Paris!

Our house in Paris has been the best so far, in terms of sleeping arrangements and comfort.  There are actually four bedrooms and three bathrooms.  Not to mention the basement playroom, books, dvds and toys for the kids.  Also an actual yard for them to play in.  

The drive here was brutal.  About 14 hours after a stop-off in Settignano.  We left at 4:30 in the morning so we wouldn't arrive too late.  It was a long, long drive and very hot, especially when we got stuck in some rush hour traffic in the sun.  The rest stops in France were by far the nicest we have encountered on the road trip.  For some reason, the Italians don't think toilet seats are necessary, or even toilet paper, for that matter, and this can be troublesome when you have small-ish girls who need help with the handicaps!  

But we arrived in time to be met by Pacal, the owner, who showed us around and gave us some useful information about Paris and the surrounding area.

We spent the first day here relaxing and planning out a trip into the city.  Friday, we made our way straight to the Eiffel Tower.  The day was cool and overcast, too, much to our relief.  We all made the trip up the first 680 steps of the tower, even Maggie, with no help at all!  What a view from the (semi) top.  After a picnic on the grass at the bottom of the tower, we drove around Paris in the direction of Notre Dame and decided to head home when we realized that traffic was getting thicker and there was no chance of turning off the main street.  So we turned on the GPS, which promptly directed us to turn around and head straight for the Champs-Elysees!  That was the last place I wanted to drive, but having no choice, I gritted my teeth and hung on to the steering wheel for dear life!  I managed to navigate through the crazy Paris traffic (the craziest are the scooter drivers who will knock off your side mirrors if you don't give them enough room to get in between the lanes) while the rest of the family enjoyed the sights.  And we made it home in one piece!  

Today we are planning on going back to Notre Dame for evening Mass, and then back again tomorrow for the Free Museum Sunday.  The first Sunday of every month a few museums are free all day, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay.  I hope to let the kids see the Mona Lisa, if the lines are not too long.

Supposedly, half the city leaves for vacation at the beginning of August, and it appears to be true.  Both of our close neighbors have left early this morning, leaving us plenty of room to park the car.  This should make it easier to get through Paris and to find parking on the streets.

Au revoir.