), we passed the Hotel Invalides and stopped in for a quick look.


Dad with some cannons.


Me and Mom in the courtyard.

Once making it to our dinner destination (on Rick Steve's advice), we came across fruit stands, cured meat stores, cheese shops, patisseries, and restaurants lining Rue Claire. We settled on a restaurant and enjoyed our 1st meal in Paris!


Fresh Fruit Stand


Cheese!!!!


Meats!!!


Pastries!!!


Our first meal together on vacation!


My lamb curry.


Veal risotto with olives (Dave and Goo Ma)


Fish dinner (Dad)


Seafood pasta with chorizo (Katie and Dah Jeh Jeh)


Such cute tea pots! Each person had their own. No sharing needed!

After dinner, we made our way to the Eiffel Tower. It was unfortunately *quite* windy and cold around the tower, so we didn't make it up to the top that evening. We decided that we'd come back to go up another time and ventured home after a long day of traveling.


Me and Goo Ma walking up to the Eiffel Tower


My mom saying it's too cold to stick around!