Yes, we were a free family in Paris* and after a rather shaky start to the trip we ended up having a splendid time.
This update is a bit past due ( I do not seem to be making improvement on this front at all) but better late than never, right? We awoke on the Friday of our planned departure to Aidan tapping on our bedroom door and announcing ” I puked”. This isn’t my favourite way to start any day but especially not when we’re supposed to be leaving for France in about 2 hours. Dave and I jumped out of bed and ran through the routine that all parents go through when they’ve got a barfing child. Aidan did what most 8 year olds do when they’re awoken by the urge to heave and barfed right next to his bed. *sigh* I ran to clean the mess while Dave tended to Aidan and we were both glad of having 2 parents on hand to deal with the mini crisis. Any parent who has dealt with vomit duty on their own knows how glad you are to be able to divide up the tasks.
Once we had all of that done and Aidan was cuddling on my lap looking pale and sleepy we were faced with the big decision. Should I stay or should I go? Clearly the whole trip couldn’t be canceled because a) it was Jesse’s special birthday trip and b) we’d already paid so someone might as well go and enjoy it. We went back and forth trying to decide and checking in with Aidan who just said that he didn’t feel well enough to go but he didn’t want to miss it either. We decided that if he and I stayed and then he got better by afternoon we’d both be bummed at missing the trip and if he was still sick I could help him away from home nearly as well as here.
The ordeal caused some grumpiness and arguing between Dave and I and culminated with my passport being tossed onto the desk in the study and all of us piling into the purple people mover and heading off to catch our train. We needed to make a quick stop to pick up a motoring abroad kit containing a bunch of things you need to drive an English car in France
We didn’t make it quite to the shop before Aidan started vomiting again. We pulled over and cleaned him up the best we could and then headed to Halfords where as well as our kit we also grabbed some shop towels and a car shampoo kit which helped the clean up efforts considerably and then we were on the road and headed for the Eurotunnel. Poor little Aidan just crashed after that and slept most of the way to the tunnel.
Poor wee Aidan and his bowl. He was such a little trooper!
We were feeling good and sure that the mishaps that plagued the beginning of the trip were behind us until I started to dig out everyone’s passports and realised that neither Dave nor I had remembered to grab mine off the desk. D’oh! Dave assured me that there wouldn’t be a problem and there wasn’t…going into France. Coming back wasn’t so easy and after showing ID and getting reprimanded by the friendly man in the booth we were told that next time I would not be admitted back into the country without it. Phew!
The Eurotunnel crossing was fun and easy! We got out and stretched our legs and passed the time eating chocolate digestives ( a new favourite ) and the 35 minute ride was over before we knew it. The drive from Calais was lovely and fortunately uneventful ( meaning Aidan didn’t need to use his bowl).
In queue to enter the train
It's almost our turn
the Purple People Mover is on the train!
Aidan in the Eurotunnel
Terran is chillin' out and enjoying the ride
It took a bit of driving around looking but eventually we found our hotel just outside Paris near Disneyland Paris ( we are already thinking of trip there next summer!) in Marne la Hongre . It wasn’t fancy but there were enough beds for everyone and for all the time we would spend there it would do. We freshened up and hopped back in the van and headed into Paris for an evening look at the Eiffel Tower and some dinner.
We drove into Paris and found a nice parking garage to leave the PPM ( Purple People Mover ) in. Aidan got out of the van and was feeling sick again. ( Note ~To the man we saw the next day driving around the parking garage in Bercy on a little cart we’re sorry for the mess.) Getting tickets for all of us at the Metro station wasn’t as straight forward as we would have hoped but between Dave’s use of french nouns and gesturing and my rather out of practice, spotty french and the very patient and helpful woman behind the counter we got it all straightened out. 7 day passes for the weekend, perfect!! We headed to the turnstile only to be called back and told that we had purchased tickets for Saturday and Sunday…not Friday and Saturday as we thought. We went through more gesturing and bad french and purchased tickets we could use and were on our way ( with much lighter pockets) . When we got off the train it was freezing but we walked along by the The École Militaire and up to the Eiffel Tower. We opted not to go up but had a good look around and then it was off to find some dinner and get warm. We searched all around but in the touristy areas at that time of night** we just weren’t finding anything that seemed suitable for our large crew of picky eaters. We chose to hop back on the metro and back to Bercy to see what we could find around there. We lucked out and in this quaint little square we found a Hippo which looked just right for us. Hardly the height of French Cuisine but the the menus had english on them and the atmosphere seemed at least a little familiar to the kids so it was the right choice. We had a nice meal and Aidan finally ate ( chicken wings and ice cream is apparently the perfect cure for an upset tummy) and we headed back to the hotel well fed and happy.
The tower at night
Saturday was Museum day and we were off to The Musée des Arts et Métiers, We drove in again and parked in the same parking garage ( different spot …wonder why) and had some breakfast at at cafe before heading to the Museum. Most of us loved the museum. Jess was in heaven. A museum filled with water clocks, Jacquard looms and steam engines is about as good as it gets for him. Taija wasn’t thrilled but tried to make the best of it since it was Jesse’s birthday outing. She was our coat check girl and went from sofa to sofa dragging our coats and bags along with her. We did promise more excitement later in the weekend!
breakfast at the cafe in Bercy
the museum was originally a Priory. This is a picture of the ceiling of the chapel
The original scale model of Lady Liberty
After the museum it was off to the Arc de Triomphe and the the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and then a mad rush back to the tower so Taija could get a picture of it in the daylilght. We decided that rather than tromp around in the cold anymore hunting for a french restaurant for dinner we’d head back to the little town where our hotel was and see if the area around Disney would offer anything the kids would like. We ended up choosing a really cute Italian restaurant that wasn’t busy and was very family friendly. Dave and I got to enjoy a bottle of wine and the kids had yummy pizzas and pastas. The service was friendly if a bit slow and we all managed to speak enough frenglish to get our point across. It was a great ending to a super fun day!
Arc de Triomphe
walking around Paris
Taija in the Arc holding the rose Dave bought me at the Metro station ( it was Valentines day in Paris after all!)
you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave
Snogging in Paris on Valentine's Day...how romantic ( or gross if we're your parents)
Sunday we knew we had limited time before we had to start driving back to Calais to get our train. We finally decided on The Palace at Versailles as a nice way to get the kids outside running around and see something cool as well. We left there a bit later than we should have and then tried to stop in a couple of little towns and find a shop where we could buy some ” road food ” but eventually gave up and plowed on. We ended up stopping at a little rest stop along the motorway and getting baguette sandwiches and crisps but the extra stop made us late for our train. We arrived at the tunnel and things worked out perfectly and we were just in time to get on the next train , missing our booking was just fine. After narrowly escaping being left in France all alone while my family went back to London for my passport we popped into the duty free shop for sweets for the trip home for the kids and wine for when we got home for mom and dad.
Our first look at the Palace
Old King Louie XIV sure had grand taste
Jess on a chilly Sunday in Versailles
Her face says it all...as boring as the museum and no leather sofas
Aidan feeling well enough to run around but still not interested in 'old boring buildings'
The gardens in February. I'm sure they're gorgeous in summer
Spence at the Palace giving me that " oh mum, do you have to?" look
Aidan checking out the fountain
Terran by some of the strange animal statues that are all around the grounds
A rare shot of the parentals together
We were all glad to get home and were greeted by the dishwasher beeping at us. It beeps when it is finished but not just a couple of times. No, it beeps until you shut it off. It had been beeping away here all alone all weekend.
Overall I’d say that the trip was fun but I’ve decided that I’ll plan a bit better next time and pack more familiar snacks for the kids so that they stay well fed which should help with them getting worn out and grumpy. That’s what this is all about though, isn’t it? Living and Learning!
Spence had a meeting in Central London on Monday and so we all went into the city with him and had a blast walking around, watching street performers and riding the carousel. It was a glorious, sunny afternoon. Just the kind that lets you know for sure that spring is right around the corner. Everyone was out walking around and enjoying the day and I saw so many smiles that day.
A nice shot from our side of the river
Close up of the London Eye
riding the carousel on a Monday afternoon
Aidan sword fighting with Zorro on the street~ great fun!
a very cool Dali statue near the aquarium
we walked past this cool building on the way to our bus and just had to take a picture,
After typing all of that and looking at the pictures it seems like we packed a lot into one weekend! Again I’m reminding myself to get here and update more often. I’ve got pics from the big boys’ birthdays and a great day at Crystal Palace to share.
* If you don’t get this lyrical reference the run right now and listen to all the Joni Mitchell you can get your hands on to redeem yourself.
** It wasn’t until we were driving back to Calais on Sunday afternoon that I was reading through one of our travel books and discovered that France is an hour ahead of England and that we’d been carrying on all weekend with the wrong time. Yes, we felt silly.
